Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he will be cheering for AC Milan in the derby on Saturday despite growing up as an Inter fan.
Ancelotti played for the Rossoneri from 1987 to 1992 and then was manager from 2001 to 2009, winning 15 major honours at the club across both periods.
There were actually rumours last year claiming that Milan director Paolo Maldini was keen on bringing Ancelotti back for another spell as manager, but now he is doing a fantastic job with Everton having given them their best start to a season in decades, and this weekend they have their own derby against Liverpool.
Ancelotti spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the upcoming derby, beginning by endorsing technical director Paolo Maldini.
“I never had any doubts about Maldini’s qualities as a manager,” he said (via MilanNews).
“When a person is right, they are not wrong. Experience is an important requirement, but it is only gained when you find yourself on the front line.”
Ancelotti also praised Stefano Pioli, an important architect of the Rossoneri’s resurgence last season.
“Stefano is a person of value, as a man and as a professional. The record is clear: he has achieved excellent results in all the teams he has led.”
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he added: “Ibra is Ibra. When you find a footballer like him, you play bingo. Motivation and pride have always been his strength, but Ibra is an absolute professional.”
Ancelotti confirmed that he supported Inter as a child, but his allegiance has very much changed.
“As a child I was an Inter fan because I was enchanted by Helenio Herrera’s team. They gave me a shirt of Sandro Mazzola, in those days these things were a rarity. However, Milan is the club that has marked my life: first as a player and then as a coach.”
