Spain

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti thinks Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez's decision to stay with the club is 'correct.'  Xavi, in January earlier this year, had said that he'd leave the club at the end of the ongoing season. He now has decided to stay till his contract comes to an end in 2025.

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"I think Xavi has done a good job at Barcelona," Ancelotti told a news conference. "He knows the club very well and it seems to me to be the correct decision to stay."

He was also asked if a person's words mattered more than a contract to which Ancelotti said: "Well, well, well... What a question. Everything is important.

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"We have to respect that people can change their opinion. It's not in writing. How many times have I changed opinion in my career? It's allowed."

The Real Madrid coach also spoke on Barca president Joan Laporta's statement which asked for the El Clasico played on April 21 to be replayed if Barcelona player Lamine Yamal's disallowed goal is proven to be a VAR error. 

Yamal's goal, which was picked by Madrid goalkeeper Andrey Lunin at the goal-line in the first half with score at 1-1, was ruled no goal by VAR. Notably, LaLiga doesn't use goal-line technology and hence the goal was disallowed using VAR.

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Jude Bellingham then scored in the stoppage-time to take Real Madrid to a 3-2 victory. 

Speaking on Laporta's statement, Ancelotti said: "I think everyone, us included, has seen those declarations [by Laporta]," Ancelotti said. "I don't have anything to say. It's their opinion. As we say in Italy, the wind takes words away."

Madrid are poised to win the season with 81 points in 32 games, leading second-placed Barcelona by 11 points with six games left. Ancelotti, however, said that he'd not thinking about it just yet.

"Until the maths gives us the title, we have to compete and fight. The dynamic is very good, but that's not enough."