Ancelotti breaks silence on new Real Madrid exit claims amid mounting pressure

Carlo Ancelotti has faced increasing pressure on his position as Real Madrid after suffering a number of set-backs this season and risks finishing the campaign without a major trophy

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he wants to stay at the club for "as long as possible" despite speculation he could leave the Bernabeu this summer. Ancelotti is one of the most successful managers in the club's history but is under pressure after falling behind Barcelona in La Liga and being dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal.

Madrid were humiliated against the Gunners last week after going 3-0 down in the first leg at the Emirates and being unable to produce a turnaround in the second leg at the Bernabeu, with Mikel Arteta's men winning 2-1.

They are four points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and face a huge battle to hold onto their crown this season. The Catalan side also stand in their way of silverware in the Copa del Rey final this Saturday.

Should Madrid finish the season without a major trophy, Ancelotti will come under increasing pressure and there have already been reports that former player Xabi Alonso could be drafted in as his replacement. He is currently manager of Bayer Leverkusen.

But Ancelotti was defiant when asked about his future. He said he was still in the "honeymoon" phase at the Bernabeu and was happy in the job, while claiming that the pressure on his position only "fuels" him.

"I love being here [at Madrid] and I hope this will last as long as possible," he told the media. "The honeymoon continues. I’m very happy, contented. There is a lot of pressure, true, but that is always the case at this point of the season.

"I’m happy with the club, they know this has been a tough season. Stress is fuel – it doesn’t bother me, it gives me more energy."

The Italian has won nearly every major trophy in elite football. He's won the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and Serie A - the only manager to win the title in all five top European leagues. Ancelotti has also won the Champions League a record five times.

He said he was aware that overcoming Barcelona in La Liga and the Copa del Rey would determine the success of their season and said the squad were focused on defeating their rivals on both fronts.

"It’s logical that both titles come with beating Barcelona," he added. "That’s what we have ahead of us and that’s what we have to do. We can achieve it but it’s clear that something needs to change."

Reflecting on Madrid's season as a whole, he admitted it wasn't their best campaign - despite being tipped to dominate with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

"It could have been better, for sure, and I have to accept my responsibility," Ancelotti said. "Hopefully, at the end of the season, this consideration, which may be correct, will fade into the background."