Mikel Arteta has revealed that Carlo Ancelotti told him that he ‘hopes’ Arsenal will go on to win the Champions League this season following Real Madrid’s exit on Wednesday night.
Arsenal held a commanding 3-0 lead from their quarter-final first leg last week, although ahead of their visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid’s players were adamant that they might produce one other Champions League comeback.
Bukayo Saka’s put Arsenal in front within the sixty fifth minute to provide Madrid an excellent larger mountain to climb before Ancelotti’s side quickly pulled level when Vinicius Junior capitalised on a mistake from William Saliba to attain.
Nevertheless, Madrid were unable to hassle Arsenal even further and Arteta’s side sealed a 2-1 win to silence the Bernabeu with Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in injury time.
Arsenal will now play Paris Saint-Germain within the semi-final, while in the opposite Champions League semi-final tie, Barcelona will meet Inter.
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In an interview with Movistar after Arsenal’s win, Arteta said of Ancelotti: ‘He’s been very affectionate.
‘He has told me that he hopes we win it and that he’s glad for us.’
Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s future as Madrid’s head coach is now unsure following the club’s elimination from the Champions League.
Asked after the sport if he believes he has taken charge of his final Champions League match with Madrid, Ancelotti replied: ‘It might probably occur, if the club decides to alter.
‘There isn’t a problem in any respect. The day I finish here, I can only do one thing, thank the club. If my contract ends or not, I don’t care.’
Ancelotti also brushed aside a suggestion that he would resign after Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal.
The Italian is one in all the leading names on the Brazilian Football Confederation’s shortlist to grow to be the national team’s head coach ahead of next 12 months’s World Cup.
Brazil are searching for a brand new head coach after sacking Dorival Junior after the 4-1 defeat to Argentina in World Cup qualifying last month.
Madrid, meanwhile, have been heavily linked with a move for his or her former midfielder Xabi Alonso, who’s out of contract as Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach next 12 months.
Alonso guided Leverkusen to the German league and cup double last season, while his side narrowly missed out on winning the treble as they lost to Atalanta within the Europa League final.
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