Carlo Ancelotti has revealed his “beautiful” Merseyside hometown, his passion for cooking and On Demand TV boxsets are helping to keep him occupied in his downtime during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.
Everton closed its facilities – including the Club’s USM Finch Farm training ground – more than four weeks ago due to the coronavirus outbreak and Ancelotti, in common with millions of people around the country, is following an unfamiliar routine by staying at home and going out once a day to exercise.
Blues boss Ancelotti concedes he is missing football but has been consistently forthright about the sport’s position in the shadow of a global pandemic.
The three-times Champions League winning boss is studying videos of matches and speaking with his staff every day.
And Ancelotti is using the extra time in his day to keep fit near his Crosby home by walking or cycling, refining his cooking skills and watching his favourite television series.
“If I walk, I go to Crosby, to the beach and sometimes I go biking to Formby,” Ancelotti told evertonfc.com.
“It is a beautiful area, the beach is really fantastic.
“It is a long beach, you can keep your distance when you walk. I enjoy this a lot.
“The weather is good and, honestly, it is beautiful here.
“It is not a good time in the world, in England and Italy and around Europe, because of this pandemic.
“But from the other aspect, the fact we have the possibility to walk and bike is important for ourselves – it is a good time for this.
“I met some supporters out biking, from a safe distance, of course.
“In Italy you are not allowed to do this.
“I am in contact with a lot of people in Italy and they are forced to stay at home, so it is not a good time for them.”
Ancelotti made a personal call to Evertonian Mark, a former police officer now battling Motor Neurone Disease, as part of the Club’s Blue Family campaign last month.
During the pair’s conversation, Ancelotti revealed he was glued to Netflix series The Outsider.
And the former AC Milan and Real Madrid manager has another handful of viewing recommendations for this period when we are being told to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
But before he settles on the sofa, Ancelotti is in the kitchen honing his culinary talents.
“During the day I love to cook,” said Ancelotti.
“I spend time cooking because it is one of my passions.
“My best dish? It is pasta.
“I can do pasta Bolognese, I can make pasta with mushrooms, I can make pasta carbonara.
“I am really good, I think!
“I don’t make my own pasta [for his dishes], that is the next step, my own homemade pasta.
“In the evening, I am watching television series.
“One on Netflix: Money Heist, that is fantastic. It is now on season four.
“I enjoyed watching Ray Donovan, a series on Apple TV.
“There is another good series, When They See Us [also on Netflix]. It is a story of five guys who were arrested in New York and is really interesting.
“And there is a new programme on Netflix, Unorthodox, it is a short series but nice.”
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Italian Ancelotti was appointed at Goodison Park in December and made a promising start in his new position.
Everton claimed 18 points from Ancelotti’s opening 11 games in charge and were sizing up a run at European qualification before football was suspended following the coronavirus outbreak.
The 60-year-old has scarcely had time away from the game since starting as a youth player with Reggiolo as a schoolboy and has worked as a manager for a quarter of a century.
The all-consuming nature of his job typically leaves Ancelotti short of opportunities to exercise – an issue for someone who suffered serious knee problems in a decorated playing career which featured five seasons with the brilliant AC Milan team that won the European Cup in successive years in 1989 and 1990.
“During the summer break I am used to doing exercise in Canada, biking and walking in the park,” said Ancelotti, whose wife is Canadian.
“It is the same now.
“I like to exercise.
“When I am working I have no time to do this, so I have problems with my knees.
“I try to use this time to improve the condition of my knees. I like to hear the sound of my bike.”
