• Football

'It is impossible to shut Sepp Blatter up'

ESPN staff
October 29, 2014
Carlo Ancelotti says he cannot understand Sepp Blatter's latest statement © Getty Images
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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has said it is impossible to keep FIFA president Sepp Blatter quiet, while backing Cristiano Ronaldo to win this year's Ballon d'Or award.

On Monday, Blatter claimed that Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should have won the Golden Ball prize awarded to Lionel Messi as FIFA's best player of the tournament at last summer's World Cup.

This has been taken by some as Blatter suggesting Neuer now deserves to win the 2014 Ballon D'Or award, which FIFA also co-organises, and which current holder Ronaldo is hot favourite to retain this year.

Ancelotti said Blatter was always making surprise statements but it was clear that his player's goalscoring exploits, as well as contributions to last season's Champions League and Copa del Rey victories, left no room for debate.

"It always surprises me what he [Blatter] does, but what are we going to do," Ancelotti said. "It is impossible to shut up the FIFA president. This is a matter which is always talked about.

"It is Cristiano's year, he is scoring goals and winning important trophies, so there is no doubt that he is the Ballon d'Or. So [Blatter's] words do not make much sense."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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