Brazil national team coach Ancelotti gave an exclusive interview to CNN Brazil, where he assessed the team's World Cup performance and discussed topics including squad updates for the new cycle, Neymar's future with the national team, the development of young players, and Brazil's midfield needs. This article is the third part of the exclusive interview.

Looking at your squad, as a football enthusiast, I'm very impressed by Brazil's attacking firepower. When I see the names of the players being called up, it gives me great confidence. Of course, who am I to decide the lineup for you, but if it were me, I would call up Vinicius, Endrick, and Raphinha. Compared to players in the same positions from other countries, I think all of them are at a very high standard. Now that you finally have time, which you didn't have before the recent World Cup, how do you plan to make use of the major advantage that Brazil has some of the best forwards in the world?

Yes, I think this is a very important aspect, because individual ability is crucial. But as I just said, what's more important is building an overall strong team based on these excellent individual abilities. The key is to build a team with the strongest players.

We have many such players. As you mentioned, I don't think we will have any problems in attack in the future, nor in defense. What we need to find are new midfielders.

Let me ask about world football. You just mentioned the end of an era. We are now approaching the end of the Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo generation—the greatest talents in world football history. How will it affect global football when these three great players gradually leave their national teams?

They have represented, continue to represent, and will continue to represent some very important things. For young players, whether as role models in football or in terms of their seriousness and dedication, they serve as very important examples.

They are three amazing players. I think football will always use players with excellent individual ability as a benchmark. But now, because match intensity is increasing, it's much harder for players to display their individual ability than it was before.

So when you look at the new generation growing up—for example, Lamine Yamal just won his first World Cup. Football always has cycles, and currently there are many excellent young players emerging. What attracts Ancelotti's attention most regarding the future of Brazil's national team and the future of world football in general? I'm not comparing these young players to the three players mentioned earlier, but rather asking what the future of football can expect?

I think in modern football, technical ability is clearly still the most important thing. But you have to combine this technical ability with match intensity, and you must also have optimal physical condition. Because now, relying solely on individual ability can no longer make as big a difference as it did 20 years ago.

There's a question I've always been curious about and really want to ask you. We always complain about Brazil's current situation—we haven't won the World Cup in 24 years. But your home country, Italy, is perhaps going through the most serious crisis in its national team's history, having missed three consecutive World Cups. What has really gone wrong with Italian football? Why has such a traditional football powerhouse fallen into such serious difficulties with its national team in recent years?

I believe Italy has failed to develop a generation of truly world-class players in recent years. For example, look at Italy's big clubs now like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus; none of them have a world-class Italian forward.

So for the next World Cup and the upcoming cycle, are you more optimistic about Italian football?

I believe Italy must qualify for the next World Cup. Currently, Italy's U20 and U17 generations are very competitive in European tournaments. Italy's new generation of players will be better, and Italy will qualify for the next World Cup.

Coach, thank you very much for the interview. I wish you success in the cycle that just began today. I also hope that by the next World Cup, after four years of full work, we will see you win the only trophy missing from your brilliant coaching career.

Yes, that's right. We will do everything we can.

Finally, please leave a message for Brazilian fans.

Everyone must hold onto their faith. It's natural to feel disappointed after losing a World Cup. But we must believe and look forward, because this country's football has a future.

Related reading:

Ancelotti: Neymar has confirmed his national team career has ended; currently evaluating different types of goalkeepers

Ancelotti: Brazil is truly lacking midfielders; hopes to develop more midfield talent over the next 4 years

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