Real Madrid to fire manager Carlo Ancelotti after Sunday's El Clasico: Report

Carlo Ancelotti may not be in charge of Real Madrid when they meet archrivals Barcelona on May 11 for a season-deciding El Clasico. After a heartbreaking UEFA Champions League quarterfinal exit, the Italian manager is unlikely to survive the season at the Spanish capital, a report said.

Ahead of the La Liga El Clasico in May, Real Madrid will face off against Barcelona on April 27, Sunday, for the Copa Del Rey. The summit clash at Seville's Estadio La Cartuja is likely to be Carlo Ancelotti's final game as Real Madrid manager, Sky Sports claimed. Xabi Alonso and Jurgen Klopp are being tracked by the Los Blancos management to replace  Ancelotti, unconfirmed reports said.

Trailing Hansi Flick's Barcelona by four points with seven rounds left to play domestically, defending champions Real were humbled by Arsenal on Wednesday to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009. Arsenal advanced 5-1 on aggregate after winning 3-0 in London last week, keeping alive its chances of winning Europe's top club competition for the first time. Barcelona, meanwhile, entered the final four of the competition after a long absence.

Having already beaten Real convincingly earlier this season, Barcelona will be brimming with confidence ahead of the final. If the exit rumours are to be believed, Ancelotti and his team should switch to do-or-die mode with their pride and self-respect on the line. 

"We have to hold our heads high because we did very well in this competition in recent years," Ancelotti had said after the game. "This year we have to endure and suffer. In sports, this can happen because there are no invincible teams. I was clear with my players. We have to keep our heads up, we have to learn from it and fight for the next game," he added.

65-year-old Ancelotti, who enjoys legendary status at the Bernabeu, added that he didn't know if the loss would mean his last Champions League match with Madrid. 

"Maybe the club will decide to make a change. It could be this year or next year, when my contract runs out," he said. The day I finish here I can only do one thing and that is to thank this club. It could be tomorrow, in 10 days or in a year and the only thing I will do is thank the club," he said.

The former AC Milan manager is heavily linked to a move to Brazil to take over the reins of the struggling national team. Ancelotti had earlier said that he remained committed to his job at Madrid and there was no other job in the world that could lure him until his current contract with the club ended.