We are with him to the end

Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal has thrown his support behind under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti and insisted “we are with him to the end”.

The disappointment and frustration felt at Madrid’s Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal a fortnight ago was compounded by Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and has pushed Ancelotti firmly towards the exit door.

👔 @MrAncelotti: “I have nothing to fault the team for because they gave it everything.”

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 27, 2025

Reports in Spain claim the Italian will leave Madrid at the end of May to take up the position of Brazil head coach and lead the Selecao into next summer’s World Cup finals.

Alonso next for Madrid?

Madrid are expected to appoint an interim boss to guide them through the Club World Cup, which starts in June, before appointing a full-time successor – most likely Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso – for the start of next season.

It leaves Ancelotti in a period of limbo but tasked with finishing the season strongly as Madrid look to overhaul Barca’s four-point lead at the top of La Liga.

The former AC Milan coach remains a popular figure with the Madrid players and Carvajal, one of the team’s captains, made his feelings clear today.

Asked about Ancelotti, the defender told Jugones: “We are with Ancelotti to the end. We can’t doubt the coach with everything he’s given us.”

Ancelotti will leave a Madrid hero

The 65-year-old will leave the Santiago Bernabeu for a second time having enjoyed enormous success in the Spanish capital. Under his guidance, the club have claimed two La Liga crowns, two Copas del Rey and three Champions League trophies.

And it is that record that has seduced the Brazilian Football Confederation, who have seized on Ancelotti’s instability at Madrid to make their move.

Their previous pursuit of Jorge Jesus has now been shelved and all focus is on bringing Ancelotti on board as soon as possible to give him time to fine-tune the squad prior to the global showpiece in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year.