Carlo Ancelotti not sure about Real Madrid’s future after UCL exit

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is not sure regarding his future with the club after they were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Arsenal. The Gunners claimed a 2-1 win at Madrid’s home ground on Wednesday night in the second leg of the quarterfinal and registered a 5-1 aggregate win.

Bukayo Saka scored in the 65th minute, but Vini Jr was able to equalise after two minutes. Gabriel Martinelli then scored in the added time for Arsenal.

Meanwhile, the Italian manager has a contract until 2026 but has been criticized for team’s performance as they have faced two big losses against arch-rivals Barcelona.

“I don’t know,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference, when asked if the loss at the Bernabéu might be his final Champions League game with Madrid.

“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.”

The veteran manager acknowledged that Mikel Arteta’s team was better than them. Arsenal had registered a 3-0 win in the first leg after Declan Rice had scored a brace from free kicks.

“Arsenal were better than us,” Ancelotti said. “It was important to have a moment, which might have been the penalty that they took away from us. That might have changed the dynamic of the tie. … In terms of attitude, the team today gave everything. But we haven’t always been able to do it. Compared to last year, we’ve lacked some collective attitude.”

On the other hand, Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois said they don’t have any doubts regarding their boss.

“Sometimes you have to be self-critical,” Courtois told Movistar. “We’re a team, but sometimes maybe we have to play more as a team, and less as individuals. If they double-mark Vini or Kylian, it’s two-on-one. It might come off once, but not three, four or five times.”

Real Madrid will next take on Athletic Club at Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night.