AFP: Carlo Ancelotti on Monday ruled injury-plagued Neymar out from Brazil’s line-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and vowed to lead the team to a sixth title on his first day as Selecao coach.
Former Real Madrid manager Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian in six decades to coach the record five-time World Cup winners.
“I’m very proud to lead the best team in the world. I have a big job ahead of me and have great hope that Brazil will become champions again,” he said during his official presentation at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro.
“The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup,” he said after receiving a green-and-yellow coach’s jacket from Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager who took Brazil to its last World Cup win in 2002.
At 65, the Italian star manager, who has five Champions League titles under his belt, is taking the reins of a national team for the first time.
Expectations are high in football-mad Brazil that he can revive the squad’s fortunes.
To that end, he announced the return of Manchester United midfielder and former Brazil captain Casemiro for June’s qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, alongside Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr and Barcelona winger Raphinha.
