From final whistle to final days? Carlo Ancelotti addresses Real Madrid sacking rumors after heartbreaking Copa del Rey final loss vs. Barcelona
The pressure is mounting in the Spanish capital after a night of intense drama at La Cartuja Stadium. Following a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, questions now swirl around the future of Real Madrid’s legendary manager. For Carlo Ancelotti, who has led Madrid to countless triumphs, this latest setback may be the beginning of a painful farewell.
But is this really the end of the road for Ancelotti? Real Madrid’s leadership is keeping its cards close to the chest — for now.
Night of highs and lows
The final between Real Madrid and Barcelona lived up to its billing with breathtaking soccer, emotional swings, and pivotal moments that would define the evening.
Real Madrid entered the match under a cloud of injuries: Kylian Mbappe was only fit enough for the bench, Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the season, and Ferland Mendy limped off after just 10 minutes, adding to an already depleted roster. Meanwhile, Barcelona was without Robert Lewandowski, who remains doubtful for their Champions League campaign.
Barcelona struck first with Pedri’s ferocious long-range strike, giving the Catalans the early lead. Real Madrid thought they had equalized when Jude Bellingham found the net, but it was ruled offside. Then came more frustration for Los Blancos as a penalty initially awarded for a foul on Vinícius Junior was overturned.
Despite the early misfortunes, Ancelotti transformed Madrid in the second half. Forced to take a gamble, he brought on an injured Mbappe at halftime — and the Frenchman delivered. After forcing a series of saves, Mbappe scored his first-ever professional goal from a direct free kick, curling the ball in off the inside of the post.
Momentum shifted when Aurelien Tchouameni scored from a corner, giving Real Madrid the lead. It was a set-piece goal that future opponents, notably Inter in the Champions League, will surely study.
However, Barcelona refused to back down. Ferran Torres leveled the match after a brilliant assist from Lamine Yamal, and late drama saw Vinícius Junior limp off injured. In extra time, Jules Kounde capitalized on a Real Madrid mistake to score the decisive goal, securing the Copa del Rey for Barcelona.
What did Ancelotti say about his future after Copa del Rey?
As reported by Marca, the Copa final was seen as a key moment to assess the state of the squad, the mood in the locker room, and the manager’s command. If Ancelotti is dismissed, Xabi Alonso is the clear favorite to succeed him.
The Bayer Leverkusen coach, who has a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave for a former club, is reportedly waiting for Madrid’s call. “Alonso set March as the deadline to confirm his continuity and is currently planning for the next season,” Marca added, but his future remains in flux amid Los Blancos’ turmoil.
After the game, the Italian tactician addressed his uncertain future with typical calmness: “I could stay at Real Madrid or maybe leave… we will see. It will be a topic for next weeks, not for today.”