Carlo Ancelotti says his Real Madrid future is uncertain
On a night of heartbreak at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s Champions League reign came to a halt, and with it, perhaps, the final chapter of Carlo Ancelotti’s storied European run with the club.
A stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelli sealed a 2-1 win for Arsenal and sent Madrid tumbling out of the quarterfinals with a humbling 5-1 aggregate defeat. The scoreline stung, but it was Ancelotti’s somber tone after the match that left the Bernabeu faithful uneasy.
“I don’t know,” the Italian said when asked if this was his last Champions League night with Madrid. “It could be tomorrow, in a month, or in a year. The day I leave, I will only say thank you to this club.”
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Despite being under contract until 2026, Ancelotti admitted the decision may not be in his hands. With growing scrutiny over his side’s stuttering season, which includes two defeats to Barcelona, the air around the Madrid dugout is heavy with uncertainty.The club is still in the hunt for the LaLiga title and has a Copa del Rey final on the horizon.
Reflecting on the defeat, Ancelotti didn’t shy away from the truth.“Arsenal were better than us. We needed a moment to change the tie; maybe that penalty they took away could have been it. But overall, we’ve lacked that collective fire we had last season.”
Madrid had hoped to spark a revival after their 3-0 first-leg humiliation at the Emirates, but Arsenal’s defense stood tall. And while stars like Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe (who drew the controversial penalty later overturned VAR) tried to inspire moments of brilliance, the spark never caught flame.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois defended his manager and turned the lens inward.“There’s no issue with the boss, we all back him. But we need to be more of a team. When Vini or Kylian are doubled up on, you can’t expect them to dribble through two or three players every time.”Courtois also pointed to a glaring absence in Madrid’s attacking structure.“We’re missing a natural No. 9, someone like Joselu. We put in a lot of crosses, but we don’t have that kind of presence to finish them. That’s something we have to reflect on.”
