As Real Madrid prepares to face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in a crucial La Liga fixture, head coach Carlo Ancelotti remained tight-lipped about persistent rumours surrounding his future at the club.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, the Italian tactician dismissed questions linking him with a premature exit from the Santiago Bernabéu, amid increasing speculation that he could step down after next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals FC Barcelona.
“Brazil? There’s no need to say anything,” Ancelotti responded bluntly when pressed about reports that he may take over as the next head coach of the Brazilian national team. “I don’t want to talk about my future today. When the season is over, we’ll talk to the club.”
The 64-year-old veteran, who guided Real Madrid to numerous titles including the UEFA Champions League and La Liga in his second stint at the club, emphasized his strong relationship with club management.
“I’ve always had a great relationship with the club, and what we’ve done and what we’ll do, we’ll do together. We’ve never had any conflicts, and we’ll never have any,” he stressed.
Ancelotti’s comments come in the wake of Madrid’s disappointing elimination from the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals at the hands of Arsenal. The loss has intensified speculation about the future direction of the club, with Brazilian media sources reporting that the five-time World Cup champions are keen on appointing Ancelotti before the Copa America in June.
Despite the uncertainty, the Madrid boss was quick to point out that his team is still very much in contention on multiple fronts.
“We have the Copa del Rey final coming up, we’re just three points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and we’ll also play the FIFA Club World Cup this summer,” he noted. “We have to make an assessment for the future at the end of the season or whenever it’s over. But when we’re still competing for important titles, talking about this isn’t the right thing to do.”
Addressing media speculation about alleged friction within the squad or with club president Florentino Perez, Ancelotti was unequivocal in his denial.
“We’re hurt, like the fans, about being eliminated from the most important competition, but these things can happen in football. You can’t always win,” he said. “We have the same idea, and there’s no confrontation with the club because we’re in the same boat, both in good times and bad.”
Ancelotti ended the session on a reflective note, expressing gratitude for his time in charge and a desire to keep enjoying his role.
“All I can do is thank these players because I had a great time, and I hope to continue having a great time,” he concluded.
As the season enters its decisive phase, all eyes will be on Madrid—not just for results, but for clarity on Ancelotti’s future.
