Carlo Ancelotti says he is “confident” Real Madrid will win a major trophy this season ahead of the club making a decision on his future in the summer.
Madrid are chasing three matches heading into Sunday’s LaLiga Clasico The leaders are nine points behind Barcelona, preparing to face Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and hoping to bounce back from a 1-0 first-leg loss in the Copa del Rey semi-final with Barca.
– Broadcast on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, others (USA)
– Barca vs. Madrid: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+
“The club has to make that assessment, not me,” Ancelotti said at a press conference on Saturday when asked if he deserved the chance to continue as Madrid coach. “I have said many times that I will stay here for the rest of my life, but I don’t think it’s possible. It’s a decision the club will make at the end of the season, no matter what.”
One journalist insists Madrid’s high standards require winning LaLiga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League – having already won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup this season – to keep their job.
“The rules change!” Ancelotti said. “And the unwritten rules, too. But I’m sure we’re going to win something this season, so that’s it.”
Sunday Clasico The second of three meetings between Madrid and Barca in 34 days. Eder Militao’s own goal earned the Catalan club a 1-0 win in the Copa del Rey opener at the Bernabeu ahead of the second leg at the Camp Nou on April 5.
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“It’s hard to say what kind of game it will be for us [on Sunday]Ancelotti added. “Barcelona defended a lot in this game because they took the lead. “This game will be different depending on whether we score early or they… Tomorrow we will play attacking football without taking any chances.”
The main battle in this Copa match was the choice of Barça defender Ronald Araujo on the right flank – against Vinicius Junior.
“It’s true that it was more difficult for him,” Ancelotti said. “But Vinicius is always Vinicius. His mobility can help him. I’m thinking of putting him on the right side… Of course I’m not serious, but mobility is important.”
