Real Madrid’s Ancelotti talks about his fears for the future after Sevilla win

After a 4-2 win over Sevilla in La Liga, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted he was never afraid for his future, even as Los Blancos endured a string of poor results earlier this season.

An easy win against the Andalusians at the Bernabeu in their final game of 2024 saw Ancelotti’s men rise to second place in the Spanish top flight, just a point behind city rivals Atlético Madrid.

Although the year ended well, with Madrid improving in the title race and winning the Intercontinental Cup at the expense of Pachuca in Qatar earlier this week, there was a difficult period at the start of the current season, peppered with defeats both domestically and also in the Champions League.

Ancelotti was heavily criticized but he weathered the storm and claimed not to be upset when asked if he feared for his future.

“I have never feared for my position, although I know what my job is like when things don’t go well. The club has always shown me affection and calm and supported me very much. That’s what a coach needs,” Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference.

Recognizing when rock bottom had been reached, Ancelotti pointed to the 3-1 defeat to his former club AC Milan on the continent, which came a week after a 4-0 El Clasico loss to FC Barcelona.

“That was after the defeat against Milan,” he said. “We sorted things out by speaking very clearly. We knew what the problem could be. We came back and solved it.”

Self-criticism is a highly valued virtue in Spain and Ancelotti explained that in Madrid “we lacked attitude, commitment and mileage”.

“We’ve gone back to doing things the way they need to be done. It was a very stressful two months after the defeat against Milan, but little by little we made things right. We are ending the year well and with enthusiasm for 2025,” he said.

As for what he has planned for the holidays, Ancelotti said: “I’ll rest first.”

“We have given each player a program of three training sessions and they will not lose anything. We have a game against Valencia very soon. I’m glad the players can rest.”

The clash with Valencia on January 3rd is particularly important as it is the game that Madrid have against Barca and which, with a win, can help create a four-point lead over the Catalans.