Carlo Ancelotti praised Xabi Alonso as one of the world’s best coaches but refused to discuss reports about his own Real Madrid future.
The questions came before a Clásico that could decide the La Liga title race.
Ancelotti says every door is open to Alonso
Alonso had announced that he would leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The former Real Madrid midfielder was being linked with Ancelotti’s job.
“He’s done a fantastic job there and has all the doors open to him because he’s proven to be one of the best coaches in the world,” Ancelotti said in comments published by Madrid.
Ancelotti refuses to discuss his future
Ancelotti would not engage with questions about whether his time at Madrid was nearing an end.
“What’s going on around us hasn’t affected us this week at all,” he said. “We’re doing well and feeling very confident.”
Asked whether his honeymoon with the club was over, Ancelotti replied: “The honeymoon never ends with this club. The honeymoon will last until the last day of my life.”
Clásico could reopen the title race
Madrid entered the match four points behind Barcelona with four games left in La Liga.
A Barcelona victory would put the leaders in firm control. A Madrid win at Montjuïc would cut the gap to one point with three matches remaining.
“If they win, they will have a better chance of winning it than us,” Ancelotti said. “But if we win, the league opens up and anything can happen.”
The match was set to be Ancelotti’s 350th as Real Madrid coach.
