Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he still follows AC Milan from afar given the place they have in his heart, while he also shared some thoughts on Rafael Leao.
Ancelotti stands four days before yet another Champions League final – which Real Madrid will play on Saturday 1 June at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund – and today marks 21 years since he led Milan out at Old Trafford.
As everyone is familiar with by now, the Rossoneri drew 0-0 with Juventus after extra-time and Andriy Shevchenko scored the winning spot kick after some heroics from Dida, and that begun Ancelotti’s love affair with the Champions League, as a head coach at least.
Ancelotti gave an interview to La Repubblica and he was asked about his former club, with his comments relayed by TMW.
“I follow the team from afar, with affection. We got back an extraordinary Brahim Diaz. Milan have a great talent like Leao: he needs to be beaten, sometimes. If he were with me, I would beat him every day,” he said.
The former Napoli and Chelsea boss was asked what he thinks the problems are with Italian football at the moment, given that the league is perceived to be lagging behind by many.
“What is missing, for me, is in the stadiums, in the environment. There is enough to modernise. And there are no champions, apart from Donnarumma in goal. I’m talking about a generation similar to that of Pirlo, Totti, Del Piero.”