Madrid-Carlo Ancelotti said he does not know if the defeat of the 2-1 Champions League of Real Madrid against Arsenal on Wednesday, which saw the reigning champions eliminated in the quarterfinal stage, was his last game in charge of Madrid in the competition.
Bukayo Saka had a penalty in the first half saved by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, before putting arsenal ahead in the 65th minute. Junior Vinícius was leveled two minutes later after an error by William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli scored in an additional time, since Arsenal progressed to the semifinals 5-1 in aggregate.
Ancelotti, who has a contract until 2026, has faced criticism for the performance of Madrid this season, including two high profile losses to Barcelona, although the team remains in dispute for the title of LaLiga, and will face Barça in the final of the Copa del Rey.
“I don't know,” said Ancelotti at his postmatch press conference, when he was asked if the loss at Bernabéu could be his last match of the Champions League with Madrid.
“It could be that the club decides to change. It could be this year, or next year when my contract ends. There is no problem. The day I end here, all I can do is thank this club, it could be tomorrow, in a month or in a year.”
Ancelotti said that “I had not thought about” the possibility of renouncing this summer, if he felt he had taken the team as far as he could.
The Italian acknowledged that Madrid, who was defeated by 3-0 in the first leg in the Emirates last week, had been deservedly eliminated, although he said that a penalty in the first half awarded to Madrid for a challenge of Declan Rice on Kylian Mbappé, but then it was revoked after a VAR control, the result could have changed.
“Arsenal was better than us,” said Ancelotti. “It was important to have a moment, which could have been the penalty that they took us out. That could have changed the dynamics of the tie … In terms of attitude, the team today gave everything. But we have not always been able to do it. Compared to last year, we have lacked a collective attitude.”
Courtois said the players “had no problems” with Ancelotti, insisting that “there is no doubt about the boss.”
“Sometimes you have to be self -critical,” Courtois told Movistar. “We are a team, but sometimes we may have to play more as a team, and less as individuals. If they mark Vini or Kylian, it is two against one. It can leave once, but not three, four or five times.”
Courtois praised Arsenal's defense, but argued that Madrid had lacked a “natural center striker” like Joselu, who scored twice in the dramatic victory of the team's semifinal over the Bayern Munich last season before leaving last summer.
“It's hard to find spaces,” said Courtois. “We put many crosses, but this year we don't have a Joselu to win those duels, to be a natural center forward. We have to see what we can do better. There is a lot of season.”
Madrid receives the Athletic Club in LaLiga on Sunday, and then Getafe in the middle of the week, before playing Barcelona in the final of the Cup on April 26.
