Ancelotti: This is my opinion on the Moroccan national team, and fear is important in life

Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of the Brazilian national team, appeared at a press conference to discuss the match against Morocco on Sunday, in the first round of the group stage of the World Cup, at MetLife Stadium.

The coach said, "What are your feelings before your first appearance in the World Cup? It's a new experience and a special responsibility and honor to represent the most decorated national football team in the world. It's a responsibility and an honor, and I want to enjoy this moment with happiness and joy because it's a beautiful moment in my career."

He added: "Possession of the ball is a part of the game, but it's not the most important aspect. If we talk about statistics, the most important thing is the number of goals. The idea is to be strong when we have the ball, and when we don't, we must be organized because all opponents, like Morocco, have quality and can create problems if you're not prepared for the match."

He added, "We are a team capable of competing against any national team. We are convinced that we can compete against any team. We have the quality and experience, and we have a team that gives us the necessary confidence to compete against everyone."

He continued: "You used to say that you felt fear before big matches with Real Madrid. Do you still feel fear now? I reiterate that fear is important in life. Without fear, a lion might seem like a cat. Fear is crucial for survival; you must always maintain focus and positive anxiety to ensure your team plays well. But by nature, I am optimistic and believe we are ready to deliver a great match tomorrow and complete a strong world championship."

He added: "Are you the right coach for Brazil? I don't know, it's hard to answer that, but I feel comfortable in this position and I'm honored to represent this great country. I hope to deliver what is needed for the team's success."

Regarding Neymar's condition: "Neymar is working hard to recover as quickly as possible, and we hope he will return next week. His technical quality is undeniable, as well as his experience and leadership role within the team."

Regarding Wesley's exclusion due to injury: "Excluding a player is part of my job and I don't like it. It's painful. I had no other choice; he suffered a severe injury and wouldn't have recovered in time for this World Cup. When selecting the squad, the choice was between calling up nine defenders or eight defenders and an additional midfielder. The versatility of Danilo and Ibanez gave us confidence, so we opted for an additional midfielder who had a good season."

Regarding the difference between coaching teams and national teams: "The coach's job is to adapt. One must adapt to many things, including the players' characteristics, the environment, the culture of the team, and the culture of the country. I tried to adapt quickly, and I believe the work we have done this year allows us to be competitive in this World Cup."

He emphasized: "It's hard to say that we will win, but we can compete, and we can compete to win. To win, you need small details, but our mindset is positive. We have confidence in this World Cup, not just in the first match because it's just the beginning of the tournament. We have prepared well."

Regarding his opinion on Morocco: "Morocco is a very strong team with high-quality players, many of whom play successfully in Europe. We have great respect for this team. It will be a very beautiful match to watch, and for the fans, we will play for their enjoyment. I believe there will be a large number of Brazilian and Moroccan fans. It is a very organized team with quality in all lines. We must deliver a complete match in all aspects, not overlooking any details in defense, attack, or transitions. We need to focus on the defensive side as well as set-pieces because we have quality in them. In modern football, there is no small team. Morocco is one of the best teams in Africa, whether as a runner-up or champion of the African Cup. I don't want to delve into this topic, but it is a very strong and well-equipped team."

He concluded: "Do you think Spain is a contender for the title? Spain is among the contenders, but there is no clear favorite so far. I believe the tournament will be very close, and many teams have a chance to compete until the final."