At one night of heartbreaking in Santiago Burnbuy, a stop came during the reign of the Champions League of Real Madrid, and with it, perhaps, the last chapter of the European run with the Carlo Anseloti club.
A stoppage-time goal from Gabriel Martinelly won 2–1 for arsenal and sent Madrid out 5–1 in the quarter-finals with a total defeat. The scoreline stagged, but it was an Anseloti’s Sobar Tone after the match which left the loyal unaccounted of Burnbuy.
“I don’t know,” Italian said that when asked if it was his last Champions League night with Madrid. “This can happen tomorrow, in a month, or in a year. The day I leave, I would only thank this club.”
Despite being under the contract until 2026, Anseloti admitted that the decision could not be in his hands. With increasing investigation in the stuttering season of your side, including two necklaces for Barcelona, the air around the Madrid dugout is heavy with uncertainty.
The club is still hunting for the Laliga title and is a copa del ray final on the horizon.
Ancelotti was not far from the truth, reflecting defeat.
“Arsenal was better than us. We needed a moment to change the tie; may have been the punishment they could have taken. But overall, we have a shortage of collective fire that we had in the previous season.”
Madrid had expected to highlight a revival after his 3–0 first-legs insult in the Emirates, but the Arsenal was prolonged. And while the stars such as Vinikius Junior and Kylian Mabappa (who later attracted the controversial punishment by VAR) tried to inspire the moments of talent, Spark never caught the flame.
Goalkeeper Thibut Cortois defended his manager and rotated the lens inwards.
“There is no issue with the boss, we all return it. But we need to be more of a team. When Vinnie or Kylian is doubled, you cannot expect them to drable through two or three players every time.”
Cortois also pointed to a glowing absence in Madrid’s attacking structure.
“We are remembering a natural number 9, someone like Joselu. We put in a lot of crosses, but we do not have that kind of appearance to finish them. This is something that we have to reflect on.”
