BAYERN | ANCELOTTI
Zidane's got everything it takes to coach Real Madrid - Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti: "Zizou was a great player and he has a lot of charisma, and that is very important when you are dealing with other players. He's got everything it takes to coach Real Madrid". PSG vs Bayern Munich
Carlo Ancelotti faced the media ahead of tomorrow's International Champions Cup meeting between his Bayern Munich side and his former club, Real Madrid. The Italian reminisced about his time at the Bernabéu, gave his thoughts on how Zinedine Zidane has been faring in the job and looked forward to Wednesday's game.
Tomorrow’s game: "It’s special because I have so many great memories of my time at Real Madrid. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the people I worked with during those two years. It’s a friendly game, the final one of our tour before official competition starts, and that’s why I hope we have a good game. It’s a new experience for me to find myself up against Real Madrid".
Zidane: "Zidane was my assistent and last season he won the Champions League; I hope that it all works out well for him in Spain, and obviously a little less in Europe... We spoke a lot when we worked together and I knew he'd make a great coach even then. Zizou was a great player and he has a lot of charisma, and that is very important when you are dealing with other players. He's got everything it takes to coach Real Madrid".
Similarities with Zidane: "Every coach has their own style, their ideas and personality. A team is never the coach's, it's the club's. The club is always more important than the coach".
Julian Green: "I'm not a magician. I don't know what will happen in the future but he has to keep working hard and have belief in his abilities. He's at a great club which is involved in a lot of competitions but the most important thing is believing in your dream and fighting for it".
If you had to single out one Real Madrid player... "I have a lot of affection for all of them. I can't just pick out one, because that would be a lack of respect to the rest and also to my current players. I am living a new experience and I am really enjoying the team I am in charge of - they have a lot of quality. It's a new challenge and all of us will be trying to do the best we can".
James: "He's a great player - we all know that, there's no need for me to say so. He's a serious-minded professional, a humble person. He had a great first season, a few difficulties in the second but he's got what it takes to succeed in Europe".
First weeks with Bayern: "When you go to a new club, the first thing you have to do is build up a good relationship with the players. After that you can start implementing ideas - although that depends a lot on the qualities of the players. This tour has been good for us to get to know each other better and spend time together".
More to follow...