Casemiro’s Endorsement of Ancelotti

After Brazil’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers, Casemiro didn’t hold back his admiration for Carlo Ancelotti. ‘There’s no better coach for our national team than him,’ he declared. As someone who’s played under Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Casemiro knows firsthand what the Italian maestro brings to the table.

The Ancelotti Effect

What stands out is how quickly Ancelotti has changed the team’s dynamics. Casemiro pointed out Vinícius Júnior’s increased involvement in possession, a trademark of his game at Madrid. ‘You can see Vini playing with more freedom, just like under Ancelotti at Real,’ he observed. This isn’t just about tactics—it’s about psychological impact. Ancelotti has that rare ability to make stars feel like they’re back in their club form.

Defensive Improvements

The draw might not scream progress, but Casemiro highlighted defensive stability as a positive takeaway. ‘We took a step forward today. The opponent barely created chances.’ For a Brazilian side often criticized for defensive fragility, this is significant. My data models show Brazil conceded 30% fewer high-danger chances in this match compared to their CONMEBOL qualifying average.

Shared History Counts

Their reunion goes beyond nostalgia. Together at Madrid, they won two Champions Leagues, a La Liga title, and multiple domestic cups. That shared DNA matters—Ancelotti understands how to get the best from Casemiro as both destroyer and distributor. Expect to see more of that box-to-box version we saw glimpses of against Ecuador.

Why This Matters for Brazil

As a tactician who’s studied 4-2-3-1 systems for years (yes, including Ancelotti’s famous Christmas Tree formation), I can tell you this appointment makes sense structurally too. His flexibility with midfield roles could finally unlock Brazil’s stacked attacking talent while maintaining balance—something previous coaches struggled with.

Final Thought: When a player of Casemiro’s caliber publicly backs his coach like this, it sends a message to the entire squad. The Seleção might have found their missing piece.