Is It End of the Ancelotti Era Post Exit From the Champions League?

For the first time in his Real Madrid career, Ancelotti will be watching the semi-finals from the sidelines rather than leading his team on the pitch.

Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign came to a disappointing end on Wednesday evening. For the first time during Carlo Ancelotti’s time as manager, the Spanish giants failed to reach the semi-finals of Europe’s biggest competition.

Their exit came at the hands of Arsenal, who delivered a brilliant performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, sealing a 2-1 victory on the night and a dominant 5-1 aggregate win. Given Real Madrid’s rich history in the Champions League, fans believed that their team could stage a comeback against Arsenal. However, Los Blancos struggled to build any momentum in the second-leg.

The result marks Real’s first Champions League quarter-final exit since 2020, and has put manager Carlo Ancelotti under significant pressure. The 65-year-old now faces intense scrutiny, with speculation growing over his future at the club following the latest setback.

Knocked out of the Champions League.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 16, 2025

Will Real Madrid’s Champions League Exit Be the End for Ancelotti?

Carlo Ancelotti has enjoyed great success during his second spell in charge at Real Madrid. With one of the strongest squads in world football, bolstered by the signing of Kylian Mbappe – expectations were higher than ever. However, Ancelotti’s team has failed miserably this season.

Also Read: How Many UCL Trophies Has Real Madrid Won? Real Madrid Champions League Titles Won Over the Years!

Real Madrid have looked like a shadow of the side that lifted the Champions League trophy twice in the last three seasons. In La Liga, they trail Barcelona by four points with just seven games to go. Across 15 important matches this season including four against Atletico Madrid, two each against Manchester City, Atalanta, and Barcelona, and one each versus Athletic Club, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Milan – Real Madrid’s record reads: five wins, two draws, and eight losses. For a club that prides itself on being the best in the world, that is simply not enough.

In their biggest games this season – against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona – Real Madrid saw a combined scoreline of 16-3. This raises serious questions about the team’s ability to perform when it matters the most. If Ancelotti cannot set up this world-class squad to succeed in matches of this magnitude, then it’s fair to say that it’s time for a change.

When asked about his future as Real Madrid boss after the Arsenal game, Ancelotti said, “It could be this year, next year when my contract runs out…There’s no problem about it. But when I am done here, I will be grateful to this club. It could be tomorrow, in one year, or in 10 years, but I will be grateful to this club. And that’s it. Full stop.”

"There are no excuses. In the two games, they were better than us." 🤝

An honest Carlo Ancelotti gives his verdict on Real Madrid's defeat 🗣

🎙 @Becky_Ives_ | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/taFd54elVx
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025

Also Read: Why the Real Madrid vs. Alaves Game Will Be Remembered for the Wrong Reasons?

Despite this latest setback, Ancelotti retains his status as the most successful manager in Champions League history, with five titles to his name. But for the first time in his Real Madrid career, he’ll be watching the semi-finals from the sidelines rather than leading his team on the pitch.

Carlo Ancelotti

Champions League

Real Madrid

Real Madrid vs Arsenal

UEFA Champions League

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.