Coach Ancelotti points to a surprising name as Champions League champion

Carlo Ancelotti somewhat dampened Arsenal's European ambitions by not including "The Gunners" in his list of top contenders for the Champions League title.

Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League semifinals after a victory over Sporting Lisbon, setting up a clash with Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone's team reached this stage after overcoming Barcelona with a 3-2 aggregate score. Although "The Gunners" are considered one of the top two contenders for the title, Coach Carlo Ancelotti is not fully convinced that the London club can go all the way.

The Italian strategist believes the Champions League landscape this season is quite open, as several giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester City were eliminated early. Speaking to Il Giornale, he stated: “The Champions League is an open competition where big teams can be knocked out early, but it also serves as a platform for teams to develop.”

Ancelotti also identified PSG as the top contender for the championship. The French club advanced to the semifinals after defeating Liverpool with a 4-0 aggregate score, including a resilient performance at Anfield. In the top-four stage, they will face Bayern Munich, who overcame Real Madrid in a thrilling match with a total of seven goals. Despite a not-so-impressive start to the season, Luis Enrique's PSG has regained form at the right moment. Ancelotti affirmed his belief that the trophy will remain in Paris: “I choose PSG.”

Commenting on the quarter-finals, Ancelotti noted that the defenses of many top teams are showing issues. “I've seen matches with many goals, like Atletico Madrid versus Barcelona or Bayern versus Real Madrid. That brings excitement, but it also reveals too many mistakes from goalkeepers and defenders. High-pressing play, coupled with full-field marking, always carries risks, and the outcome can change in a moment. Even building play from the back requires absolute precision; otherwise, you pay the price,” he analyzed.

Besides following club football, Ancelotti's current priority is the Brazilian national team preparing for the 2026 World Cup. When evaluating international football, he views the French national team as the top benchmark. According to him, France's training system has produced an outstanding generation of players competing across Europe, but when assembled, they form the strongest national team in the world today.

The 66-year-old coach added: "There is a French training system that gathers the best players, distributed across various European clubs, but when combined, they create a national team that is currently the strongest in the world."