Carlo Ancelotti has changed Brazil fast as Brazilian manager, and the clearest sign is that Neymar was left out of the starting XI. Brazil then beat Japan at the World Cup after going behind, a result that fits the sharper mood around the squad.
Alisson On Brazil’s Cycle
Alisson said the turnaround has been real after a long stretch of instability. “It’s undeniable that this World Cup cycle has been very difficult for us players,” he said. “We’ve experienced all these difficulties first-hand.”
He added: “But since Ancelotti’s arrival, the atmosphere has been transformed.” The goalkeeper also said: “He gives us the peace of mind that comes from an environment focused on work, without having to worry about controversies or other issues.”
That matters because Brazil arrived at the World Cup after four changes of manager since Qatar in 2022, with 95 players called up across that span and the Brazilian Football Confederation president ousted before the tournament. Brazil had gone 24 years without a World Cup title, so the team’s mood was already part of the pressure on the pitch.
Marquinhos And The New Mindset
Marquinhos put the change in football terms. “Our team wasn’t in great form, but Ancelotti made the necessary changes,” he said. “He’s very smart. He knows how to get the best out of the players he has and help them improve.”
He went further: “He managed to change our mindset and created a philosophy centred on wellbeing.” That is the practical shift Brazil have shown under him — fewer doubts, cleaner selections, and a clearer hierarchy around a squad that now sees Vinícius Júnior as the most important player.
Ancelotti’s standing helps explain why the message has landed. He has five Champions League titles, and players have responded to the calm around him rather than the churn that came before.
Japan Tested Brazil Again
Brazil still trailed after Keishu Sano scored, so the side was not fully settled. That was the same old problem in different colours: since 2023, Brazil had conceded first on 12 occasions, lost seven of those matches and drawn four.
The Japan match showed the difference when the response arrived quickly. Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal, and he said of Ancelotti: “Ancelotti is an incredible man.” He also said: “He said we were going to equalise and then win, that we had to believe in ourselves.”
Martinelli added: “You can see from his body language just how calm he is.” Brazil also did without Neymar against Japan, while he had played 14 minutes at this World Cup against Scotland. The selection call matched the result: Brazil found a way back without leaning on the older hierarchy.
For Brazil, the immediate gain is simple. The team that arrived carrying managerial churn, political noise and a long title drought now looks more settled, and Ancelotti’s choices have already produced a comeback win over Japan. The harder part is keeping that level when the first goal goes against them again.
