Brazil stars hail Ancelotti's special quality for sparking comeback victory

Ancelotti’s men cut frustrated figures when they trooped off at half-time after failing to cancel out Kaishu Sano’s 29th-minute opener.

But rather than give his players the hairdryer treatment, the Italian was cool, calm and collected as he plotted to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Casemiro headed the equaliser in the 56th minute and Martinelli, who had been summoned from the bench midway through the second half, netted the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to send Brazil into the last 16.

"Ancelotti is a surreal guy," said the 25-year-old Arsenal star. "At half-time, he gave us confidence, he told us that we would score and come back.

“It didn't matter when the goal would be scored. We sensed his calmness. It relaxed us."

While the Brazilian bench erupted in celebration when Martinelli struck, Ancelotti was calmness personified — and Casemiro was quick to echo Martinelli’s sentiments about their boss.

The former Manchester United midfielder, 34, said: "In the second half, Ancelotti called for calm once more.

“Among other things, he insisted that we keep calm, because we were pressing and playing high up the pitch, so the chances would come.

“The team deserves credit in particular for our mentality. We kept pressing and attacking."

Speaking to FIFA, Matheus Cunha added: "It's never easy facing opponents like that. We could see just how much pride they play with on the pitch.

“I believe that after we came out with the mentality of wanting to put the game to bed, of wanting to impose our style on the game, it all worked out in the end.

“In the first half, come to think of it, we tried to do almost exactly the same, but our sense of urgency made the difference in the second.”

Throughout a glittering career as both a player and manager, 67-year-old Ancelotti has grown accustomed to winning the biggest prizes in football.

But ‘Don Carlo’ will under no illusion that his side must raise their game if he is to get his hands on the World Cup for the first time.  

DAZN/FIFA

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