Carlo Ancelotti responds to reports about his long career at Real Madrid and insists that a departure “will never be decided” through him. (0:54)
Carlo Ancelotti denied having left Real Madrid this summer, saying “I will not go to my departure date of this club. “
The Spanish radio station Onda Cero had reported on Monday that Ancelotti, whose contract extends until 2026, already had to move forward, regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season.
“No” I know the day will come. But when this day comes, I don’t know. I won’t decide. It could be tomorrow, after the next game, in a year or in five years. “
“I have a goal. We have Florentino [Perez] here for another 4 years,” Ancelotti added, smiling, after Perez was elected club president. “He knows me well, and the goal is to be here for those 4 years. We can leave with all the affection in the world!”
Real Madrid are top of LaLiga, two points clear of Atletico Madrid and seven ahead of Barcelona, and have won two trophies this campaign, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
However the team have also faced criticism from fans and the media and have been twice heavily beaten by Barça, 0-4 in the league in October, and 2-5 in the Spanish Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia last week.
“I feel very loved [here] in every sense, by the fans, by the club,” Ancelotti said. “And by the media. Sometimes things get exaggerated, but I want to stay objective and follow my path.”
Madrid has suffered notable defeats in the Champions League this season, wasting in opposition to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool, and survive to overcome Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta.
They welcome Salzburg to Bernabéu with a superior ending, which would mean a direct progression to the level of elimination, which already seems unlikely, with six games problems.
“We don’t have many possibilities, but the only possibility we have is to win the remaining two games,” said Ancelotti. “If we have to play the playoff turn, we will do the best we will do. It is an not easy calendar, but we are accustomed. “