Ancelotti sacked despite guiding Napoli to last 16
NAPLES: Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked by Napoli despite taking the Serie A side to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) with a 4-0 win over Genk.
“Napoli has decided to relieve
team coach,” the Italian side said in a statement.
Tuesday’s win over Genk, which
E, one point behind Liverpool, broke a nine-match winless run that came amid dressing room unrest and friction between the club, Ancelotti and the players.
Former AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso is the favourite
- ished second behind champions
Juventus last season but are miles off the pace this year.
They sit seventh in the Italian top
Milan and more worryingly eight behind fourth-placed Cagliari, who that “a coach’s suitcase is always ready” ahead of Tuesday’s match, and as speculation ramped up over the 60-year-old’s future at the southern club he ruled out stepping down after Tuesday’s win.
“Resignation? I have never resigned in my life and I never will,” he said. “My future? The team management will make its assessment.
The club has been in turmoil this season as club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis sank into a bitter row with his players following a series of disappointing results.
The squad refused to bow to De Laurentiis’ demand they be con
in November, reportedly receiving a collective deduction to their wages of 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) for their disobedience.
Union FIFPro said they would back the players against “further abuse and intimidation”, calling
Ancelotti, who won three Champions League titles as a coach, twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid, replaced Maurizio Sarri in July 2018.
He guided the team to a runners
they missed out on the Champions League last 16 on goal difference to eventual winners Liverpool.
They are without a win in seven Serie A games since October 19 and next play Parma on Saturday.