Real Hurting after European Exit but No Issues with Club, Says Ancelotti

Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Real Madrid v Arsenal - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 16, 2025 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Real Madrid v Arsenal - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 16, 2025 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Real Hurting after European Exit but No Issues with Club, Says Ancelotti

Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Real Madrid v Arsenal - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 16, 2025 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Real Madrid v Arsenal - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 16, 2025 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts before the match REUTERS/Juan Medina

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said his side were still hurting after the holders were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals but there had been no falling out with the club hierarchy after their European exit.

Arsenal beat the 15-times European champions in both legs to advance to the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate victory which leaves Ancelotti's side fighting only on the domestic front.

Real are in the Copa del Rey final where they face Barcelona, who are four points ahead of Ancelotti's side in LaLiga. Real host fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Real president Florentino Perez has been known to be ruthless in sacking coaches who fail but Italian Ancelotti, the only manager to win the Champions League five times, said rumours of any friction with the club were false.

"I have spoken to the players and I have spoken to the club. We are all on the same page. We are all hurt because we exited the competition in which we have been most successful. You can't always win," Ancelotti told reporters.

"We have the same idea, there is no conflict with the club. Whoever says that there is a conflict is false, the president shows more affection in these moments than when we win.

"The Champions League is the most important competition for everyone. And the Champions League is the most important history of Madrid. But it's not true that the rest do not count."

Ancelotti said what hurt most was the stinging criticism that followed their exit but the 65-year-old refused to blame the squad, saying he had a "great relationship" with his players.

"The reality is that in this world everything is questioned," he said. "Questioning a club that has won almost 30 titles in the last decade seems misleading to me.

"The only thing I want to do is thank all these players because I've had a great time so far and I want to continue doing so ... These players have given me the opportunity to win two Champions Leagues in recent years."

Sunday's opponents Athletic, on the other hand, reached the Europa League semi-finals and Ancelotti congratulated them.

"It's going to be an intense match, both teams played during the week," he said. "They're getting closer to reaching the final at San Mames. We want to stay in the fight for LaLiga."



Archer Steps Down as WTA CEO After Less Than 2 Years in the Role

FILE - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain's racket lies on the court during his second round match against Reilly Opelka of the US at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
FILE - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain's racket lies on the court during his second round match against Reilly Opelka of the US at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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Archer Steps Down as WTA CEO After Less Than 2 Years in the Role

FILE - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain's racket lies on the court during his second round match against Reilly Opelka of the US at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
FILE - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain's racket lies on the court during his second round match against Reilly Opelka of the US at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Portia Archer has stepped down from her role as chief executive officer of the WTA less than two years after being appointed, the governing body of elite women's tennis said on Wednesday.

WTA chair Valerie Camillo informed staff, members and other stakeholders of Archer's departure on Wednesday in a note which the organization shared with Reuters.

The letter did not specify a reason for Archer's departure but said she had left her role effective April ⁠20 ahead of ⁠her contract renewal.

The American had replaced Steve Simon, who relinquished his role as CEO after eight years in late 2023. Simon remained as executive chairman of the organization until Camillo was appointed in October last year.

"We are ⁠working through a transition plan for the leadership of the WTA and will share an update on this by mid-May," Camillo wrote in the note.

Archer, previously a senior executive at the National Basketball Association, took charge as WTA CEO in July 2024 and led day-to-day business strategy and operations, helping it expand into new markets.


Trump Envoy Reportedly Seeks to Replace Iran with Italy in World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
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Trump Envoy Reportedly Seeks to Replace Iran with Italy in World Cup

FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa
FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa

A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president's attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

"I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA president Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see ⁠the Azzurri at ⁠a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion," US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.

The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row following a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their ⁠qualifying playoff final.

Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but after the start of the war requested that FIFA move the team's three group matches from the US to Mexico.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on a visit to an Iran squad training camp in Türkiye last month that all matches would take place as scheduled, while offering the team help with preparations for the tournament.

"We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities," Iranian football federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Wednesday.

"For now, the decision is for the national team to be fully prepared for ⁠the World Cup."

The decision ⁠on which country would come in if the Iranian government withdrew the team lies in the hands of FIFA, which under Article Six of the World Cup regulations is at liberty to call up any nation it chooses to fill the vacancy.

The World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, gets underway on June 11 with Iran scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.


Al-Nassr Reaches Asian Champions League Two Final

Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
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Al-Nassr Reaches Asian Champions League Two Final

Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)
Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr crush Qatar’s Al-Ahli 5-1 on Wednesday to reach the Asian Champions League Two final and move within touching distance of a first major trophy since joining the Saudi club in December 2022.

The 41-year-old Portugal superstar played for 78 minutes and, while he did not score, French international Kingsley Coman's hat trick inspired a comeback victory in Asia’s second-tier club tournament, The Associated Press reported.

Al-Ahli had a chance to take the lead after seven minutes, but a penalty from former Germany international Julian Draxler was saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento.

Four minutes later, the Qatari side went ahead. Sekou Yansane cut inside from the right and curled a low shot into the far corner.

Al-Nassr responded almost immediately, with Coman equalizing from close range after Angelo broke free down the left.

Angelo then put the hosts in front midway through the first half, collecting a pass from Sadio Mane before guiding the ball past the goalkeeper.

Just before the break, Al-Nassr extended its lead as Coman pounced on a loose ball to score from close range.

Coman, who joined from Bayern Munich in 2025, completed his hat trick in the 64th, running onto a pass from Angelo and finishing calmly.

Abdullah Al-Hamdan added a late goal to complete the win.

Al-Nassr, which leads the Saudi Pro League with five games remaining, faces Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the Champions League Two final in Riyadh on May 17.