The Santiago Bernabéu was left in shock — not just from the painful elimination at the hands of Arsenal, but also from Carlo Ancelotti’s surprising confession that followed.
After Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final exit, the Italian manager hinted that his future with the club is far from certain. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Ancelotti delivered a statement that sent ripples through the Madridista fanbase:
“The day I leave this club, I’ll only be grateful. It could be tomorrow, or in a year. The only thing I’ll do is thank them.”
Those words, brief but powerful, have stirred intense speculation over whether Ancelotti’s time at Real Madrid is drawing to a close.
A Cloud of Uncertainty
When asked if he feared for his future, Ancelotti didn’t dismiss the idea.
“I can’t talk about that now. It could happen, I don’t know,” he admitted.
With Real Madrid’s season now heavily relying on domestic competitions — La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Club World Cup — the failure to reach the Champions League semi-finals marks a serious setback. And Ancelotti, usually calm and composed, didn’t hide from it.
“The club may want to change. It could be this year, it could be next. There’s no problem,” he added, further fueling speculation of an imminent departure.
No Excuses — Arsenal Were Better
On the pitch, Real Madrid fell short. Ancelotti made no excuses:
“Arsenal was better than us. We tried. But we didn’t find spaces.”
While disappointed, he stressed that the team had put in the effort:
“In terms of attitude, the team gave everything they could give.”
And despite the blow, the coach urged his players to keep their heads up and continue fighting:
“If you lower your arms, you haven’t handled this sad moment well.”
The End of an Era?
It’s the first time Ancelotti has openly left the door ajar regarding his continuity at the club. With his comments echoing like a farewell, Real Madrid now faces an uncomfortable period of reflection — not just over the elimination, but over whether a new era is about to begin.
For now, the Italian remains at the helm. But with pressure mounting and titles slipping away, his latest words may be remembered as the beginning of the end.
