Ancelotti Defends Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or Boycott
Ancelotti Explains Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or Boycott
- Ancelotti has defended his club's decision to boycott last year's Ballon d'Or ceremony.
- Real Madrid chose not to attend the Paris event in October because they believed Vinicius Jr. deserved the award
- It also meant Ancelotti was unable to accept his Coach of the Year award in person.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended his club’s decision to boycott last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Real Madrid chose not to attend the Paris event in October because they believed Vinicius Jr. deserved the award, which ultimately went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri. This decision drew criticism, with many viewing it as petty and disrespectful.
It also meant Ancelotti was unable to accept his Coach of the Year award in person.
Rodri played a key role in City’s 2022-23 treble-winning season, scoring the decisive goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. While acknowledging Vinicius Jr.’s exceptional year, City manager Pep Guardiola stated there was “absolutely not” any resentment at his club over Real Madrid’s boycott.
Rodri will miss Tuesday’s game due to injury, but Vinicius Jr. is expected to start for a Real Madrid side facing an “emergency” situation with several key defenders, including Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal, all unavailable.
Despite City’s own struggles this season, including a recent 5-1 loss to Arsenal, Ancelotti anticipates a challenging match. “It seems like it’s a Clasico because we have played each other a lot of times in this competition,” he commented. “I still think they are one of the best teams in Europe and have one of the best managers out there.
He has always tried to play well and has brought a great deal to football in terms of attacking play.”
