Carlo Ancelotti made his much-anticipated debut as Brazil’s head coach in a CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier that ended in a scoreless draw against Ecuador. Following the match, the Italian manager shared an honest assessment of his first outing with the Seleção.
Sticking to a philosophy similar to what he used at Real Madrid, Ancelotti set up Brazil with a compact defensive shape, relying on a low block and aiming to capitalize on space behind the back line with quick counterattacks. However, Brazil managed just two shots on target — one from Vinicius Junior and another from Casemiro — leaving fans wanting more from the attack.
After the final whistle, Ancelotti addressed the 0-0 result during his post-match press conference: “I think it was a good match defensively. The team showed good attitude, stayed organized, and at times applied good offensive pressure. At the back, we did very well — we hardly conceded any chances, and that’s a positive takeaway.”
Despite a solid defensive showing, the former Real Madrid boss acknowledged Brazil’s struggles in possession. “The area where we could have done better was our play with the ball — we needed a more fluid game. But in the end, it’s a good draw. We leave satisfied and confident for what’s ahead… What we discussed before the match, the players tried to put into practice,” the coach added.
With 22 points through 15 games, Brazil remains in fourth place in the CONMEBOL standings — two points behind Ecuador — but could drop to fifth depending on Colombia’s result against Peru on Friday. With three qualifying matches remaining, questions remain about whether Ancelotti is the right man to lead Brazil back to its historic heights.
Ancelotti eyes for his first win against Paraguay
Ancelotti faces another big challenge next week when Brazil hosts Paraguay. Gustavo Alfaro’s side is coming off a 2-0 win over Uruguay and now sits third in the standings with 24 points, just ahead of Brazil. Despite the tough opposition, Ancelotti remains confident:
“The match against Paraguay will be different because we’ll likely have more control of the game. That’s where we need to play with more rhythm, movement, and intensity, and I believe we’ll do that at home.”
Brazil’s clash with Paraguay is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo. With no training planned for Friday, the squad will resume preparations at the Joaquim Grava training center on Saturday — looking to secure a win that could spark Ancelotti’s rebuild of a team still searching for its identity.