Carlo Ancelotti refuses to be drawn on Real Madrid future ahead of El Clasico

Carlo Ancelotti said his “honeymoon” with Real Madrid will last a lifetime as speculation continues over his future as manager ahead of El Clasico.

Xabi Alonso announced on Friday he would be stepping down as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, and the former Real and Spain midfielder has been linked with a summer switch to take charge of his old club.

Ancelotti, 65, has himself been reported to be set to leave the Bernabeu and move into international management with Brazil.

The Italian coach, though, again refused to be drawn on his future past the end of the current campaign as Real prepared for their trip to LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

“With this club, the honeymoon doesn’t end,” said Ancelotti, who will take charge of his 350th game as Real manager on Sunday.

“Real Madrid, like (AC) Milan before it, are clubs that stay in my heart because of the time I have been here and the relationships.

“When the pressure goes down, the affection goes up. The honeymoon with Madrid will last until the last day of my life.”

Alonso, 43, won the Champions League as a player at Real in 2014, the second time the former Liverpool midfielder had lifted the European Cup.

“I have read that he (Alonso) is leaving Bayer Leverkusen,” Ancelotti said at a press conference when asked about Friday’s news coming out from Germany.

“He has done an incredible job and he has the doors open to him because he has shown he is one of the best in the world.”

Barcelona will be looking for a response after their dramatic defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals.

“It is not complicated to motivate the players because it’s a type of game for which the players already come out motivated and with a lot of confidence,” Ancelotti said.

“We both have a lot at stake. Barca have a better chance than us (to be champions), but if we win it, it will be all to play for.”

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick feels his squad have been able to regroup and can put European disappointment behind them with a strong showing against their domestic rivals.

“After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it was not easy (for us), but we are doing things right,” Flick said a press conference.

“We have spoken about that (defeat) and also what we want to do in the next two weeks. We have four more matches to go.

“El Clasico is very important for us to show again how we can play. It is about our confidence and what we want to do on the pitch, and the players are doing really well.

“Everyone knows that in El Clasico, you have to be on your highest level and that is what the team has to do.

“We want to be active, to see the team with intensity on the pitch and dominant as normal.”

Flick added: “When you ask the players, it is always in El Clasico that you want to win.

“We always go in to win the match, it doesn’t matter what happens with the (league table).

“We are only focused on this match – to do everything and give everything get the three points.”