Carlo Ancelotti graces the cover of L’Équipe, shedding light on his departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) despite securing the long-awaited French championship title since 1994.
The decision crystallized after a match against Reims (0-1, March 2). Despite leading the Championship with a two-point advantage and a recent victory in Valencia (2-1, February 12, 2012, in the round of 16 first leg of the C1), Ancelotti felt perplexed by the team’s poor performance. Despite a solid three-month run, he sensed a lack of confidence. The day after, he informed Leonardo that he would no longer coach PSG at the end of the season.
Contrary to popular belief that his departure was linked to Real Madrid, Ancelotti clarifies, “Everyone thought I left because I had Real Madrid. This is not true. I made this decision; I don’t know if it was a good one, but it had become too complicated at PSG.”
Arriving at the Bernabeu, Ancelotti acknowledges the weight of responsibility and motivation when surrounded by the historical photos of Di Stefano, Ronaldo, Santillana. The pressure intensifies as he glimpses the new Champions League trophies during the club’s presentation.
Commenting on the PSG dynamics, Ancelotti notes, “If Cavani scores more than Ibra, it will mean that PSG will be champion because Ibra will score goals. But Ibra has no problem giving good balls. He’s a collective player, not everyone understands that.” Ancelotti’s reflections provide insight into the complexities and motivations behind his coaching decisions.
