Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said it angers him when people call him soft with the players.
The Italian’s long-term future has been cast in doubt in recent weeks with Los Blancos in poor form. Since the turn of the year the club has only won seven of its 15 matches, losing their grip at the top of the table in the process.
Ancelotti has come under fire from some sections of the media for being too soft and not knowing how to manage the egos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian said: “The relationship with the players is the most important thing, it’s more important than my relationship with the president. If there isn’t a good dynamic with the players, you’re a dead man. Some might call it friendship, I simply call it respect, although I like to laugh and joke with them. Intelligent people know when it’s the right time to be serious. I get angry when people say I’m ‘too soft’ because it’s not true.”
He went on to add: “My history has helped me since my start with the club. There’s always been respect for what I’ve done, but later I’ve built a relationship from the day to day work. I have to be consistent from beginning to end.”
