No fallout from Madrid's UCL exit, says Ancelotti
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that there have been no disputes after its UEFA Champions League exit, despite players and staff hurting.
The Spanish side is a 15-time European champion, but was thumped 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final by Arsenal, leaving it fighting on the domestic front only in LaLiga.
Real Madrid faces Barcelona in next week's Copa del Rey final, while it hosts Athletic Club in LaLiga on Monday (AEST), aiming to cut the seven-point gap to leader Barcelona after its comeback 4-3 win against Celta Vigo on Sunday (AEST).
Rumours of any friction between Ancelotti and club boss Florentino Perez are wide of the mark, according to the former.
"I have spoken to the players and I have spoken to the club. We are all on the same page. We are all hurt because we exited the competition in which we have been most successful. You can't always win," Ancelotti said.
"We have the same idea, there is no conflict with the club. Whoever says that there is a conflict is false, the president shows more affection in these moments than when we win.
"The [UEFA] Champions League is the most important competition for everyone. The [UEFA] Champions League is the most important history of Madrid. But it's not true that the rest do not count."
Ancelotti refused to blame his players after their European exit, claiming that he had a "great relationship" with them, though acknowledged the criticism after the defeat hurt.
"The reality is that in this world everything is questioned," he said. "Questioning a club that has won almost 30 titles in the last decade seems misleading to me.
"The only thing I want to do is thank all these players because I've had a great time so far and I want to continue doing so.
"These players have given me the opportunity to win two Champions Leagues in recent years."
Athletic, meanwhile, qualified for the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League after victory over Rangers in the last eight and Ancelotti congratulated his next opponent.
"It's going to be an intense match, both teams played during the week," he said. "They're getting closer to reaching the final at San Mames. We want to stay in the fight for LaLiga."
