Real Madrid makes three immediate decisions after defeat to Arsenal

Real Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals after losing 5-1 to Arsenal in both legs, having lost 3-0 in the first leg and 2-1 in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A humiliating exit for the defending champions, who were unable to keep up with Arsenal’s youthful energy in both matches despite boasting a star-studded squad led by Kylian Mbappé.

After this defeat, Real Madrid will make several decisions, but there are three immediate ones that will inevitably be made from now until the end of the season.

Ancelotti’s dismissal

Even if Real Madrid manages to win La Liga and the Copa del Rey, or one of them, Ancelotti will not remain in his position and his contract will be terminated at the end of the season, a full year before its expiration date.

The Italian coach has lost his ability to manage matches and the dressing room itself, which was once his greatest strength. It is clear that he will be unable to address the mistakes, and change has become an urgent necessity at the end of the season.

The dismissal will not happen immediately, but will take place at the end of the season, at which time Florentino Perez will search for a successor to Ancelotti, with the most prominent candidates being Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp.

Signing two full-backs and a central defender

Real Madrid needs to revamp its lineup and plug the gaps, and the most significant weakness this season has been in defense. On the right side, when Dani Carvajal was injured, Ancelotti floundered, playing Lucas Vázquez once and Valverde another time, all of which proved unsuccessful.

In this position, Real Madrid found their ideal match in Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will arrive on a free transfer after his contract with the Reds expires next June. It is said to be a done deal for Los Blancos.

The second position that needs strengthening is left-back, as Ferland Mendy, who has been suffering from recurring injuries, and Ferran Garcia have both failed in their defensive and offensive duties in crucial matches this season, which will force Real Madrid to get rid of one of them and sign a new full-back.

As for the centre-back position, it has become an absolute necessity, as the team has suffered from a shortage of players throughout the season, to the point that Ancelotti has played most matches with Tchouameni as a defender.

Unload excess cargo

At the end of the season, the contracts of two players, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric, will expire and there is a high probability that their contracts will not be renewed. There is also David Alaba, whose contract expires in 2026 and will not be renewed.

Players like Vallejo and Ferran Garcia will be sought out by the club to make room for new signings, while the new coach will make his decisions regarding the rest of the squad.