If Ancelotti’s speaking in Italian, for heaven’s sake, run!
Ancelotti – not always this cheerful
It must be hard being a new manager on foreign soil. To put it in perspective, simply picture yourself landing an office job where you’re in charge of around a hundred people. Only not one of them understands you, and every time you ask someone where the toilets are, they pretend to know what you’ve just said by laughing awkwardly and self-consciously walking away.
You’d last about three days, and then you’d leave. If only to stop having to urinate behind a wheelie bin every single damn day of your life.
All of which leads rather seamlessly to Carlo Ancelotti, who (as reported in today’s Guardian) has lifted the lid on life behind the scenes at Chelsea.
Talking about his various issues with the English language, he was full of praise for his old Milan team mate/now work colleague, Ray Wilkins. He said this:
“I have difficulty to understand sometimes but I have a very good assistant.”
“He’s not only an assistant, he’s a friend and he speaks very good Italian. And so he helps me to understand.”
“It’s not easy because when you speak to the team you have to not only speak, you have to show emotion as well.”
“The first time I was angry with the players I tried to shout at them in English – it was impossible!”
“Now the players know that when I speak in Italian, I am angry!”
Good to know, Carlo. Good to know.
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