Brazil national team coach Ancelotti gave an exclusive interview to CNN Brazil, in which he reviewed the team's performance at the World Cup and discussed topics such as squad renewal for the new cycle, Neymar's future with the national team, development of young players, and Brazil's needs in midfield. This is the first part of the interview.

Coach, you've only led the Brazil national team for half a cycle, and you also led Brazil in your first World Cup as a coach. How do you evaluate the work done so far? From the World Cup experience in America, what lessons can we take for the next World Cup cycle?

I think the year leading up to the World Cup was very intense. We didn't have much time, but we did our best to prepare for the World Cup. This World Cup was disappointing. We regret it, but now we must look forward. We have time to develop a new generation of players for Brazilian football, and we will now use these friendly matches to observe the young players who are currently emerging in Brazilian football.

You used the word "disappointment" at the press conference after announcing the squad, and you mention it again now. This is also what the fans feel currently; do you feel the same?

Of course. Brazil should be one of the best national teams in the world, but we failed to achieve that. So we must improve our work and try to do better at the next World Cup.

Based on your internal planning with the management of the Brazilian Football Confederation, including Rodrigo Caetano, where did you originally expect Brazil to reach at this World Cup?

We didn't have much time to prepare, but I think logistically and organizationally, we were very well prepared for this World Cup. I felt everything was fine until the match against Norway. In that match against Norway, we couldn't win. We were a bit unlucky, but ultimately it was still a disappointing result. Now we must move past this disappointment and look forward.

Analyzing the past is always easier because things have already happened, and one can distance themselves from the situation at that time. If you look back at the World Cup that just ended now, is there anything you would handle differently?

It's hard to say. Of course, the players we called up were the best players at that time. Because we evaluated these players over a year, I'm confident the final squad of 26 players was correct. We also experienced some very significant injuries. From March, April, to June, players were injured. Some players, like Wesley and Raphinha, were also affected by injuries during the World Cup. This, to a certain extent, affected the team's strength.

Speaking of injured players, Neymar was troubled by injury in the period leading up to the World Cup, and there was much speculation at the time about whether he would ultimately be called up to Brazil's national team. Now that the World Cup has ended, do you still believe the decision to bring Neymar to the World Cup was correct?

Yes.

Why?

Because he deserved it.

Looking ahead, Brazil's national team squad has called up many young players, and the team has undergone significant renewal. Previously, this team's generation revolved around Neymar, and this World Cup also seems to mark a turning point for this generation of players. You also discussed this at a previous press conference. Does the 2026 World Cup mark the end of an era, a generation of players?

I think this generation of players participated in three World Cups. The generation from the 2022 World Cup, after this World Cup ends, completes a cycle as well. Some of these players may still participate in the next World Cup, like Marquinhos. But overall, we must introduce new players and also build a new identity for the national team.

Does that include Neymar?

Do you mean for the future?

Yes.

No.

So...

Because for Neymar, his cycle with the national team has ended. He has confirmed that he doesn't want to return to the national team.

So how do you replace Neymar? In Brazil's national team cycle, how do you replace a player like Neymar?

Neymar cannot be replaced, because he is an exceptional and unique talent, an irreplaceable player. What we can do is build a strong framework and create strong collective play.

You've called up many young players this time. Next year we have the Olympics and Copa América. As you said, this is generational renewal after the generation of players who participated in three World Cups. Considering Copa América and the Olympics, how do you plan to promote this generational change? How will Brazil's senior national team and the Olympic team be integrated?

We have some players in the Olympic age group. We have also worked with the U20 and U17 national team coaches, hoping to manage these players well and coordinate all competitions. In fact, the Olympics are very important, and Copa América is also very important.

We must focus on the development of these young players, because a club's objectives for a player are not always fully aligned with the national team's objectives for that player.

You called up three very young goalkeepers this time. For years, Brazil's national team basically used the same three goalkeepers, who are all very high-level and excellent players, some of whom have even been rated as the best goalkeepers in the world in recent years. I'd like you to speak about the renewal at the goalkeeper position for Brazil's national team.

We want to observe different types of goalkeepers, but this doesn't mean Alisson has been sidelined. Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At Copa América or the World Cup, if Alisson performs better than the others, then Alisson will play.

May I understand it this way? You already know Alisson very well, so now you want to get to know other goalkeepers up close?

Of course, yes. Because I think there are many young Brazilian goalkeepers performing very well right now, and not only in Brazil.

You also praised these three new goalkeepers at the press conference after announcing the squad. What special qualities do you see in each of these three young goalkeepers?

They are all still very young and have shown different characteristics. I think Otávio has a lot of personality, and Hugo Souza has very good reflexes. And Pedro Morisco, he is also a young goalkeeper with potential to become an excellent goalkeeper in the future.

Related reading:

Ancelotti: Brazil indeed lacks midfielders, hopes to develop more midfield talent in the next 4 years

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