Carlo Ancelotti sympathises with Arsene Wenger ahead of Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Monday 6 March 2017 20:06, UK
Carlo Ancelotti admits he feels for Arsene Wenger but will not provide any favours when Bayern Munich face Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Bayern hammered Arsenal 5-1 in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Allianz Arena, prompting criticism of Wenger which has been further fuelled by his decision to drop Alexis Sanchez for last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Wenger's Arsenal contract is set to expire in the summer, but he admitted in February he would like to stay at the Emirates and later confirmed he will stay in management next season.
Ancelotti was sacked as Chelsea manager just a year after winning the double and the Bayern boss believes the situation facing Wenger is simply part of the job.
"In our job, we have to live with critics," Ancelotti said at his pre-match press conference. "The most important is being able to consider the right critics.
"Alexis Sanchez is a very strong, very dangerous striker. If he plays it is clear that we have to control him."
"Wenger is a manager with a lot of experience, more than others, and I'm sure he will be able to manage this situation. It's a situation that can happen to every manager. Criticism is normal.
"I sympathise with him as a manager. As a man I have a good relationship with him. I have a lot of respect for him, not every manager will be able to do what he did here in this club."
Despite the support offered for Wenger, Ancelotti will not be making any special allowances for his opposite number on Tuesday night, even with his side's four-goal advantage over Arsenal.
"We will play our best team," said Ancelotti. "It is an important game, we have the advantage. We want to show a good game with our qualities."
Uncertainties remain over whether Sanchez will start against Bayern following his omission from Arsenal's starting line-up at Anfield, but Ancelotti is wary of a backlash from the Chilean forward.
"Alexis Sanchez is a very strong, very dangerous striker," Ancelotti said.
"If he plays it is clear that we have to control him because he is very fast and has a lot of quality."
