Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm has opened up on the memorable moment Carlo Ancelotti revealed to him that the club's higher-ups were "grabbing [him] by the balls".
Ancelotti managed Bayern in the 2016-17 season, Lahm's last as a professional, and the Italian's time in charge didn't end in the best of circumstances. However, Lahm - who played more than 500 times for the club - has spoken of the respect he has for the man who delivered the final Bundesliga of the club captain's career.
Lahm's words come as Ancelotti prepares to lead out his Real Madrid team against Chelsea at the Bernabeu. Los Blancos hold a 3-1 advantage thanks to Karim Benzema's hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, and Ancelotti could end the season with a fourth Champions League title since moving into management.
"At the time when he was coaching us it sometimes looked chaotic in the dressing room," Lahm wrote in his column for The Guardian. "Basically, kids’ stuff.
"Ancelotti was supposed to provide discipline. He was given a list of five points that we players should pay attention to in future. After training, he took me aside, showed me the list and said: 'Now they’re grabbing me by the balls.'"
"Then Ancelotti stood in the dressing room in front of the team, looked at a piece of paper and said: “I have an order from the board to read you a list.” What he said, his tone, the way he looked, expressed: ‘This is not part of my job, I’m not coaching a youth team after all. But if the bosses want me to do it, I’ll do it.’
"Some players countered that signing thousands of autograph cards a month was too much for them. Ancelotti said: 'It would be the same for me.'"
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Ancelotti's arrival at Bayern came after Pep Guardiola moved on, with the Catalan coach having won three league titles in as many years. Lahm acknowledges few would answer with the Italian when quizzed on which manager is the best in the world - a debate where Guardiola will often feature - but speaks highly of Ancelotti's openness and pragmatism and the fact that he "never takes himself too seriously".
"As a player you feel comfortable because you sense that the coach is ready to make his methods available to the team," Lahm explained. "That is why he is successful everywhere.
"As Real’s coach, he is aware that a debacle can happen, like the 4-0 defeat against Barcelona. Genius is simply not available in every game. Ancelotti knows that and the players know that he knows it. They support each other because he is one of them."
