![MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 21: Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/real-madrid-cf-v-ud-almeria-laliga-ea-sports-scaled.jpg)
FC Barcelona have been blessed to have had some of the best players in their teams over the years. From Laszlo Kubala, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff to Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, iconic players from every generation have been a part of the Catalan club.
One such player who made his place the most in the hearts of the Barcelona faithful in recent times was the midfielder Andres Iniesta. The Spaniard showcased his top-class skills and abilities for almost all of his career at Barcelona, which made him one of the favorite players of not only Barcelona fans but of football fans in general.
The iconic playmaker left the Catalan club in 2018 but is still an active professional footballer as he is currently playing with the Emirates Club in the UAE. As already reported, he appeared in an interview recently, in which he talked about different aspects related to Barcelona, and put his support behind his former teammate, Xavi Hernandez.
But the Barcelona head coach was not the only manager that Iniesta talked about in this interview. As Diario AS has reported, the midfielder also had some praise for the Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, as he commented:
“There’s little to say about Ancelotti. His career speaks for itself. As a player and as a coach. Having the ability to coach Real Madrid twice, succeed on both occasions, return to a club of that size, and make it work again is not easy. It’s incredibly commendable.”
Iniesta was a part of the Barcelona team when Carlo Ancelotti first took his job at Real Madrid. Thus, Iniesta and Ancelotti have both been on the opposite sides of the El Clasico divide, but being the gentleman and sportsman that Iniesta is, him recognizing Ancelotti’s achievements is nothing to be surprised about.