Real Madrid's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, shares the same sentiment as Giannis Antetokounmpo that sports have no room for failure.
In a press conference last Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks power forward strongly addressed a question about their season being considered a failure. There's “no failure in sports,” said the two-time NBA MVP.
The statements gained widespread attention following his team's first-round playoffs exit at the hands of the Miami Heat.
“It's not a failure, it's a step to success,” refuted the seven-time NBA All-Star.
“Michael Jordan played for 15 years and won six championships. Were the other nine years a failure? It's the wrong question. There's no failure in sports.”
Ancelotti wholeheartedly agrees with Antetokounmpo's mindset
An attitude of determination and perseverance is essential for any athlete or team striving for success at the highest level.
That's why Real Madrid's boss Carlo Ancelotti sided with the NBA's “Greak Freak,” who's become one of the league's most dominant players.
“What Antetokounmpo said was fantastic. I think in 100% the same way as him,” echoed Ancelotti, who became the first coach ever to win four Champions League titles last season.
The Real Madrid boss is on the brink of winning his fifth Champions League this season — Los Blancos face off against Manchester City in the semi-finals starting May 9.
“In sport, you lose a lot more often than you win,” Ancelotti, who holds the unique distinction of being the sole manager to clinch league championships across all five of Europe's elite football leagues.
“I have a big cabinet with a lot of trophies, but if I had to include all the ones I've lost, it wouldn't be a cabinet, it would be a house.” The Italian boss is down eleven points to arch-rivals Barcelona in the La Liga race this season.
Antetokounmpo and Ancelotti's perspectives remind us that sports are not just about winning or losing but about the journey and personal growth that comes with it. Their shared mindset encourages athletes and fans to embrace setbacks as stepping stones toward future success.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons/Светлана Бекетова + Wikimedia Commons/Erik Drost
