Ancelotti Reassures Clubs and Closes Brazil’s Testing Period

Ancelotti says player health is the priority for the Brazilian national team and sends a reassuring message to European clubs ahead of the Asian friendlies

Ancelotti reassures clubs: "The priority is health"

Italian Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of the Brazilian national team, assured this Friday that "clubs can be calm" because his "priority is the health" of the players.

Ancelotti responded in this way to the fears expressed by European clubs about the suitability of their stars traveling to back-to-back friendlies in Asia, against Japan and Singapore.

"The priority is always the player's health. If he is at 100%, he trains. If he is at 100%, he plays. And in this regard, we control the minutes he plays. (...). Clubs can be calm with the national team. The priority for everyone is the athlete's health. We always want the athlete to return ready to play and injury-free," he said at the press conference ahead of his team's friendly against Japan on Saturday in Singapore.

A testing period coming to an end

The coach also stated that the Brazilian national team's testing period ends during this FIFA international window, after calling up young prospects and promoting the return of players who had been away from the 'Canarinha' for some time, because the squad is practically closed ahead of upcoming official commitments such as the South American qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup or the 2028 Copa América.

"It is a testing period that will end with this FIFA international break. Next time, we will define the squad better. It was a period that gave us a lot of information about young players. We know we have very talented and committed young players, and that gives us confidence for the future. We have very high-level players. We have cover in some positions, a little less in others, but we have time," he indicated.

Debutants and returns in the squad

For the friendlies against Japan and Singapore, Ancelotti called up five debutants: Allan, Jonathan Jesus, Marlon Gomes, Alisson Santana and André Luiz. In the matches against Australia and India, in the previous squad, there were nine: Pedro Morisco, Otávio, Mauro Júnior, Jair, Martinelli, Breno Bidon, Arthur Dias, Matheuzinho and Gabriel Bontempo.

In addition, Pedro, João Gomes, Douglas Luiz and Lucas Perri, who had not been called up by Ancelotti, return to the Brazilian national team.

"We are dedicating all our efforts to making this period a success. This is a transition stage for the national team, a moment for new players to emerge, and that is the work we have to do. Fans should stay calm, because we are going to build a very strong group of players for the future," he stressed. EFE