Carlo Ancelotti Dismisses Speculation

MADRID, SUNDAY – Carlo Ancelotti has finally spoken out following the increasing rumors regarding his departure from Real Madrid. The Italian coach dismissed the circulating speculation while affirming that his good relationship with the executives of "Los Blancos" remains intact. "Don Carlo" is attempting to persevere by winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

"I have spoken with the players and the club. We all share the same mindset, which is to continue fighting for the remaining trophies. There is no confrontation with the club. We are all in the same boat. Anyone who claims there is a confrontation with the club, or the president, is not telling the truth," said Ancelotti, Saturday (19/4/2025) evening WIB.

Appearing before the media for the first time after being defeated by Arsenal is Ancelotti's way of calming the atmosphere. News regarding his potential dismissal continues to circulate wildly. He has once again been linked with an offer to coach the Brazilian national team. In addition to Brazil, AS Roma and AC Milan are also interested in utilizing his services.

Ancelotti is believed not to fulfill his contract until 2026. In a demanding club like Real Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League is an obligation. Being eliminated in an ungraceful manner by Arsenal can be considered a disgrace.

All I can do is thank these players. I enjoy this (work) and want to continue doing it. We are still united, we have a great relationship.

Ancelotti feels the need to calm the situation as it will distract both himself and the players ahead of the crucial match against Athletic Bilbao. Real has no choice but to win against Bilbao to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the standings. After that, Ancelotti will face another significant challenge, taking on Barca in the final of the Copa del Rey.

"What I can do is just thank these players. I enjoy this (job) and want to continue doing it. We are still united, we have a great relationship," said Ancelotti.

Despite denying the rumors, The Athletic said Ancelotti will not stay on as Real's coach despite the two trophies they are fighting for. In its latest report, The Athletic believes the Brazilian national team will be Ancelotti's next port of call.

However, Ancelotti actually still wants to continue. The only way to maintain his position is to win La Liga and the Copa del Rey. He proved this last season, when rumors of his dismissal also arose, but subsided following Real's success in winning the Champions League and La Liga.

Ancelotti assures that he remains committed to continuing his work. He will only part ways with Real if the club board decides on his departure. Various reports from Spanish media indicate that the executives at Real will only make a decision at the end of the season to "honor" Ancelotti.

The issue of Ancelotti's dismissal arises concurrently with the news of the return of Bayer Leverkusen Coach, Xabi Alonso, to Spain. The former midfielder of Liverpool and Real Madrid ranks at the top as a successor to Ancelotti.

Alonso is currently under contract with Leverkusen until 2026. His contract also does not include a release clause. For this reason, Real is expected to have to spend a considerable amount of money to acquire Alonso.

Sports media Sky Germany estimates that Real will need to prepare at least 12.9 million pounds (Rp 288.5 billion) to bring Alonso back. If Alonso's move really happens, he will become the third most expensive coach in history under the transfer value of Graham Potter from Brighton and Hove Albion to Chelsea and Julian Nagelsmann from RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich.

On the other hand, Alonso is also busy clarifying the issue of his transfer. He admitted that he is not overly concerned about Real's interest in him. Alonso stated that his current focus is solely on finishing the remaining season and on building a team to face the challenges of the upcoming season.

"We must remember that the season is not over. We still have five league matches left to play, and we must keep this very clearly in mind," said Alonso.

What Ancelotti and Alonso expressed can be interpreted as a reflection of their professional stance. Discussing career plans while the season is still ongoing is considered taboo by some coaches.

"We must not talk about the future. It is not good for us to lose focus. The issue is not important right now. I do not want to speak too much about speculation, rumors, or the future. I have never done that with the players or the team. It is not beneficial for thorough preparation," said Alonso. (REUTERS)