Real Madrid’s recent Champions League exit against Arsenal was more than a disappointment. It was a jolt to a club that defines itself by European glory. Carlo Ancelotti, the man with five Champions League winners’ medals, is now under intense scrutiny. Asked whether this might have been his last Champions League game in charge, Ancelotti admitted:
“I don’t know. It could be that the club decides to change. It could be this year, or next year when my contract ends. There’s no problem. The day I finish here, the only thing I can do is thank this club, it could be tomorrow, in a month, or in a year.”
He also reflected on the match and Arsenal’s performance, saying:
“We have to be honest, in the two games Arsenal have deserved it and have reached the semi-finals. There are two sides to football, the happy part that has happened to us many times and the sad part we have to handle in the same way. It has happened to us fewer times than to other teams but we have to manage it because it allows us to be better in the next games.”
“Now we are in the fight for La Liga. We have a disadvantage but we have the Barcelona game, we have the Copa del Rey final, the Club World Cup and we have to manage this part, which is another part of football that we are not used to. But it exists. It’s time to hold our heads high and then learn from our mistakes”
Some supporters believe his departure is inevitable. His measured style, once praised for its balance, might have grown stale in a squad craving fresh ideas. Others point to injuries and an aging core as factors that no coach, however experienced, could easily solve.
Thibaut Courtois hinted at deeper issues, saying:
“Sometimes you have to be self-critical and have a good look at everything. We’re a team, but sometimes maybe we have to play more as a team, and less as individuals. If they double-mark Vini [Jr] or Kylian, it’s two-on-one. It might come off once, but not three, four or five times.”
He also questioned Madrid’s tactical approach: “We put in many crosses, but this year we don’t have a pure striker like Joselu, a guy that can win those kind of duels.”
“And regarding the rest of the season. We have to analyze all this, because there is still a lot at stake: La Liga, the Copa del Rey final and the Club World Cup. We have to move everything forward. Thank you to the fans for creating that atmosphere of believing in the comeback. We hope to be able to give them more joy.”
Possible Ancelotti successors
One name in the frame is Xabi Alonso, a former Madrid midfielder who has swiftly shown managerial promise at Bayer Leverkusen. Another strong candidate is Jürgen Klopp, who works behind the scenes at Red Bull but is rumored to be open to a grand return to the sideline. Both would offer a modern, high-energy style that might reinvigorate a dressing room needing momentum.
Still, there’s an argument for keeping Ancelotti. His track record at Real Madrid speaks for itself, and the remaining Copa del Rey final could yield one more trophy. Stability sometimes trumps abrupt upheaval, especially in a club where patience is rare.
Yet when trophies slip away, Madrid often opts for a fresh face. The board has reportedly set its sights on announcing a new direction after the Copa del Rey showdown on April 26. Whatever happens, Ancelotti’s departure—or survival—will send shockwaves through European football. As he put it, “When I am done here, I will be grateful to this club. That could be tomorrow, 10 days, one month, or in one year.”
Grateful or not, his time may be up.
