Ancelotti’s Lille start impresses in Ligue 1 but falters in Europe

Davide Ancelotti is trying to establish himself as a manager in his own right at Lille, after years working alongside his father, Carlo, and a brief spell in charge of Botafogo. Lille’s promising Ligue 1 start suggests the appointment may be working domestically, but their poor Champions League results have raised questions about how far the team can go.

After eight league matches, Lille had 15 points, one behind leaders Rennes, and their strongest start to a domestic season since winning the title in 2020-21. They had also lost all three Champions League games, leaving them second from bottom in the 36-team table. Ancelotti’s appointment marked a change from Lille’s recent preference for managers with extensive Ligue 1 experience; expectations are heightened by his father’s record of five Champions League titles.