Mikel Arteta has opened up about the conversation he shared with Carlo Ancelotti in the moments after Arsenal knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Gunners travelled to the Spanish capital holding a 3-0 aggregate over Real. After a dramatic first-half — with Bukayo Saka missing a penalty and a spot-kick for the hosts scrubbed off by VAR — the two sides were goalless by the break.
Saka soon atoned for his earlier mistake by scoring a slick opener, Vinicius Junior quickly pegging the Gunners back, before a 92nd-minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate to Arsenal.
Arsenal will now play Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final with the first leg at the Emirates on April 29 and the return leg on May 7. In the other Champions League last-four tie, Barcelona will meet Inter.
After the full-time whistle blew at the Bernabeu, Real boss Ancelotti embraced Arteta and spoke at length to the Spaniard.
And, in an interview with Movistar, Arteta revealed what the five-time Champions League winning coach said to him.
Carlo Ancelotti congratulates Mikel Arteta after Arsenal knock Real Madrid out of Europe
Bukayo Saka delicately chips the ball over Thibaut Courtois to put Arsenal 1-0 up in Madrid
Arteta salutes the away supporters as Arsenal reach the Champions League semi-finals
‘He’s been very affectionate,’ said Arteta.
‘He has told me that he hopes we win it and that he is happy for us.’
Those were magnanimous words from a man whose future has been thrown into doubt by Real’s Champions League humiliation. It is the first time since 2004 that the 15-time European champions have exited at the quarter-final stage.
Real are also in danger of losing their domestic crown as they trail Barcelona in the La Liga table by four points.
Asked after the game if he believes he has taken charge of his final Champions League match with Madrid, Ancelotti replied: ‘It can happen, if the club decides to change.
‘There is no problem at all. The day I finish here, I can only do one thing, thank the club. If my contract ends or not, I don’t care.’
Ancelotti, whose deal expires in 2026, has been linked with the vacant Brazil head coach position after Dorival Junior was sacked last month. There are even reports that the Italian could take his first international posting before the end of the season.
Wednesday night’s warm words were not the first time that Ancelotti has spoken glowingly about Arsenal.
It is not the first time that Real boss Ancelotti has spoken warmly about Arteta’s Arsenal side
Jude Bellingham looks stunned at the Euopean champions crash out to Arsenal on Wednesday
Ahead of the first leg in London, Ancelotti said of Arteta: ‘He has built a complete team.
‘There aren’t many complete teams in Europe. There are teams who do some things well but not many that do everything well like Arsenal do.
‘Arsenal are one of the most important clubs in Europe and Arteta has done a fantastic job. From 2020 onwards he has done really well. The team is stronger than in the past and will be even stronger in the future.’
That much was proven by the way Arsenal completely outplayed Real Madrid over two legs to reach the club’s first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
Whether they can progress a step further with a formidible PSG remains to be seen but it appears Ancelotti will be cheering them on from afar.
