"We are planning for next season with Xabi Alonso"

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said they are "planning for next season" with Xabi Alonso, but confessed he would have chosen a resounding Real Madrid win over Arsenal in the Champions League to avoid speculation about his bench and the possible replacement of Carlo Ancelotti.

"To be honest, I would have preferred Real Madrid to have beaten Arsenal convincingly and his job as coach would have been secure. It's normal in football that if a club like Real Madrid lose 3-0 to Arsenal in the quarter-finals, the rumours start," he admitted to “Sky Sport Germany”.

"It's understandable and that's why I would have liked to avoid these rumours and speculation with a dominant Real Madrid victory," he added ahead of Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga clash with Union Berlin.

Despite this, Fernando Carro insisted that all planning for next season with his club is done with Xabi Alonso as coach, with whom he has a contract for one more season.

"We have a good relationship with Xabi and we can talk about everything with him. He has a contract and feels very comfortable, we plan next season with Xabi, the pre-season, the games, the planning of the squad," he said.