Carlo Ancelotti says Xabi Alonso has “all of the doorways open” for a transfer to an enormous membership, with hypothesis constructing that the previous Actual Madrid midfielder is about to exchange the Italian coach on the helm of the Spanish powerhouse.
Ancelotti gave his routine pre-game information convention on Saturday, a day after Alonso introduced he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen.
He praised the work of Alonso, who has been broadly linked to an eventual transfer again to Madrid after main the German membership to the Bundesliga title final season.
“I learn that Xabi is leaving Bayer Leverkusen, the place he did a unbelievable job,” Ancelotti stated earlier than Sunday’s journey to Barcelona. “He has all of the doorways open as a result of he has proven that he is without doubt one of the finest coaches on the planet.”
Ancelotti once more refused to talk about his future, particularly earlier than a decisive Clasico in LaLiga. Madrid path Barcelona by 4 factors and have to win to maintain alive their probabilities of successful a trophy this marketing campaign.
However he did converse movingly about what Madrid means — and can imply — for essentially the most profitable supervisor in European soccer.
For Ancelotti, his relationship with the membership he has spent six seasons at in two stints is an eternal “honeymoon”.
“The honeymoon with this membership by no means ends, it continues perpetually,” he stated. “I believe that Actual Madrid, like Milan earlier than, are the groups that stick with me, given the time I’ve spent right here. At first, there’s ardour, and when that fades, different emotions emerge, a way of tender care. My honeymoon with Actual Madrid will final for so long as I dwell.”
The 65-year-old coach is underneath contract via the subsequent marketing campaign however is broadly anticipated to depart after an underwhelming season during which the group performed worse regardless of including Kylian Mbappe to its squad.
Brazil have been courting Ancelotti for over a 12 months, and it seems talks are nonetheless ongoing with the veteran supervisor.
Actual Madrid should play ‘full’ sport at Barcelona
With solely 4 video games remaining of the LaLiga season, solely a win will realistically preserve Actual’s hopes of retaining the title, and for Ancelotti, they might want to get all the things proper to have an opportunity on Sunday.
“In the sort of sport, it’s a must to do issues properly. Barcelona are used to conserving the opponent in their very own space, however no group is ideal,” he stated.
“It’s a sport the place there’s rather a lot at stake, and to win, it’s a must to handle all the things properly, defend properly, assault properly. We’ve to play an entire sport.”
With a lot at stake in opposition to their nice rivals, Ancelotti could have little bother getting his gamers fired up.
“It’s not troublesome to encourage the gamers as a result of it’s the kind of match for which the gamers already come out motivated and with a variety of confidence,” he stated.
“Taking part in with Barcelona is particular. It will likely be the final ‘El Clasico’ of the season as a result of Barca will not be within the Membership World Cup.”
Who’s scoring in #ELCLÁSICO? 🤍 pic.twitter.com/Tgx1X8cVuA
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) Might 8, 2025
Barcelona centered regardless of Champions League woe
Barcelona’s gamers have mentioned final week’s Champions League elimination and are able to put their disappointment behind them in opposition to rivals Actual Madrid, supervisor Hansi Flick stated in his information convention on Saturday.
Barca suffered a 4-3 Champions League semifinal defeat by Inter Milan on Tuesday.
A house win on Sunday would transfer Flick’s aspect one victory away from their twenty eighth Spanish league title.
“We’re doing properly. After the defeat in Milan, everybody is aware of it’s not straightforward … however we’re doing issues proper. We’ve talked about what we need to do in these two weeks,” Flick advised reporters.
“There are 4 extra video games to go. El Clasico is necessary, we’ve got to point out how properly we will play. We’ve to point out confidence. The gamers are doing very properly … We’ve been speaking about what they’re pondering, what they’re feeling.
“We needed to discuss it as a gaggle. Everybody is aware of that in a Clasico, it’s a must to give 100%. It’s a must to be energetic, intense, dominant. Actual Madrid is an excellent group, and we’d like the followers.”
El Clasico – the low down
Translated as “The Basic” in English, El Clasico is the identify given to any soccer match between rival golf equipment Barcelona and Actual Madrid.
The particular matchup between these soccer sides was born out of a more-than-a-century-old political-historical dimension between an more and more distinct Catalan nationwide identification, with FC Barcelona representing Catalonia, pitched in opposition to the centralised energy buildings of Spain’s capital metropolis, Madrid, and by extension, its most well-known soccer membership, Actual Madrid.
The primary match between the 2 Spanish mega golf equipment was performed on Might 13, 1902.
In complete, 260 matches have been performed. Actual Madrid lead in head-to-head outcomes with 105 wins to Barcelona’s 103, with 52 attracts.
Final 5 LaLiga matches
Barcelona: W-W-W-W-D (most up-to-date fixture first)
Might 3, 2025 – Actual Valladolid 1-2 Barcelona
April 22, 2025 – Barcelona 1-0 Mallorca
April 19, 2025 – Barcelona 4-3 Celta Vigo
April 12, 2025 – Leganes 0-1 Barcelona
April 5, 2025 – Barcelona 1-1 Actual Betis
Actual Madrid: W-W-W-W-L (most up-to-date fixture first)
Might 04, 2025 – Actual Madrid 3-2 Celta Vigo
April 23, 2025 – Getafe 0-1 Actual Madrid
April 20, 2025 – Actual Madrid 1-0 Athletic Membership
April 13, 2025 – Alaves 0-1 Actual Madrid
April 5, 2025 – Actual Madrid 1-2 Valencia
