Carlo Ancelotti has never exactly been the type to sit quietly in the corner when people start questioning his credentials, and on Friday he proved that point in some style. The Brazil manager, who has faced a fair bit of scepticism from fans and pundits in Brazil since taking the job, responded to his social media critics by pointing out that the only manager on the planet more qualified than him is none other than Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now, as a Manchester United fan, it warms the heart to hear Fergie's name invoked as the gold standard of football management. Because honestly, that argument is almost impossible to dispute. Sir Alex spent 26 years at Old Trafford, won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, and basically invented the idea of a manager being bigger than the club. If there is a Mount Rushmore of football managers, Fergie's face is carved deepest into the stone.
But back to Ancelotti, because the man does have a point about himself too. Three Champions League titles with three different clubs, league titles in England, Spain, Germany, France, and Italy — the man has basically collected trophies the way some people collect fridge magnets. Questioning whether Ancelotti is good enough to manage Brazil is a bit like questioning whether a Michelin-starred chef is good enough to run your local café.
That said, international management is a different beast entirely, and Brazil fans have every right to have high expectations. The Seleção haven't won a World Cup since 2002, and the pressure to end that drought is enormous. Ancelotti walking in from club football, where he controls transfers and daily training, into the chaos of international management is a genuine adjustment. Results will ultimately do the talking.
Still, if anyone has earned the right to clap back at keyboard critics with a straight face, it is probably the man with four Champions League medals in his trophy cabinet. The confidence is justified, even if the job itself remains a massive challenge.
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