Davide Ancelotti: My game in my words
This immersion came before the coaching badges, before he would accompany his father - a five-time Champions League-winning manager - as assistant boss of Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid. I sat down with Davide, a tactics board on the table between us, looking to unpick the mind of a hardworking and curious coach following his first head coach role in charge of Botafogo and prior to this summer's World Cup - where he will accompany Carlo as assistant coach of the Brazilian national team. Davide and I discuss his philosophy, the tactics used by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and PSG's Luis Enrique, as well as possible future tactical trends "In football, it is difficult to say that one manager inspires you," began the 36-year-old Davide.
"You take things from different managers. "Pep Guardiola was cutting edge, a pioneer. You cannot forget Jurgen Klopp in the high pressing, in the triggers.
If we speak about superiority, you have to mention Roberto de Zerbi in how to find the third man, the small details that he discovered. I am fascinated by the defensive phase of Diego Simeone, by Unai Emery and, of course, my father. "My father came from the school of Arrigo Sacchi, the zonal defence, the 4-4-2.
"And all of these ideas have influenced my own identity as a manager. This process of creating my own identity as a manager is always an ongoing one. For some people I am like my father, but in truth, I am not exactly like him.
I have a similar character, but I am a different kind of manager. "I don't think a manager has to be one thing or another. There is always a point in the middle.