Ancelotti praises Artur Jorge: “Extraordinary!”
Real Madrid coach watched Botafogo win the Copa Libertadores, which could see them face the Merengues in the Intercontinental Cup final
The fantastic way in which Botafogo , led by Artur Jorge, won the Copa Libertadores , playing with one less player from the second minute of the final against Atlético Mineiro (3-1), went around the world and left no one indifferent. One of the figures who was impressed was Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid ‘s coach , who admits to having watched with great interest the duel that decided the South American champion, which the meringues could face in the Intercontinental Cup, in December, in Qatar. And he praised the Portuguese coach and his team.
“The first minute of the match was incredible, with that huge incident [Gregore’s sending off]… absolutely incredible. Then, the attitude and commitment of the team [ Artur Jorge’s Botafogo ] were extraordinary, they played a fantastic match,” said Ancelotti in a press conference.
The Italian coach’s praise continues: “Many congratulations to them, it was a great success to win a match playing with 10 men, with an extraordinary effort. Now, yes, they can be our opponents in the Intercontinental, although they will have to play other matches to reach the final against us.”
Ancelotti is referring to the new model of the Intercontinental Cup in 2024, which is already being played and for whose final only the European champion, in this case Real Madrid , is qualified. Botafogo , to reach the decisive duel on December 18 in Doha, Qatar, will also have to face the quarter-finals, against Pachuca of Mexico, on the 11th of this month (the duel is called the Derby of the Americas and guarantees a trophy), and the semi-final, in which, if they qualify, they will face, on the 14th, the Egyptians of Al Ahly (Challenger Cup).
Carlo Ancelotti and Artur Jorge faced each other twice in the 2023/2024 Champions League group stage , just over a year ago, when the Portuguese coach was in charge of SC Braga . Real Madrid won both duels, on 24 October at the Pedreira (2-1), and on 9 November at the Santiago Bernabéu (3-0).
Ancelotti also did not forget Botafogo player Allan, whom he coached on two occasions, when he was coach of Napoli and Everton: «I am very happy that Allan won the Copa Libertadores. I am also happy for Botafogo, which is a historic team in Brazilian football, for having been able to win the Libertadores for the first time.»
