"I don't want to make excuses, but the pitch...it wasn't easy to play."

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that his debut as Brazil coach on Thursday was "very special" after a goalless draw with Ecuador, a result he described as "a good point" although he acknowledged that, to face Paraguay, they must improve their play on the ball.

"I have more than 1,200 games as a coach and today was my first game as Brazil coach and it was something special," admitted Ancelotti, who took over the reins of the ‘Selecao’ after leaving Real Madrid just two weeks ago.

"For me it's a gift to be here," added 'Carletto', who commented that a national team implies "a different feeling to representing a club, because here you have the feeling that there is a country behind you".

Therefore, the Italian stressed that they are focused on bringing out the best version of both the coaching staff and the players, and in this sense he praised the performance against Ecuador of Vinicius Junior, who he said was outstanding throughout the match.

"The goal we have is to qualify and fight in the World Cup, to try to put Brazil in the top positions of world football, where it has always been. We are going to fight to achieve it," he said.

Ancelotti considered that the match, corresponding to the fifteenth date of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, "was a very good defensive match" for both teams.

"The team had a very good attitude and order, and at times good offensive pressing. We practically didn't give away any chances," said the coach.

"The game on the ball could have been a little more fluid, but it's a good draw, with a good game. We left satisfied and with confidence for the next match," he added.

The coach complained about the conditions of the pitch at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil, as in his opinion it made it difficult to combine passes: “I don't want to make excuses, but the pitch... it was not so easy to play”.

“Ecuador defended very well and it was not easy to find space between the lines,” commented Ancelotti, who explained that he substituted Richarlison and Estevao for Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha to give the team energy after the starters had shown a lot of defensive commitment.

"I think against Paraguay it will be different, because we will have more opportunities to control the game, a game with more rhythm, mobility and intensity. I think we will be able to see that at home," predicted the Italian.