Father figure Carlo has a plan and will be prepared for Japan

The 2022 Champions League semi-final. The Santiago Bernabéu. More than 60,000 fans in the stands, and Manchester City leading 1-0. I was on the Real Madrid bench when Carlo Ancelotti called me over and told me to get on the pitch, play aggressively and decide the match.

- Rodrygo

I stepped on to the field in the 68th minute. In the 90th minute, I equalised but we still trailed by a goal on aggregate. We restarted, and the next minute I scored again to force extra time. We won and the rest is history: another title for the club after beating Liverpool in the final. I bring up this moment to highlight how important coaches are to a team’s journey and how decisive they are in a player’s career.

I have a range of experiences as a player coached by Ancelotti. I believe it is easier for players to understand his methods because the true reality of football plays out behind the scenes rather than in front of the cameras. For the press and anyone outside the dressing room, it is hard to predict what he will do. It is natural for them to feel a bit lost trying to understand his mindset, as they might expect him to choose one path and he ends up taking another.

But make no mistake: his choices are always well considered, driven by a phenomenal coherence that stems from both the heart and mind of someone with deep tactical knowledge and a knack for managing group dynamics. As today’s game with Japan approaches, I believe all my fellow Brazilians will increasingly show their support for the Mister’s work.