When Capello made Modric Ancelotti in the last year of his football career | Relief

The history of football is full of cases like the one Luka Modric is currently experiencing. The law of life and the law of football. The two laws mixed together can be as harmful and hurtful as they are unfair, and in addition show a variety of scenarios that are worthy of being known by a fan. For Carlo Ancelotti, the situation he is currently experiencing, especially with the Croatian player, brings back memories of the past, experienced first-hand. And not entirely positive. Something similar happened to him when he was just 32 years old, with Fabio Capello in his last active season at Milan (1991–92). He played just 12 games in Serie A and six in the Coppa Italia, and not always as a starter or a full-time starter. Between an injury early in that season from the previous season and the emergence of 20-year-old Demetrio Albertini, Carlo faded into the background.

He went from being uncontested (31 games last year) to practically expendable. To the point that even before the end of the season he had already decided that this would be the last of his professional career. His next step was to start working as a coach with his teacher Arrigo Sacchi in the Italian national team. The big difference between the situation Carlo found himself in and the one Modric is now going through is that Ancelotti, despite being only 32 years old, suffered greatly physically due to injuries that had plagued him throughout his career. entire career. Not so for the 38-year-old Croatian. In those days, football players did not extend their careers, as is the case now. Three decades have passed.

His 32 and Modric’s 38

The rupture of the cruciate ligament in his right leg that he suffered was especially serious. Carlettoat the age of 22, when he was a Roma player. He was away from the playing field for a whole year. He missed the 82nd World Cup, which his team won at the Santiago Bernabeu. A second injury two years later brought him back to ostracism. This time they were left without the Champions League final against Liverpool, which was also held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Despite all this, thanks to the tenacity that was his flag, Carlo was able to change his physical situation and show his best version of football during his time at Milan (1987–92), where he won two Champions Leagues, two Intercontinental Cups, two Leagues. he has already won one and four Cups with Roma, two European Super Cups and one Italian Super Cup.

Last season, when Hazard was the main character, Carlo already had memories of those months when Capello had already completely opted for Albertini and played the remaining minutes. “I was also angry at Capello when he didn’t play -recalled the coach, trying to understand the Belgian- and Fabio told me that when I was a coach I understood it, and now I understand it very well. Moreover, for a football player to be angry because he is not playing or because he was picked up at a match is the most normal thing in the world. It would be worse if they didn’t care. More precisely, changes are usually made to keep more players on the roster motivated and improving. “Rotations are something else, they should give rest.”

Due to disagreements over his replacement, relations between Capello and Ancelotti were never good. Moreover, Carlo was from Sacchi, and Arrigo and Capello had two completely different concepts for interpreting the game. The relationship between them deteriorated in 2009. In one of his biographies, Ancelotti expressed what he thought of his former coach. He accused him of not dealing with players, of being a despot, and mentioned some of the episodes he experienced during his time at Milan, such as when he almost came to blows with Ruud Gullit. “He was always moody. In life you can’t get along with everyone, but Capello and I have very different characters.”

, he concluded. Fabio, the then England manager, responded that he did not agree with his colleague’s words and replied that he did not care about looking good in the eyes of the press and that he ate with his friends and family, not with journalists.

Big and exciting finale

The last games of Carlo Ancelotti’s football career were full of emotions. Milan won the Scudetto undefeated. 34 games, 22 wins and 12 draws. In a match in which the team was declared champion, Capello defeated Ancelotti, while 14 behind them, in the middle of the second half, with the score already 2:0 on the scoreboard. The title role had already been prepared, and Carlo was to become one of the heroes of the film. San Siro believed that this would be his last home game and greeted him with a standing ovation. The football player’s reaction was exemplary. He scored two goals in one minute. Never in his career had he scored two goals in one go. The first shot is right-handed from outside the penalty area. The second, after recovery and individual driving.

Excited, he became the hero of the day. “It was a thrilling, incredible finale. I couldn’t imagine anything like this. In 12 years I have never scored two goals in a game and I’m going to do it on the last day at home. This is the best goodbye. I loved this sport, a very demanding sport that requires sacrifice, humility and generosity towards my teammates. When I scored the second goal, I looked into the stands to see if Berlusconi would offer me a contract extension… Just kidding. Time to go.” The next day, “La Gazzetta dello Sport” on the cover in large typographic letters entitled: “Carletto Magno.”. Ancelotti, farewell to Milan with two fantastic goals, and a front-page article by his director, Candido Cannavo, entitled “A Twice Born Champion”, highlighting the player’s spirit of improvement and how he overcame injuries.

Two days later, their tribute match and title party took place. The San Siro has once again opened its doors to say goodbye to one of the best midfielders in Milan’s history. The opponent is none other than the Brazilian national team with all its stars. The underdog triumphs with Careki’s goal. Carlo was excited as his teammates lifted him onto their shoulders. There was also an obligation. Last. May 24, 1992 against Foggia Zeman. Capello started him but replaced him at half-time. “I played poorly and felt weird. “What would it have been like if we had lost 2-1 at half-time and won 2-8 in the second half when I was sent off.”

Sacchi, his new boss, was in the box to say goodbye to the footballer Ancelotti and welcome the technical Ancelotti, who in 48 hours would become his right hand man on the pitch. Nationale. Collina was the referee on his last day, wearing his uniform. Rossonero. “It wasn’t that hard for me to stop because I still had problems with my knee and Sacchi also opened the doors of the national team for me,” he admitted. Carletto. “Nine years later he will return to Milan as coach. Coming from Juventus, he had already begun to understand what Capello was telling him then.