Carlo Ancelotti talked about Real Madrid's past, present and future in an interview with The Times. One of the subjects he lifted the lid on was the aftermath of José Mourinho's reign: "[The club] didn't speak about what happened last year with Mourinho, and I didn't ask. To reach the semi-finals of the Champions League is not bad. It's not good enough for some clubs, but it's not bad", he stated.

"The supporters here don't just look to win; they look at how you play. At Real you have to win with style. It's not enough to win here. For example, Fabio Capello was sacked after he won the league. Chelsea were a more physical team, but here the technical skills of the players are the best", the 'Los Blancos' coach noted.

The former Milan boss stressed that "La Decima is not an obsession, but it's a motivation. For the club it's very important. The last time Real Madrid played in the final was 2002. For a club like Real Madrid this is not good".

"There's a lot of balance in the Premier League now, but in my opinion Manchester City have the best squad. Arsenal are doing well, but we helped them of course. Arsène Wenger has to buy us dinner, as we gave them Özil!" the Italian quipped.

Continuing on the subject of the German playmaker, Ancelotti reiterated that selling him "was my decision. When we bought Gareth Bale it was difficult to find space for him, and he needs to play".