World NewsOlympics Will Boost Ron Form - Ancelotti |
AC MILAN coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Ronaldinho's appearance at the Olympic Games will help the playmaker get back to his best.
The 28-year-old, who is currently in Singapore with the Brazil squad preparing for the Beijing games, struggled for form last season with injury and fitness problems.The former two-time World Player of the Year featured just 13 times in the Primera Liga and was subjected to heavy media criticism due to his conditioning and lifestyle.
Had he stayed at Barcelona, the Catalan club revealed they would have been reluctant to allow him to take part in the Games, but new coach Ancelotti believes the tournament will help him in more ways than one.
"In truth, seeing as he hasn't played much this past year, going to the Olympics could be useful for improving his form," Ancelotti told www.acmilan.it.
"He really wasn't 100% when he arrived at Milanello, this way he can get back to his best shape.
"Furthermore, him and [Milan forward and Brazil team-mate Alexandre] Pato have not played together before, and the Games could help them to find the right understanding."
As well as rescuing Ronaldinho from a difficult situation in Spain, it is believed the Rossoneri are keen to end Andriy Shevchenko's troubled stay in the Premier League with Chelsea.
Ancelotti will get the chance to meet up with the 31-year-old again when Milan meet Chelsea in Moscow in the Russian Railways Cup friendly tournament, but the Italian coach insists there will be no talk of a move.
"What will I say to Sheva in Moscow? I'll sincerely wish him the best of luck for the season," he said.
Sampdoria have admitted they would be interested in taking Shevchenko back to Italy should Milan fail to, but Ancelotti admitted such a move was unlikely, saying: "I don't think he wants to come back to any other Italian side."
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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