Nine lives of Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti is usually not someone who gives much away during press conferences. He doesn’t show emotions, doesn’t reveal his hand, and answers questions calmly, keeping everyone at a distance. But the night after Arsenal was different. He seemed sad, exhausted — even absent. As he himself admitted, after the crushing loss to Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal, it was all his fault.

Ancelotti's demeanor was mirrored by his team. Real Madrid lacked energy — they were simply hard to watch. On the other hand, Arsenal were quite the opposite. With two goals from Declan Rice and one from Mikel Merino, the Gunners secured a solid advantage heading to Madrid.

Arsenal full of heavy loaded Gunn(er)s tilted King's crown!

This isn’t something Ancelotti is used to. He’s always relied on results — and this time, there was none. Still, he’s not out. Carletto is still alive, despite the embarrassment in London, because he’s done what no one else has. Real Madrid is a club built on trophies, known for its success — and any disappointing result throws everything into question. The season is far from over for Los Blancos, but defending their title in Europe's top competition will be incredibly difficult.

Once again, Ancelotti faces a game that could define everything. He had a similar moment back in December against Girona when his job was hanging by a thread. Last season, he delivered more than expected — winning both La Liga and the Champions League when few believed in Madrid. The situation is similar now, but there are no more excuses.

The Italian hasn't found the key to restart the Real Madrid machine. He hasn’t managed to rein in the wild talents of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo — and maybe he’s no longer the right man for such beasts. Xabi Alonso is being mentioned more and more as a potential successor, and much will depend on whether, and how far, Ancelotti goes in terms of trophies come May.

The morning after — the morning after Valencia, the morning after Arsenal — one thing is certain: Carlo Ancelotti’s future is not. And Xabi Alonso is standing at the door, waiting.