According to reports from The Independent, former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful of returning to the Premier League in the near future – with Manchester United his preferred destination.
The Italian tactician is taking a sabbatical after being sacked by Real Madrid at the end of last term but wants a return to English football, having lead Chelsea to a Premier League title and FA Cup double during the 2009/10 season. “The Premier League is the best in the sense of atmosphere, ambience. It is also competitive, so I would like to come back, especially for the atmosphere,” he said in an exclusive interview with The Independent.
It was reported last week that Ancelotti already been ‘sounded out‘ by the Manchester United hierarchy as a potential replacement for Louis van Gaal, whose contract expires at the end of next season.
And the 56-year-old has hinted he’s eyeing the Old Trafford throne after coming close to taking the managerial reigns from David Moyes in 2014, telling the British newspaper; “Of course, for every manager, they would all think of managing Manchester United. But I have no regrets about staying at Real because I really enjoyed Madrid. I would like to come back in a club with a good project, but, of course, one that is competitive.”
Although he’d ideally like to return to football at the start of next season, Ancelotti also suggested he’d be prepared to wait for the right opportunity come along – such as Louis van Gaal retiring at the end of the 2016/17 campaign. He said; “I will continue to wait. I don’t find a club with a good project, I can wait. What will I do? Watching games, fishing, all these things. But let us see next summer. I will not take a job in mid-season, but I would like to work again next summer.”
One of the greatest managers of the modern era, Ancelotti’s trophy cabinet includes a record three Champions League titles, a Premier League title, a Serie A title, a Ligue 1 title, an FA Cup, a Copa del Rey and a Coppa Italia.