Carlo Ancelotti 'hopes Arsenal win the Champions League' as angry Real Madrid fans demand Italian is immediately sacked after crushing defeat to Gunners

Real Madrid were brought down to earth in the Champions League, a competition they like to call it their own, after Arsenal secured a brilliant 2-1 win at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening to progress to the semi-finals 5-1 on aggregate. Following the loss, which was head coach Ancelotti's first ever elimination before the semi-final stage with Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta revealed that the Italian told him he hoped the Gunners would now go all the way.

Indeed, given the manner of the loss at the Bernabeu, Madridistas have been calling for the immediate sacking of Ancelotti, whose has been constantly linked with a summer departure.

Passionate Madrid fan @leon_Tz30 wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "We deserve to be eliminated. This team ain’t playing football and this coach need to be sacked asap."

Another user, @aluegbebhotor, added: "Need him sacked for this."

And user @WhalidDean wrote: "We hope Madrid sacks him too."

The loss to Arsenal was Madrid's 12th defeat in all competitions this season, 10 more than in the entirety of last season. It has been a miserable campaign for Los Blancos, having lost to Barcelona (twice), Liverpool, Arsenal (twice) and AC Milan, as well as others domestically.

There is every chance Real Madrid end this season without winning a major trophy; they have already been ousted from the Champions League, trail Barca by four points in La Liga and face them in the Copa del Rey final next weekend, where the Catalans are favourites to lift the trophy. It's not just the number of defeats, but also their nature which has left Madrid fans in despair and Ancelotti's job in real jeopardy, even though he has a contract until 2026.

Following the defeat, a report from Cadena SER revealed that the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) sent an intermediary, a businessman named Daniel Rodrigues, to Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, perhaps in an effort to convince the Italian to take over the Selecao head coach job.

Indeed, Ancelotti wasn't sure if the Arsenal tie was his final Champions League game in charge of Real Madrid. "I don't know," he told reporters after the game when asked about his future (h/t ESPN). "It could be that the club decides to change. It could be this year, or next year when my contract ends. There's no problem. The day I finish here, the only thing I can do is thank this club, it could be tomorrow, in a month, or in a year."

Sky Sports News has gone as far as claiming that Ancelotti is expected to depart his post after the Copa del Rey final on April 26. Regardless of whether he stays or goes, Ancelotti will be demanding a reaction when his side take on Athletic Club in La Liga on April 20.