Ancelotti ‘convinced’ Real Madrid can win the title this season

Carlo Ancelotti said he was “convinced” Real Madrid will win a major trophy this season before the club make a decision on his future in the summer.

Madrid are chasing three competitions and heading into LaLiga on Sunday classic nine points behind leaders Barcelona, ​​preparing to face Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals and hoping to reverse a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Barca in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

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“It’s an assessment that the club has to make, not me,” Ancelotti said at a press conference on Saturday when asked if he deserved the chance to remain Madrid manager. “I’ve said many times that I would stay here for life, but I think that’s impossible. It’s a decision that the club will make at the end of the season, whatever happens.”

One journalist suggested Madrid’s high standards required winning either LaLiga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League – having already won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup this season – to keep his job.

“Rules change!” said Ancelotti. “And unwritten rules too. But I’m convinced that we’ll win something this season, that’s it.”

Sunday classic is the second of three meetings in 34 days between Madrid and Barca. The Catalan club prevailed in the Copa first leg at the Bernabeu with an own goal from Eder Militao for a 1-0 win before the second leg at the Camp Nou on 5 April.

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“It’s hard to say what game we’re going to get [on Sunday]” added Ancelotti. “Barcelona defended a lot in this game because they took the lead. This game will be different depending on whether we score early or they do… Tomorrow we will play attacking football without taking any risks.”

In the decisive clash in this Copa game, Barca defender Ronald Araujo – selected as right-back – prevailed against Vinicius Junior.

“It’s true that it was more difficult for him,” said Ancelotti. “But Vinicius is always Vinicius. His mobility can help him. I’m thinking about putting him on the right… Of course I’m not serious, but mobility is important.”