Davide Ancelotti: "I love seeing people grow"
Learn more about new LOSC manager Davide Ancelotti with excerpts from his interview with l'Équipe -- read the full article here.
"Did you hesitate when accepting the offer from LOSC?
Right from our initial conversations, (club president) Olivier (Létang) laid out very clear principles: I am here to win, organize the team, plan training sessions, and develop players, while the club handles everything else—since they place a strong emphasis on discipline and a work ethic. So, there are fewer things to manage here than elsewhere. It was a fantastic opportunity to join a team that is growing, playing in the Champions League, boasts quality players, and has a very clear identity. Of course, there is pressure, but for me, it’s a privilege. As an assistant coach, I’ve always worked in environments where not winning was considered a tragedy, so I’m used to it.
Apparently, it was your father who told you about Lille's interest in you...
Yes, he called me one day at two in the morning because Olivier had asked him for my number. He told me a team was interested in me. I said, "Don't say who; just tell me whether I should go or not," and he replied, "Of course." Afterward, naturally, we talked it over. Olivier has been in regular contact with my father for years. I remember that was the case back in Madrid, too, because there was interest in Leny Yoro.
Have you been able to speak with your predecessor, Bruno Genesio—who happens to be a great admirer of your father—and how do you view taking over from him?
Unfortunately, we haven't had the chance, but everyone here holds Bruno in high regard. A lot of things were done well; I don't want to change everything. There is a defensive structure and a solid team in place. My ambition is to take the team to the next level by playing organized, attacking football—a team that also knows how to adapt to the opposition. If the opponent tries to press high or match us man-for-man, we need the mechanisms to play our way out and maintain possession. I want to see dynamic, energetic football that exploits open spaces, relying on technically gifted midfielders. I’m lucky enough to have plenty of those here, and that is crucial in modern football. At Madrid, we had Kroos and Modrić and won a lot of trophies; we’ve seen the same thing more recently with PSG, Spain, and Argentina...
As an assistant coach, you have a close relationship with the players, but being the head coach sometimes means playing the "bad guy." How are you handling that transition?
I don't want to change my relationship with the players. Of course, there is a bit more distance now because I’m the one making the decisions, but communication and the human connection are fundamental to how I operate. I said it right from the start here: I’m human, I can make mistakes, and I’ll take responsibility for them—but I have to make decisions for the good of the club.
That personal connection is your father's trademark...
I have a very similar temperament to his. I watched the way he handled people. Empathy is crucial because you have to understand everyone else's emotions without revealing too much of your own. Football amplifies emotions, but I always try to keep mine in check so they don't cloud my decision-making. That’s how I was raised. My staff helps me with this; I ask them to let me know when it’s time to come down hard on the players, because I’m not someone who loses their temper often. It’s the same with my own children—I rarely get angry.
How did you manage to gain acceptance in the elite dressing rooms you’ve been part of?
At first, it was difficult because I was the coach's son. I’m still Ancelotti’s son today. But I have 14 years of experience; I’ve been lucky enough to win a lot and work with the greatest players, so it’s a bit easier now. Still, I always want to demonstrate that I have the competence. You earn trust through the high standards you set. Some players struggle to understand that being close to them doesn't mean I’m not demanding. My father faced the same issue during his career. But everyone needs to know there is a line that shouldn't be crossed.
Will the comparison with your father always follow you around?
I live with it. I’m very happy to have learned from the best. My name isn’t a burden; I’m the one who decided to become a coach—it’s my responsibility. If I were a lawyer, no one would bring it up. If there are things I don’t know how to handle, I’ll ask him, because he will inevitably have faced that situation himself. I’ve had other influences, too: Klopp, Guardiola, De Zerbi, Emery—who I consider one of the very best—Luis Enrique...
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