“The bigger the club, the more I enjoy it”.
This is how Carlo Ancelotti concluded his pre-match press conference on the eve of Real Madrid's defeat against PSG (1-0).
Two days after his team's setback at the Parc des Princes, the Italian manager rediscovered above all that the bigger the club, the harsher the criticism.
The Spanish press named him the main culprit for Madrid's failure in Paris.
A Radio Marca columnist even clearly expressed his wish to see Ancelotti leave at the end of the season.
But according to information from ESPN, the defeat also frustrated some Real leaders, who blame the three-time Champions League winner (2003, 2007 with AC Milan, 2014 with Real).
“Club figures were angry because of the image demonstrated by the team in Paris, targeting Carlo Ancelotti and Dani Carvajal”, writes the American media without saying more about possible consequences.
Seven coaches in 13 seasons
So does Carlo Ancelotti already see his future in danger on the side of the Spanish capital, a few months after his return to the bench?
Aged 62, the former coach of Juventus, Milan, Chelsea or PSG knows the reality of the job all too well.
During his first spell at Real Madrid (2013-2015), President Florentino Pérez asked him to leave after only two seasons despite winning the Champions League.
The Real Madrid boss, since his return to the presidency in 2009, has already worn out seven coaches in 13 seasons (Zidane and Ancelotti have had two spells).
Pérez has never had feelings when it comes to deciding.
And it is not the three-season contract signed last June that will protect the Italian.
However, nothing says that his future is already sealed.
Real Madrid still have a return match to negotiate in this round of 16 of C1.
But in the event of elimination against PSG on March 9, the storm will rush on Carlo Ancelotti.