Ancelotti on working with Abramovich: Nothing compared.

According to The Sun: Carlo Ancelotti shared that his collaboration with Roman Abramovich was a unique experience in his coaching career.

Currently, Ancelotti is leading the Brazil national team, preparing the squad for the next World Cup, after successful stints at clubs like Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, PSG, and Real Madrid.

In his new autobiography “Dream - Win the Champions League,” the 66-year-old Italian, the only coach to win the Champions League five times, revealed how Roman Abramovich was like a “shadow” in his life at Stamford Bridge for two years.

Ancelotti joined Chelsea in 2009 and achieved a “double” in his first season, but was already sacked a year later after the team finished second in the Premier League and was eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Pressure from Abramovich

Ancelotti admitted that even in his first season, when Chelsea's dream of European success was shattered by José Mourinho, he felt a pressure he had never experienced before.

“I knew that my statistics would help me only to a certain extent,” he said.

“Abramovich made it clear that I had to win the Champions League with Chelsea,” he added.

Just a few weeks after joining the club, Ancelotti realized the reality when the team unexpectedly lost 1-3 to Wigan, where goalkeeper Petr Čech received a red card.

“That was the first hint that my entire career at the club would not be easy,” he emphasized.

Moreover, the coach noted that even during the Berlusconi era, he did not feel such pressure, although that owner was also demanding.

Abramovich was constantly striving to win the Champions League, so Ancelotti felt an additional burden as the club owner inquired about the reasons if the team did not achieve the planned results.

Reviews of Ancelotti

Jude Bellingham emphasized that Ancelotti is a “special” coach, and this became evident during one of the most important matches of the Englishman's career.

Bellingham, in his first season at Real in 2024, helped the team reach the Champions League final and noted that Ancelotti's words have a great impact on the game.

“It’s always clear information without unnecessary clichés, just what’s needed for the game,” he said.

“Dream - Win the Champions League” by Carlo Ancelotti was published on September 25, 2025.

This autobiography unveils the complicated path Ancelotti had to traverse after successes at top clubs, as well as demonstrates how the demands of owners can influence a coaching career. Being one of the most successful coaches of modern times, Ancelotti shares his experiences that can be useful for newcomers in the world of football.