Davide Ancelotti's World Cup Aspirations with Brazil in 2026

Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti, shares his football philosophy and plans for Brazil's World Cup campaign in 2026.

Davide Ancelotti's Football Roots Davide Ancelotti grew up surrounded by football, meeting Gianluigi Buffon at just six years old, who would go on to become one of the greatest goalkeepers in the game. As a young boy, Davide would take shots against Buffon, while watching defenders Lilian Thuram and Fabio Cannavaro hone their skills that would eventually lead them to World Cup wins with France and Italy. This immersion in football came before Davide obtained his coaching badges, and he accompanied his father, Carlo Ancelotti, as assistant boss of several top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. ## Inspirations and Mindset Davide Ancelotti believes that no single manager inspires him, but rather he takes ideas from various coaches. He praises Pep Guardiola's innovative approach, Jurgen Klopp's high pressing, Roberto de Zerbi's ability to find the third man, and Diego Simeone's defensive phase. Davide's father, Carlo Ancelotti, also influenced him, coming from Arrigo Sacchi's school of zonal defence and 4-4-2 formations. According to Davide, his own identity as a manager is shaped by these diverse influences. ## Ideal Team and Defensive Philosophy Davide Ancelotti's dream team can perform various tasks at the highest level, citing Paris St-Germain as an example. He emphasizes the importance of positional possession and freedom when playing the high build-up. In defence, Davide believes in a zonal defence in his own half, with two lines of four and a line of two. He also suggests that a shape is not enough and that principles are crucial, drawing inspiration from Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone, and Unai Emery. ## Defending Against Guardiola's Teams When asked how to defend against Pep Guardiola's teams, Davide Ancelotti suggested creating an overload in the centre. He referenced a game where Manchester City exploited Liverpool's 4-4-2 shape by placing Bernardo Silva between the two Liverpool central midfielders. Davide proposed that his team would mark City's midfielders closely, with the number 10 dropping back to help, and the wingers being narrow to control the space. ## Guiding Players like Mbappe and Vinicius Jr Davide Ancelotti acknowledged that managing players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr requires creativity. He mentioned a game where his team played with Jude Bellingham centrally, behind Vinicius, and Rodrygo on the left, which allowed them to defend City's third midfielder. Davide emphasized the need to find a way to accommodate players like Mbappe and Vinicius, who can win the game with their skills. ## What Makes a Great Coach Davide Ancelotti believes that a great coach must be able to convince players through their knowledge and inspire them to improve. He credits Phil Jackson, a basketball coach, as a role model, citing Jackson's forward-thinking approach and ability to connect with his players through books and stories. Davide emphasized the importance of human relationships in football management, stating that understanding a player's character and background is essential to unlocking their potential. ## Brazil's World Cup Approach Davide Ancelotti discussed Brazil's approach to the World Cup, highlighting the country's love for beautiful football and winning mentality. He noted that Brazil has talented defenders, transition players, and strikers, which gives them an idea of the type of football they can play. However, Davide also acknowledged the need to balance the team's identity with the characteristics of the players and the nation's culture.