Modern football managers must blend with multiple styles – Davide Ancelotti

Ex-Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti says modern football managers must blend different tactical styles rather than adhere to a single rigid identity, as he continues to shape his own philosophy in the game.

As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, the 36-year-old coach explained that no single manager can fully define his approach, pointing instead to a range of influences across the sport.

“In football, it is difficult to say that one manager inspires you,” he said. “You take things from different managers,” he said.

Davide, who is the son of Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti, also highlighted the impact of Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Roberto De Zerbi on his thinking, particularly in possession play and pressing systems.

“Pep Guardiola was cutting-edge, a pioneer. You cannot forget Jurgen Klopp in the high pressing, in the triggers,” he said. “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.”

Ancelotti also highlighted the defensive strengths of Diego Simeone and the tactical adaptability of Unai Emery, as well as the enduring influence of his father, Carlo Ancelotti.

“My father came from the school of Arrigo Sacchi, the zonal defence, the 4-4-2,” he said.

Despite the comparisons, Ancelotti stressed that he is developing his own identity.

“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,” he said.

He believes the modern game demands flexibility rather than strict adherence to one philosophy.

“I don’t think a manager has to be one thing or another. There is always a point in the middle. You adapt to the players, and sometimes to the opponent, but you also need clear ideas on what you like as a manager.”

Looking ahead, Ancelotti described his ideal team as one capable of excelling in every phase of the game.

“My dream is to have a team that can do different things at the highest level,” he said.

Using Paris Saint-Germain as an example, he praised teams that can combine structure with freedom, and intensity with organisation.

“They can find the spare man if they have superiority in the first build-up. They can have a positional possession, and also not have a positional possession when they have the ball in the high build-up,” he said.

“Without the ball, if they have to press, they recognise when they have to press to be man-to-man. And they are really organised in the deep block.”

Ultimately, Ancelotti believes a team’s identity is shaped by what a coach prioritises on the training ground.

“In the end, the team will become what you emphasise, and you emphasise the things you like,” he said.