Players forced out Ancelotti – Bayern

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness revealed Carlo Ancelotti’s position at the club became untenable after a group of players turned against the Italian, Goal reports.

Ancelotti was sacked on Thursday following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to former club Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the latest chapter in an underwhelming start to the campaign at home and abroad.

In announcing the decision, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed Ancelotti’s dismissal was due to the team’s performances failing to meet expectations.

But Hoeness indicated that dressing-room fractions played a key part in the manager’s downfall.

“There were five players against Ancelotti,” Hoeness told Westfalenpost.

“It was impossible to get out of that.”

Star trio Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben have all voiced their discontent at various stages of the season, with the latter refusing to back Ancelotti after the defeat in Paris.

When questioned on Thursday, the 58-year-old former AC Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss told reporters, “I don’t want to speak but I will be writing a statement.”

Former France defender Willy Sagnol has been installed as manager on an interim basis.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti would prefer a return to the Premier League to continue his management career after being sacked by Bayern Munich, according to The Telegraph.

He was expected to leave Bayern at the end of this season but was dismissed on Thursday after months of growing discontent at the club.

The writing has been on the wall for Ancelotti for some time despite him winning the German title last season. his first at the club, with Bayern only reaching the last eight of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the German Cup. Bayern are currently third in the Bundesliga.

Ancelotti, with his outstanding record, having won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany, and the Champions League three times as a coach, will certainly be in demand. There are likely to be offers from around the world and possibly back in Italy at AC Milan unless their current coach Vincenzo Montella can improve the club’s fortunes.

But it is understood that Ancelotti would still like to return to England, if the right club becomes available, having spent two seasons at Chelsea where he became the first manager there to win the league and FA Cup double.

West Ham United did make contact with Ancelotti before they hired Slaven Bilic as their manager and with Bilic in the final year of his contract and under pressure at the club it could be that they make a move for him once again. Whether he will regard West Ham as a big enough club remains to be seen.

Manchester United were keen to hire Ancelotti as first Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement and then after David Moyes was sacked, but Jose Mourinho is in a rock-solid position at the club and there is more chance that he will extend his contract rather than him leaving.

Liverpool interviewed Ancelotti before they hired Jurgen Klopp while Arsenal would be an ideal club for him but Arsene Wenger has only just gone into another two-year contract at the Emirates.

 

 

(PUNCH)