Having last won the FIFA World Cup in 2002, five-time champions Brazil will be hoping to end years of underachievement and disappointment. Since their win against Germany in the 2002 final, Brazil have failed to reach the final in any edition. But since Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, there has been a glimmer of hope, and Brazil goalkeeper Alisson also praised the Italian manager, calling him a ‘true winner’.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco, Alisson said, “Since [Carlo] Ancelotti’s arrival, the atmosphere has been transformed. He has a commanding presence and fosters a sense of calm, an environment focused on the work at hand, free from controversy or other distractions.”
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“He’s a true winner; it really shows. I think you can see it in his expression and players notice it too. The guy has won everything in football, yet here he is with the Brazilian national team, full of joy and enthusiasm,” he added.
The veteran goalkeeper will also feature in his third World Cup, having played in 2018 and 2022. “It would be an honor to join the ranks of the great names in the history of the Brazilian National Team. It is a privilege for me to participate and compete in another World Cup,” he said.
“Being the favorite doesn’t guarantee anything for anyone. It doesn’t guarantee that a team will become champion. Sometimes it actually brings added weight, an even greater responsibility like the weight of the jersey. We know it’s a huge responsibility,” he added.
Only Taffarel and Gilmar are the other two Brazilian goalkeepers to have played at three World Cups. Both of them lifted the title. Brazil opens its campaign against Morocco on Sunday.
During a recent interview with Reuters, Ancelotti said, “What I’ve noticed this year, to be honest, is that there’s a lot of pressure; there’s a lot of pressure on the players.”
“What I think is that the players also put a lot of pressure on themselves, sometimes too much. So, the pressure and worry outweigh the joy, the energy that the Brazilians have, the creativity that the Brazilians have.
“I’ve seen it in some friendlies… a mistake by a teammate in a friendly match seems like a tragedy.
“We need to establish a routine to avoid all this, because pressure is obviously a very important factor. Managing pressure well means having more motivation and more camaraderie, because you can share the pressure. Then it weighs less heavily on you.”
