‘The aim is not to play well’: Brazil coach Ancelotti’s blunt statement after 3-0 win over Scotland following Neymar’s return

Coach Carlo Ancelotti urged Brazil fans not to get carried away after the team’s 3-0 win over Scotland at the FIFA World Cup, a game that also saw the return of Neymar and another strong performance from Vinicius Junior.After opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, Brazil followed it up with two wins to finish top of Group C. Ancelotti said the team is starting to play the way it wants ahead of the knockout stages. “Now we play as a team, that was the goal,” Ancelotti told a news conference, according to Reuters. “We’re not perfect, we need to improve a few things – we could be quicker in possession.“I am happy because the team has improved since the opening game. Being solid is very important now that we have reached the knockout stage.”Brazil will now face the second team from Group F in the round of 32, with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden among the possible opponents.One of the highlights of the match was the return of Neymar. The forward played his first minutes for Brazil after being out of the national team for almost three years. Ancelotti said the veteran forward had earned his place after working his way back to fitness.“He got the chance to play because he deserved it, he worked hard to recover,” Ancelotti said. “I think he can help the team in this World Cup because of his qualities. He only played a few minutes but he played well.“Neymar doesn’t need any motivation to play, no player needs motivation to wear the Brazil shirt. He’s 34 years old and still has the same passion as a young kid.”Ancelotti also praised Vinicius, who scored twice and was involved throughout the match.“Vini is in great form at the moment and the team is helping him a lot,” Ancelotti said. “He can play in different positions, both on the inside and on the wing.“It’s very rewarding to see Vinicius like this, I had no doubt he could reach this level. It wasn’t me who discovered Vini, he’s a top player, one of the best in the world.”Despite Brazil’s strong finish in the group stage, Ancelotti said the team’s work is far from done.“I haven’t set a goal for how far we can go,” he said. “The goal is not to play well, the goal is to win. A manager is judged by winning or losing, not by whether the team plays well or badly.”