The Everton boss gave his thoughts on the delay of football involving the coronavirus outbreak and if the players will feel it when they return.
Carlo Ancelotti has shown that Jurgen Klopp told him it was a”criminal action” to permit the next leg of this Champions League last-16 link between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid to proceed.
The result at Anfield would observe the holders depart the contest by a 4-2 aggregate scoreline, although Everton boss Ancelotti says his Merseyside rival told him that the match should not have gone ahead given the seriousness of this Covid-19 situation.
Referring to the fixture and how the match went ahead with no limitations on fan attendance, Ancelotti told Corriere dello Sport: “I talked with Klopp a couple of days ago, he explained that the choice to play with Liverpool-Atletico was a criminal act and I believe he is right.”
The Premier League announced on Friday evening that professional soccer in England wouldn’t be returning before April 30 at the first and Ancelotti isn’t worried about the delay, insisting that getting back underway is the last thing he’s thinking about.
He added: “We are all living a life that we were not utilised to and that will change us profoundly. I am sure we will all have to downsize, beginning with soccer.
“Now, the priority is health, restricting the contagion. When you start again, once you finish, the dates… believe me, I really don’t care. Right now, that is the last thing on my head.
“I hear talk about cutting wages, suspension of payments. They look like inopportune solutions. Soon the market will change, which is at all levels: The TV rights will be, coaches and players will make tickets will cost less because individuals are going to have less money. Then, obviously, if it is going to be possible to continue the season… otherwise, amen.”
There have been suggestions that gamers will struggle to meet the requirements of Premier League football after having not played for more than a month and possibly even longer, though Ancelotti doesn’t think it is going to be an issue.
The Toffees head coach said: “It makes me laugh, the men and women that are constantly talking about the time it takes to prepare [to perform again]. There are even those people who are talking about three weeks of training.”
“I recall in 2006, because of the Calciopoli, how Milan dropped from the top four and hauled from Europe. Then, to assist Lazio from being relegated, they took away a few of the punishment and we were made to qualify for the Champions League.
“I needed to call the men who were on their vacations because four days later we’d need to play Red Star [Belgrade]. Cafu returned 24 hours before and played 90 minutes. If you would like, I will remind you how it ended in May.”
