A serious Carlo Ancelotti appeared before the media ahead of his match at the Santiago Bernabéu against Mallorca, 24 hours after being confirmed as the coach of the Brazilian national team and 48 hours after losing his fourth Clásico of the season and saying goodbye to his chances of winning the league title. Many factors for a coach who had a contract with Real Madrid until June 2026. "From the 26th, I will be the coach of Brazil," confirmed the Italian in the second question of the press conference.
The current Real Madrid coach revealed that his departure from the white club was a "mutual decision," but he maintained that his focus will remain on the three remaining league matches with the team "where he was happy." "I am very happy. If I didn't have this press conference today, it would be a fantastic day because I have to explain things that I don't want to explain. I have the Real Madrid shirt until the 25th, and I want to respect it until the last day," he pointed out, pointing to the badge.
His words contrasted with the coach's demeanor, serious and somewhat curt regarding the questions in the press conference, up to 17, regarding his professional future. "I have never felt that Madrid didn't want me, they also want me even though I am leaving on the 25th, they will always show me affection, I couldn't be the coach of Madrid forever," he stated. "I never thought in my life that I would coach Real Madrid for six years," he added.
The coach did not question the timing of the announcement as the future leader of the Canarinha nor that his current club has not yet wanted to make a statement on the matter. "Real Madrid will release the statement whenever they want, there is no problem. I don't know. They will do it at the right time. Just like the CBF did yesterday," he pointed out.
With Xabi Alonso already waiting to take over his position in the Club World Cup, the Italian had to deal with more contractual and speculative questions than purely football-related ones. "I have a lot of affection for Xabi, but I have no advice to give him because he has all the tools to be a great coach," he praised his former pupil in the first Champions League he won as Real Madrid's coach.
Another thorny issue that the Italian had to address was the Rodrygo case. The Brazilian left minutes after the start of Real Madrid's training accompanied by the club's doctor, Daniel Rosado, with an evident look of displeasure after his absence in the match against Celta due to illness and not playing a minute in the Clásico.
The Italian stated that he never fully recovered from the fever he had last week and explained that his withdrawal from training was due to a muscle discomfort. "Everyone has a lot of affection for Rodrygo, especially me," he responded to put an end to the speculations of the past few days.
The Italian stated after the match at Montjuïc that "he was not feeling well and was not at his best level." "There is nothing more, I have zero problems with him," he pointed out. With Vinicius injured with an ankle sprain, the Brazilian was the main candidate to accompany Kylian Mbappé in the attack at the Bernabéu.
Thus, there are 10 absences, especially painful are those in the defensive line, with which the Italian coach will have to face the match against an island team fighting to enter Europe, although they have only won one of their last four matches. With Tchouameni suspended, the Whites do not have any available first-team center-backs except Vallejo, who is not in Ancelotti's plans.