Barrage of questions irritates Ancelotti: 'I’m not talking to you about my future'

Speculation about Carlo Ancelotti’s departure from Real Madrid has been ongoing for some time, but this week it reached a new level of intensity following the club’s painful elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Arsenal.

The defeat, which came after a tightly contested two-legged quarter-final, reignited debate around the future of the veteran Italian manager, who remains under contract with Los Blancos until 2026.

The pressure and questions around his future became the dominant narrative in the lead-up to Real Madrid’s crucial La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao, set to kick off at 21:00. In his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti was visibly irritated as he was repeatedly pressed by journalists about his next steps. Although calm in demeanor, his frustration was palpable as he deflected inquiries that had less to do with Saturday’s match and more to do with what lies beyond the current season.

“I’m not going to talk to you about my future right now. I’ll speak with the club not with you,” he said bluntly, clearly tired of the speculation. “There’s nothing to say. We’ll talk about everything after the season,” he added, drawing a line under the topic as far as he was concerned.

The persistent rumors have linked Ancelotti once again to the Brazilian national team, a position that first became a topic of discussion in 2023 but never materialized. Brazilian football authorities are reportedly still interested in hiring him, especially with the Copa América approaching and the national team undergoing a transitional phase. Meanwhile, Spanish media outlets have already started preparing for life after Ancelotti, naming former Real Madrid midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to take over.

In an in-depth report published on Saturday, The Athletic suggested that Ancelotti is unlikely to see out his current deal and that discussions behind the scenes have already begun about how and when his tenure might end. According to the publication, it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when” with the Club World Cup possibly marking the end of Ancelotti’s second spell in Madrid.

Yet, the Italian manager was quick to reject any notion of internal friction with the club’s hierarchy. “Of course it hurts to be eliminated from the competition where we’ve had the most success, but there is no conflict with the club,” Ancelotti insisted. “We’ve never had any confrontation. Anyone saying otherwise is lying and misleading people. The president shows even more affection in moments like this than when we win. What bothers me is that everything is being questioned now, even though we’ve won nearly thirty trophies over the past decade.”

Indeed, under Ancelotti’s leadership, Real Madrid have lifted a number of major titles, including La Liga, multiple Champions League trophies, the Copa del Rey, and UEFA Super Cups. His calm, pragmatic approach has earned him the respect of the squad and the admiration of many fans. However, expectations at a club like Real Madrid are always sky-high, and a single major setback particularly in the Champions League can shift narratives quickly.

Despite the Champions League disappointment, the 2023–24 season is far from over for Real Madrid. The team is still in the thick of the La Liga title race and will face fierce rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final next Saturday a high-stakes encounter that could redefine the tone of their season. Adding to that, Madrid will also participate in the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup this summer, an event the club views as an important opportunity to reinforce its global dominance.

“Of course, the Champions League is the most important competition for everyone, and it holds a special place in Madrid’s history, but it’s wrong to suggest that the rest doesn’t matter,” Ancelotti pointed out. “We’re still competing for major trophies.”

Internally, Real Madrid’s players are said to remain firmly behind Ancelotti. Senior figures in the squad, including Luka Modrić, Dani Carvajal, and Nacho, are known to appreciate the stability and experience he brings to the dressing room. The Italian’s track record of managing egos and rotating his squad with precision has also been crucial in maintaining harmony during a packed and challenging schedule.

As they prepare to face Athletic Bilbao tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid find themselves at a crossroads. A victory would strengthen their claim to the La Liga crown and offer a much-needed morale boost ahead of the Copa del Rey final. A slip, however, would only intensify the pressure on both the team and its manager.

Regardless of what lies ahead, Carlo Ancelotti remains focused on the present. “The only thing that matters right now is tonight’s game and finishing the season in the best possible way. My future will be discussed when the time is right not now,” he concluded.