Costacurta hits out on Carlo?

[Warro Bantan]

:dumpf:

From channel4.com:

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov11j.html

Costacurta 'closes' Ancelotti era Friday 11 November, 2005

Alessandro Costacurta has launched a surprising broadside at his Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti, claiming “he’s lost his charisma.”

Costacurta, who is in his last season at the San Siro after a glittering 20-year career with the Rossoneri, knows a thing or two about playing under big league Coaches, but his comments about Ancelotti will come as a surprise to many.


“After four or five years a Coach loses his charisma in the dressing-room,” he said. “The problem is not whether or not Ancelotti has lost his motivation but whether or not the players have.”


Billy has only played four games under Ancelotti this season, but it is difficult to tell whether or not his frustration has led to him questioning his Coach’s authority.


The veteran defender obviously believes every tactician has a shelf life and, although Ancelotti has been a good servant to the club, he feels that his has come to an end.


“The results of this season have shown the good work that the Coach has done,” added the 39-year-old. “But it is a physiological fact that after several years the side pays less attention to their Coach. The history of the club bears this out: look at Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, for example.”


Sacchi and Capello both enjoyed successful stints at the club of four and six years respectively before each returning for a final, less impressive season.


Costacurta lived through both regimes and is well-placed to give an inside opinion on the inner workings of the Milan giants, especially as he also played alongside former midfielder Ancelotti.


Ancelotti is in his fifth season at the club and is contracted to stay until 2007, after which he is expected to take over the national team.


President Silvio Berlusconi is already planning Carletto’s eventual successor and has expressed an interest in Holland boss and former Milan idol Marco Van Basten.


Although Van Basten himself has denied having any plans to come back to Italy, Costacurta hinted that he would be in favour of a return of his former teammate. “Marco is good at everything he does,” he said. “He is proving that with Holland.”

I dont know what to think of the above. Do any of the Italians/Italian speakers know of similar reports in the Italian press? And if so, are they from credible sources?

This is potentially a very damaging situation, for the coach, and the team as a whole. If there is disunity in the dressing room, then it will manifest itself on the pitch.

Somehow, I think what Billy may have said was taken out of context, and so hopefully this is all just a "storm in a tea cup", or to quote another Billy, this time Shakespare: "Much ado about nothing".... :dontkn:

[rae]

Actually I do not think that Billy said something incorect. I never was a great fan of Carlo. Nevertheless I hope that these facts wont make a big impact to our team especially a bad one. I still believe that our squad will remain unite till the end of the season. Then we can talk who does wrong and who is right. So Forza Rossoneri!!!

[Bosniaco]

I don't think Billy said anything like this, there is some thins he said on acmilan.com but non of this!! What is the soure for this Warro?

EDIT: I saw this just now on channel4, this maybe right, channel4 doesn't write to much of bullsh.it

[Warro Bantan]

My bad Bosniaco....I should have declared the source, which I usually do.

Its channel4.com, the link is:

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov11j.html

I will also edit my post to ensure that persons know the source. Thanks for the headsup!

This though, from acmilan.com:


Says something completely different:

COSTACURTA: 'Ancelotti will go down in Milan’s history’
11/11/2005
MILANELLO - Alessandro Costacurta continued, speaking about the deserved success of coach Ancelotti: ‘The results on the field demonstrate the importance of Carlo’s work with Milan. He is in line with the club and always acts well. There are no defects in his operations. He has won a lot and will go down in the history books of Milan’s coaches.’

[Andy Christ]

I don't really understand what you are all panicking about. He just talks about his experience with these things: after a coach has been with the team for several years, the team becomes familiar with him and and therefore he loses some of his authority. And after playing year after year with similar tactics and having simslar approach in trainings, the team might become stuck in a routine and lose motivation.
As he said, it happened with Sacchi and Capello and it will happen with Carlo too, as there is no reason to expect that he is that supercoach who can keep his side motivated season after season after season. As Billy said, it's a psychological thing and it's not the fault of Ancelotti. And I don't think that Billy meant any harm with these comments. He has no personal reason whatsoever to take a swipe at Carlo. He was just talking about his experience with various coaches in Milan.

[mrki]

Whatever Billy exactly said, it will be all sorted out in Milanello, its will not be a problem. But Costacurta certanly knows what he is saying and he is 100% right on this point, Carlo's time is over and its time for someone fresh to take over. I hope it will be Van Basten. :de3:

[shevagol_7]

I think channel4 has totally blown this story out of proportion. Billy hasn't said that he wants Ancelotti gone or that he is no longer a capable boss for Milan. All he has said is that after a while a coach loses the ability to motivate players. It's not a new foreign idea or anything it is a known fact. After awhile any coach can lose touch with player. Costacurta isn't even insinuating that this situation is happening at Milan. I think it's just a big deal out of nothing.

Completely nothing.

[Warro Bantan]

:dumpf:
Somehow, I think what Billy may have said was taken out of context, and so hopefully this is all just a "storm in a tea cup", or to quote another Billy, this time Shakespare: "Much ado about nothing".... :dontkn:

All, please note my final statement taken from my post above.

I started this thread to generate discussion, and to solicit feedback from any Italian speakers/readers who may have heard anything similar in the Italian press...no panic from my perspective...just a little disappointment in either what Billy has reportedly said, or in the quality of the journalisim.

IMO, this is something you say after the season is over, if at all.

[Debs]

I don't really understand what you are all panicking about. He just talks about his experience with these things: after a coach has been with the team for several years, the team becomes familiar with him and and therefore he loses some of his authority. And after playing year after year with similar tactics and having simslar approach in trainings, the team might become stuck in a routine and lose motivation.


I have to agree with this assessment. It certainly happened with Zac! It can happen with any coach if he doesn't continually try new ideas, that's just how it is.

[SANT]

I agree with shevagol_7... Billy's word were taken to another level to make give them more "impact"... I read it in Italian, and knowing how Billy expresses, I can picture him in total calm, saying something that is true, except in a few excepcional cases, like Sir Alex Ferguson in Man Utd.

[zlatanov]

I read this in Italian too and agree that the press gave Billy's words a bit more flavor just to make a small sensation out of nothing.
Overall, I agree that with time the coach's influence over the team tends to fade but an experienced and shrewd player like Billy to say something as blatant as this to the press - I say blatant for it practically undermines Carlo's authority among the players - in amoment when the team plays better and better, that's just incomprehensible. Maybe someone like Keane or Davids could say it with that meaning but not Billy.

[rae]

I really doubt if that was the same thing what Billy intetnded to say, because the are no sentences of direct speach when arguments are telling Carlo is bad coach. It is very suspicious to me :rollani:

Billy is one of the most honourable and respectable person in whole AC Milan team. Only Paolo can compete him in that sphere. So I have no hesitation about what he say is true. However I do not believe it was exactly what he meant.

[Kui]

Billy wasnt making a statement pertaining anything about Carlo. He was talking about the continuous cycle and psychological principals of club football in general. He could be talking about any coach or for that matter any club that go through this as a natural process. I think he talk mainly about "player" mentality and sensibilities more so than about a coach. He's saying that over a period of time the coach no matter how charismatic he/she is, in the eyes of the players he becomes less charismatic. We all have these kinds of things in our own minds pertaining to a lot of things. Take for example your very first day at your very first job and the excitement and pride one has getting into the work force. It is only a matter of time before the job just doesnt seem all that exciting anymore and the very first thing one wants to do when coming to work... is going home. This is what Billy is being candid about and so this really isnt a big concern. It will if we make it to be so.

[rae]

Man Utd tempt Ancelotti Saturday 12 November, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carlo Ancelotti could move from the Diavolo to the Red Devils, as reports suggest Manchester United are interested in the Milan Coach.

It’s widely believed that this will be Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge at Old Trafford and the club seems determined to bring in a Serie A tactician. Already linked with Juventus man Fabio Capello last month, the next candidate is Ancelotti.


“I have been here for four years, but I hope it’s merely the start of another four-year cycle,” insisted the Rossoneri boss.


Nonetheless, ‘La Repubblica’ claims today that Ancelotti is “considering” the proposal of a move to the Premiership at the end of this season.


Ancelotti’s contract expires in June 2007, but after ending last term empty-handed and losing the Champions League Final despite leading Liverpool 3-0, he knows that a similar lack of success will see him replaced at the San Siro.


Veteran defender Billy Costacurta even confirmed that Ancelotti’s era is coming to an end. “After four or five years a Coach loses his charisma in the dressing-room,” he said. “The problem is not whether or not Ancelotti has lost his motivation but whether or not the players have.”


However, Manchester United face competition from Real Madrid, who have also been repeatedly linked with a swoop for the 2003 Champions League winning tactician.Actually I do not like such an option... First of all I do not see anyone who can change Carlo in Milan. As a united supporter I do not dismiss Fergie. He is still doing quite good. I am not sure about Carlo's future in England... IMO it's silly transfer if it would happen.

[Warro Bantan]

From channel4.com

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov15i.html

Billy gets Carlo’s goat Tuesday 15 November, 2005

Carlo Ancelotti has demanded an explanation from Billy Costacurta about comments he made about him recently. "He’ll have to explain himself," said the Milan boss.

Ancelotti, who was attending a charity match in Padova on Monday night, was interviewed by Italian television programme Studio Sport and made it clear that he was unhappy with the 39-year-old’s forthright remarks, revealed by Football Italia last week.

Costacurta said: "After four or five years, a Coach loses his charisma in the dressing room.

"The problem is not whether or not Ancelotti has lost his motivation, but whether or not the players have.

"The history of Milan bears this out - look at Arrigo Sacchi or Fabio Capello, for example."

Coming from such an experienced and loyal player, and in the aftermath of comments made by President Silvio Berlusconi suggesting Marco Van Basten should eventually boss Milan, Carletto is understandably unimpressed with his former teammate from his own playing days at the club.

"It isn’t true that after five years the cycle of a Coach is over," he said.

"Billy will have to explain those comments to me. I’ve known him for years, but I’m not sure I understand what he’s trying to say."

Costacurta, who is in his last season with the Rossoneri, can expect a frosty reception from his boss when the two next cross paths at Milanello.

Hmmm...the plot thickens! :r14: Could this be actually a real issue? It seemed to be just a ploy for increased readership in a down time for club football, and still may be the case...though they (ie the website) are sure milking it for what its worth!

[Dr Milano]

I Wish alessandro was our coach

[Jeff]

Most likely to be a plot. Given Milan management, do you think the player will say something like this? Given Ancelotti's character, do you think he'll say something like this?

And again, give nMilan management, do you think this issue will get thicken in the near future?

A definitely NO.

Anyway, I tend to agree changing coach, either this or next year. Getting a new coach will only help to build a stronger team (at a point in time), after a few years. No matter whether the coach did well or not well, I think it may be advisable to change the coach (unless the coach is incredibly successful, like getting CL every year).

Carlo is pretty close to that, but not close enough.

In any case, I would say, the earliest Carlo should leave should be the end of next year (2 seasons later, that is), no matter how great his achievement is. This may coincide with the team when Maldini retires, which is also a perfect time for the management to do some turnover issue. NOt a dramatic one, but one that is necessarily.

Unless, of course, Ancelotti did very poorly this season (like getting 4th of serie A and get kicked out in CL during group stage, and lost italian cup on the 2nd round). Otherwise, I don't see him leaving at the end of the season.

That's just my (crap) analysis :)

[Warro Bantan]

Most likely to be a plot. Given Milan management, do you think the player will say something like this? Given Ancelotti's character, do you think he'll say something like this?

And again, give nMilan management, do you think this issue will get thicken in the near future?

A definitely NO......In any case, I would say, the earliest Carlo should leave should be the end of next year (2 seasons later, that is), no matter how great his achievement is. This may coincide with the team when Maldini retires, which is also a perfect time for the management to do some turnover issue. NOt a dramatic one, but one that is necessarily.

Unless, of course, Ancelotti did very poorly this season (like getting 4th of serie A and get kicked out in CL during group stage, and lost italian cup on the 2nd round). Otherwise, I don't see him leaving at the end of the season.

That's just my (crap) analysis :)

On the contrary Jeff, good points, almost echoing my sentiments on Carlo´s future with the club..(and no sarcasm, or refrence to underwear either!) :D