MADRID (AP) — Carlo Ancelotti has eluded speaking about his future after recent reports that again linked the Real Madrid coach with a move to Brazil’s national team.
The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game press conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer, and each time he responded that he didn’t want to speak about it.
“At the end of the season we will speak about this with the club," he said more than once.
The 65-year-old Ancelotti is under contract with Madrid through June 2026.
Speculation regarding his career plans has once again spiked after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League this week. Britain’s Sky Sports has reported that he will step down following the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
Besides the Copa del Rey, Madrid is still in the fight to defend its La Liga title and is also to play in the Club World Cup this summer.
Madrid is in second place behind Barcelona in the league. It hosts fourth-place Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Brazil has reportedly been after Ancelotti since last year as it seeks an elite coach for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil fired Dorival Júnior as coach last month.
Ancelotti is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times — three times with Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024) and twice with AC Milan (2003, 2007). He is also the only coach to have steered teams to domestic league titles in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti gives instructions from the side line during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
DENVER (AP) — William Nylander scored 3:59 into overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat Colorado 4-3 on Monday night to snap the Avalanche’s 17-game home win streak.
Nylander took a pass from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and lined it past Trent Miner.
Auston Matthews, Easton Cowan and Bobby McMann also added goals as the Maple Leafs improved to 8-0-2 over their last 10 games.
Joseph Woll turned back 31 shots. He also helped the Maple Leafs withstand a late penalty at the end of regulation.
It was Colorado’s first home loss since Oct. 23. The Avalanche came within a win of matching the franchise’s longest home streak, which was set by the 2021-22 Stanley Cup-winning team. Colorado (19-0-3) hasn't lost in regulation at Ball Arena this season.
Cale Makar, Brock Nelson and Martin Necas scored for Colorado, while Nathan MacKinnon finished with three assists. MacKinnon nearly had the winner in OT, but his shot rang off the crossbar.
Miner, fresh off a 29-save shutout win Saturday, appeared again in net and stopped 27 shots. He was called on to make consecutive starts with Scott Wedgewood dinged up and Mackenzie Blackwood out with a lower-body injury.
Martin Necas tied the game at 3-apiece with 7:05 remaining in regulation after Matthews gave Toronto the lead.
MacKinnon had a pair of assists in the first period to help the Avalanche grab a 2-1 lead. It was the 313th multipoint game of MacKinnon's career, tying him with Peter Stastny for second-most in franchise history. Joe Sakic leads the way with 473.
Toronto scored first when Cowan's pass bounced off the skate of Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns and into the net.
Later in the period, Nicholas Robertson was helped off the ice after being hit by the puck in the left leg.
Maple Leafs: At Utah on Tuesday.
Avalanche: Host Nashville on Friday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Nicholas Robertson lies on the ice after injuring his left leg in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll deflects a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, back, passes the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs center Max Domi defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, left, directs the puck at Colorado Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner, right, while being checked by Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, second from left, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, front, congratulates right wing William Nylander after he scored the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
