Ancelotti sacked despite guiding Napoli to Champions League last 16

Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked by Napoli despite taking Serie A side to last 16 of Champions League on Tuesday with a 4-0 win over Genk. "Napoli has decided to relieve Carlo Ancelotti of his role as first-team coach," Italian side said in a statement. Tuesday's win over Genk, which saw Napoli finish second in Group E, one point behind Liverpool, broke a nine-match winless run that came amid dressing room unrest and friction between club, Ancelotti and players.

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Former AC Milan manr Gennaro Gattuso is favourite to take over at Napoli, who finished second behind champions Juventus last season but are miles off pace this year. y sit seventh in Italian top flight on 21 points, a whopping 17 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and more worryingly eight behind fourth-placed Cagliari, who hold final spot for next season's Champions League. On Monday Ancelotti told reporters that "a coach's suitcase is always ready" ahead of Tuesday's match, and as speculation ramped up over 60-year-old's future at sourn club he ruled out stepping down after Tuesday's win.

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"Resignation? I have never resigned in my life and I never will," he said. "My future? team manment will make its assessment. club has been in turmoil this season as club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis sank into a bitter row with his players following a series of disappointing results. squad refused to bow to De Laurentiis' demand y be confined to a week-long training camp in vember, reportedly receiving a collective deduction to ir ws of 2.5 million euros for ir disobedience.

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Union FIFPro said y would back players against "furr abuse and intimidation", calling De Laurentiis' decision to fine his squad "unjustified". Ancelotti, who won three Champions League titles as a coach, twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid, replaced Maurizio Sarri in July 2018. He guided team to a runners-up finish in Serie A last season, when y missed out on Champions League last 16 on goal difference to eventual winners Liverpool.

"I can't pretend, team doesn't give what it could give," Ancelotti said on Monday. "In Europe, we have seen ar Napoli, one I would like to see in league as well. I am looking for solutions to get out of this difficult period," he added. y are without a win in seven Serie A games since October 19 and next play Parma on Saturday. 

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