Staff Reporter.
Carlo Ancelotti says he welcomes the pressure that comes with managing Real Madrid and he is not concerned about speculation over his future.
Speaking in a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the Getafe match, Ancelotti said, In football anything is possible.”
Ancelotti said, when asked if winning LaLiga and the Copa del Rey would mean he’d continue as Madrid coach until his contract expires in 2026. “Are you surprised by anything that happens? Nothing surprises me… As I’ve always said, I love this job, I loved my first spell [from 2013 to 2015], I love this second spell [since 2021], and I want this to go as far as possible. One day when it ends, I’ll be thankful and take my hat off to this club, that’s all.”
Ancelotti denied that his persistence with picking all four of Kylian Mbappé,Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo when available has hamstrung the team’s defensive solidity this season, despite his stated preference for a 4-4-2 formation.
“I don’t think it’s a problem,” Ancelotti said. “The problems this season are quite obvious: we lost two key players in defence [the injured Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao] who’ve been hard to replace. We’ve changed our style of play a bit, we have players with different characteristics, and it’s been hard for us to find a balance… If we find that balance, we can win.”
Real face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday and will again meet their rivals in La Liga in May.
Ancelotti has won two La Liga titles and the Champions League twice in three seasons since re-joining the club from Everton in 2021.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.