Ancelotti enjoys day-to-day running of club football too much to take international role

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti prefers the day-to-day running of club management amid questions about whether he would take up an international role.

Ancelotti has guided Madrid to the summit of LaLiga, 12 points clear of a resurgent Barcelona, who do have a game in hand.

Madrid are also in contention to go all the way in the Champions League. Los Blancos are 3-1 up in their quarter-final against reigning European champions Chelsea heading into Tuesday’s second leg.

While Ancelotti has Madrid on course for success this season, speculation swirls as to whether president Florentino Perez will stick with the 62-year-old for next season.

The failure of Italy to qualify for two straight World Cups has also brought Roberto Mancini’s position into question, but Ancelotti – a reported option to take over as Azzurri coach in 2018 – prefers club football.

“I have thought about it, to train a national team,” he told a news conference when asked about the Italy job. 

“To be honest I must say that I like the day-to-day of club football. The matches give you emotion and happiness.

“But there is of course the worry and the day-to-day stress – when I lose the desire for the daily work, I will stop.”

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The former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss opted to leave Everton for Madrid at the start of this season, after guiding the Toffees to an underwhelming 10th in his only full Premier League campaign with them following a 12th-placed finish in 2019-20.

Everton were looking good to mount a challenge for Champions League qualification as late as March, yet only managed three wins from their final 12 top-flight games.

The Merseyside club are now fighting relegation, but Ancelotti said Madrid, who he coached previously between 2013 and 2015, were the only suitors capable of turning his head.

“With Everton, I was having a good time,” he said. “Then Madrid called me and I can understand why [Everton] got angry, but it was difficult to say ‘no’.

“It was the only team I couldn’t say no to. To the rest, I could say no.”

Asked whether he would be in charge in 2022-23, Ancelotti replied: “I hope so, but I’m not thinking about that.

“I’m not thinking about the contract. If the club is happy, I’m still happy. If not, I’ll appreciate it, period. I trust at the end of the season, it will be good.”