An Shuai: It s great to say goodbye with Magic Flute. Football has changed & if I don t adapt, I won t win the European Championship again

May 23rd, May 24th at 22:15, the 2024-25 La Liga finale, Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu Stadium, which will be a farewell match between Ancelotti and Modric. Before the game, Real Madrid coach Ancelotti attended the press conference and talked about some of the current situation of himself and the team.

How special will it be tomorrow?

- Very special, it is inevitable because this is my last game. Whenever a phase ends, it is always full of emotions. I feel this emotion now, but I am not sad, but rather I am very happy. I have always tried my best to do my best, and now we leave with joy and satisfaction, because this day will come sooner or later.

I want to thank everyone during this time: players, clubs, presidents... We have had a great time together, and I trained these outstanding players with great enthusiasm and gratitude. The period is about to end, and although it is long, the ending is very good. I have never argued with the Chairman, not even on the last day. Everything is going well at the moment. A new phase is about to begin and I will greet it with the same enthusiasm as when I came here.

This is a period of success, we have won a lot of honors, and I think it is also a success to be able to spend more than 700 press conferences with you (laughs). We had a great time, but, stick with 700 sessions…don’t think it’s an easy thing, some questions aren’t always so friendly.

How do you plan to say goodbye tomorrow?

-Everything will be as it should be, and it will be a pleasant day. Like I said, it’s an exciting day, you’ll communicate with players, and with many people. I have a great relationship with everyone and I love the atmosphere, including the chefs, those who made pasta for me before the competition, and I thank everyone. It's a special day, but I won't do anything special.

Will leave the Bernabeu tomorrow, will it be more exciting than ever?

-Yes, I'm very excited, tomorrow will be an exciting day, and it's normal if I cry. It will be a wonderful time and I will share this moment with Modric… His period at Real Madrid has given me great support. He is an amazing person, a legend, and it would be wonderful to say goodbye with him.

You have won this honor, which is rare in Real Madrid - I am proud to have the opportunity to coach this club, and all the achievements we have made since 2013 are there, and I hope to say goodbye with my love for the club.

What advice do you have for future Real Madrid coaches?

-I don't want to give advice, everyone has their own way. But enjoy your time at Real Madrid, Xavi Alonso will experience this first, and I wish him all the best. He has the ability to coach Real Madrid, and all I want to say is to enjoy it.

Which is your best night in Bernabeu?

- There are many, and it is difficult for me to choose one. But I will still choose those games that reverse and win, because these games are still unexplainable. This is what I want to prioritize, against Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea, these nights are forever memorable.

The feeling of ending Real Madrid's career and heading to coach the Brazilian national team - This feeling is very good, and I am very excited to join the five-star Brazil with a brilliant history instead of going to other clubs. It was a huge challenge, but I was very happy to have the opportunity to prepare for the World Cup for Brazil.

How do you want Real Madrid people to remember you?

- Obviously, a good head coach, but time will tell. Now, even if I say goodbye, I still feel the love of many people, which makes me very happy and very satisfied.

Will you still want to return to Real Madrid when you leave Brazil?

- I don't know (laughs), I don't have the idea of ​​coaching other clubs after leaving Real Madrid. That's what I said, now I stick to that. As for the future, I don't know, but the important thing at the moment is to do things well with Real Madrid.

How do you view the evolution of football in recent years?

—Football has changed, it has really changed. I realized that if I didn't adapt, I would never be able to win the Champions League again. But in the second phase, I was helped by a team of young coaches who were passionate and eager to learn. The current game preparations focus more on analysis than before, and many aspects were not considered 20 years ago. But as I said, my coaching team gave me the enthusiasm to keep improving. I am different from 1995 and 2013.

What changes do you think the team needs to make in the near future?

-I don't know, I don't want to talk about this. Like I said: the club has all the conditions to stay competitive next season, which is always the goal of Real Madrid. Modric and I will say goodbye tomorrow... He is a role model for everyone. For a coach, having someone like him... because there are many players who are excellent, but he knows how to combine strength with spirit, which makes him a legend for Real Madrid. This is very important, and when a person can perfectly combine the two, he is a legend. And when they can't do it, they are just ordinary players.

Do you have any regrets in these six seasons?

—No, no (laugh). I know I have made many mistakes, many, but because of so many mistakes, I can't tell you which one has the greatest impact on me. But nothing is going to keep me awake all night.

As a coach, how do you want people to remember you?

—I don't know that my work can be judged, no problem. But I am not a coach, I am just a coaching person. Someone will comment on my job, it's OK, but I don't want to be remembered that I'm a bad person.

Do you think this is the end of an era?

-You may think that with Modric's departure, the golden generation is about to come to an end. Although there is still Kavajal, this generation of players will end one day, just like everything else. Many people left: Casemiro, Ronaldo... But Real Madrid will continue to move forward and maintain its status as the world's best club.