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 could produce another Champions League comeback.
Bukayo Saka’s put Arsenal in front in the 65th minute to give Madrid an even bigger mountain to climb before Ancelotti’s side quickly pulled level when Vinicius Junior capitalised on a mistake from William Saliba to score.
However, Madrid were unable to trouble 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 in the semi-final, while in the other 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 is happy for us.’
Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s future as Madrid’s head coach is now in doubt following the club’s elimination from the Champions League.
Asked after the game if he believes he has taken charge of his final Champions League match with Madrid, Ancelotti replied: ‘It can happen, if the club decides to change.
‘There is no problem at all. 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 of the leading names on the Brazilian Football Confederation’s shortlist to become the national team’s head coach ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Brazil are looking for a 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 their former midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is out of contract as Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach next year.
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 in the Europa League final.
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