Ancelotti Keeps It Real After Arsenal Knockout Blow

Carlo Ancelotti didn’t offer any excuses after watching his Real Madrid side get soundly beaten by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Fresh off last season’s historic fifth Champions League title—more than any other manager—Ancelotti watched as his team fell 2-1 at home on Wednesday night, sealing a brutal 5-1 aggregate loss to the Premier League side.

“We’ve got to be honest. Over the two legs, Arsenal deserved to go through,” said the Italian coach. “They’ve earned their place in the semi-finals.”

Ancelotti acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster that comes with the game. “There’s a joyful side to football, which we’ve experienced many times, and there’s the painful side, which we have to face with the same spirit. We’ve been lucky to have more highs than lows, but moments like this help us grow.”

There was a flicker of hope for Real early on. Thibaut Courtois saved a penalty from Bukayo Saka, and shortly after, Real were awarded one of their own when Kylian Mbappé was nudged by Declan Rice. But that glimmer quickly faded when VAR stepped in and overturned the decision.

From that point, Madrid never really got going. Despite their pedigree and talent, they looked flat and uninspired—worlds away from the dominant side that lifted the trophy last year.

“To change the momentum, we needed a spark—something to build confidence,” Ancelotti said. “That penalty call getting reversed really deflated us. We couldn’t shift the energy from the first leg.”

Still, Ancelotti isn’t throwing in the towel. There’s more silverware on the horizon, and he’s focused on the battles ahead.

“La Liga is still alive. We’re behind Barcelona by four points, but we’ve still got to play them. Then there’s the Copa del Rey final and the Club World Cup,” he said. “This is just another chapter of the season—one we’re not used to, but we’ll manage it.”

His message to fans and players alike? Don’t dwell—regroup and push forward.

“It hurts now, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll bounce back,” Ancelotti added. “Heads up, learn from this, and keep fighting.”