New Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti has just about got his season underway with the Bundesliga champions and a challenging group in the Champions League is only a slight cause for concern. The Italian boss feels as many as seven clubs are in with a chance to win the coveted European trophy in the 2016/17 season – including his own Bayern side.
Bayern were drawn alongside Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Rostov in the UCL group stage draw. It is one of the tougher groups this season and has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’.
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Ancelotti, who is now managing a team in a fifth different league, believes his club has done enough to assert dominance on the domestic front and that only the Champions League title remains elusive to the Bavarian giants.
Ever since winning the title back in 2013 under Jupp Heynckes (Bayern had accomplished the treble), the club has failed to reach the final. In three years under Pep Guardiola, the club were ousted in the semi-finals – all three times by Spanish opposition.
Real Madrid knocked them out in 2014 while Barcelona eliminated them in 2015. Both sides won eventually went on to win the title. In Guardiola’s final season, Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the semi-final.
When asked about the Champions League, Ancelotti told Marca: “The club has won the last four Bundesligas. We just need a little more in the Champions League.
“We need to arrive to the latter stages in good shape,” he explained. “We have now gone out at the semi-final stage for the last three times.”
The 57-year-old boss was then asked about which teams stood a chance of winning it this year and he said, “There are seven teams that can win it.
“The big three Spanish sides (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid), Juventus, Manchester City, PSG and Bayern.”
Ancelotti would not mind second stint with Real Madrid in the future
The Italian had managed to lead Real Madrid to their 10th Champions League title in 2013, also known as La Decima. But he was sacked by Florentino Perez a season later when the club failed to win any major trophy.
However, Ancelotti is not one to harbour any hard feelings and said he would not hesitate to go back if required.
When asked about whether he would go back for another stint with the Spanish La Liga club, he said: “Of course. There is no reason why not. It was a nice experience.”
“I have to thank the club for signing me and giving me the chance to manage Madrid,” he continued. “I coached the club thanks to the President who wanted me for that period of time.”
Ancelotti also explained why the loss of key players and injuries had seen Real Madrid suffer in his final season.
“I have a lot of affection for the group that I trained. In the second season we lost one very important player in Angel Di Maria.” Di Maria had been sold to Manchester United for £59.7m while Xabi Alonso had also departed the club for Bayern Munich.
“Then we lost key players to injury in the second half of the season and we ended up paying for it.”
