As his time with Real Madrid draws to a close, Carlo Ancelotti offered an unfiltered assessment of what he believes truly derailed the club’s 2024/25 campaign. And unlike typical end-of-season critiques, the Italian manager pointed not to mentality or ambition—but to the injury crisis in defense.

“It Wasn’t About Belief, It Was About Absences”

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the clash with Sevilla, Ancelotti dismissed the notion that his team lacked the conviction to compete:

“It wasn’t a matter of belief—this team has believed many times when nobody else did. That’s where comebacks come from.”

But when it came to pinpointing what truly hindered the team, he was direct:

“The key issue was the injuries in defense. We lost many key players. In the last game against Barcelona, none of the four starting center-backs from the beginning of the season were available.”

The season ends with no trophies—no LaLiga, no Champions League, no Copa del Rey—a rare occurrence for a club of Real Madrid’s stature and expectations.

Loyalty to His Players, Exit With Class

Despite the setbacks, Ancelotti refused to single out underperforming individuals:

“I’ll never criticize players like Valverde, Vinícius, Rodrygo, or Courtois. They’ve given me so much joy. They’re the best, even when they haven’t been at their best.”

With his move to become Brazil’s national team manager already confirmed, Ancelotti now enters his final week as Real Madrid coach, with fixtures against Sevilla and Real Sociedad ahead.

“I wanted to enjoy this final stretch while fighting for LaLiga, but I’ll enjoy it anyway. Then, it’s time to prepare for a new challenge.”

True to his personality, Ancelotti even cracked a joke when asked about his future role with Brazil:

“How are things in Brazil? All good?” he laughed, aware of the debate surrounding his appointment.

As always, with calm, wit, and dignity, Carlo Ancelotti begins to close a chapter that has firmly established him as a legend in the Santiago Bernabéu dugout.