Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his pleasant surprise at Roma appointing Jose Mourinho as their next manager.
Everyone was focusing on Maurizio Sarri before Roma shocked the footballing world by announcing on Tuesday that Mourinho would take over next season.
He will be one of the highest-profile managers Roma have ever had, leading to much anticipation.
The appointment has been widely praised, and ex-Roma midfielder Ancelotti – who knows a thing or two about being an elite manager himself – has added his support.
“I didn’t expect it, nobody expected it,” Ancelotti told Corriere Dello Sport. “Mou will bring enthusiasm, knowledge, personality. He is a great coach.
“I have a really good relationship with him, he is a friend and has been for many years. He thanked me straight away for the message that I sent him, my congratulations, as I added a little thing. ‘I am happy because you’re going to coach a team I care a lot about’. My Roma. And the fans will adore him.”
Ancelotti brushed over any criticism Mourinho may have received from his spell with Tottenham.
“It always depends on the expectations that a club has,” he said. “Tottenham hoped to arrive in the top four, they weren’t succeeding and for this reason they ousted [Mauricio] Pochettino. Mourinho had to deal with a lot of injuries.”
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