News
Mikel Obi Suggests ‘Perfect’ Coach For England Team
John Obi Mikel, who played for Chelsea as a midfielder, has endorsed Carlo Ancelotti as the ideal coach to lead the England national team.
The former Super Eagles captain is convinced that Ancelotti has the ability to unlock the full potential of the English athletes.
Sportxparte recalls that Gareth Southgate stepped down as the head coach of the England team after his team did not secure a victory in the Euro 2024 tournament.
Carlo Ancelotti
The English Football Association is in the process of finding a new coach for Southgate.
Speaking on the manager who should succeed Southgate, Mikel Obi said on his podcast: “I will go with someone that you didn’t mention. [He’s] somebody I think will be very good with this England, but not immediately, maybe in the next 1-2 years.
“That would be Carlo Ancelotti.”
“We are in Madrid, of course, he’s paid me to say this! I think Carlo would get this team playing well.”
Carlo Ancelotti: Kylian Mbappé Will Fit In Real Madrid Attack
Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has insisted that star summer signing Kylian Mbappé will fit right into the club’s lineup despite their already abundant offensive options.
When questioned by former player, John Obi Mikel, co-host of the Obi One Podcast, about Mbappé’s preference for playing on the left flank, Ancelotti refrained from detailing a specific position but emphasized that there is ample space available in the attack.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it,” Ancelotti said about the player’s ideal fit.
“Fitting Mbappé in the team won’t be a problem. It’s important to remember what he said: He’ll adapt to the team. The key is that each player has to contribute talent and quality in service to the team.”
Real Madrid won the La Liga and UEFA Champions League double last season when it was typical for forwards Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo to move around under Ancelotti’s attack.
“Sometimes you can play on the left, sometimes you can play in the middle,” Ancelotti said.
The expectation is that Madrid will kick off the season using a 4-3-3 formation, featuring Mbappé alongside Vinícius and Rodrygo. The manager may also consider moving Mbappé to one of the positions occupied by his teammates at various points during the game.
“I see [Mbappé] him playing up front, and the attack is quite wide. The pitch is 68 meters wide, and we have to cover those 68 meters with the players in front,” he joked.
“It could be Vinícius. Because if I ask you, where did Vinícius play last season, it’s difficult to say. He didn’t play like a [left] winger. The important key to an attacking play is the mobility of the players.”
