Backheel Breakfast: Real Madrid players want Carlo Ancelotti to stay

Most assumed Carlo Ancelotti would leave his post at Real Madrid after a season without a trophy, but his players aren’t on board with that idea. According to AS, the players recently asked team president Florentino Perez to keep Ancelotti on as manager. Perez’s choice is likely down to Ancelotti or Jürgen Klopp for next year’s manager, and his choice probably just got a bit harder.

Meanwhile, rumors that Real Madrid spoke to Jose Mourinho about coming back are apparently false. Mourinho says he called Perez to congratulate him on Madrid winning a basketball title.

Hey look it’s another match fixing scandal in Italy. (Football Italia)

Brendan Rodgers is probably going to keep his job. (ESPN FC)

Here’s Louis van Gaal being weird as hell at Manchester United’s team awards ceremony. (Telegraph)

Liverpool held theirs last night as well, and Raheem Sterling got booed. (BBC)

Giorgio Chiellini says he doesn’t hold a grudge against Luis Suarez for his bite. (Guardian)

Luke Shaw and Raheem Sterling got out of U-21 duty, but Harry Kane didn’t. (Mirror)

Jozy Altidore will miss the next 4-5 weeks with an injury.

Aaron Gordon and Raphael Guellar on how the Israel-Palestine conflict is affecting soccer. (Vice)

Alex Robert Ross on Americans who get into bad English teams. (Paste)

Rory Smith on Memphis Depay and how fans set themselves up for sadness. (ESPN FC)

The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, will probably be bigger than the actual news section.

Manchester City could bid £40m for Raheem Sterling. (Mirror)

Hey look, Bayern want Sterling too! (Bild)

Arsene Wenger says he’ll sign a midfielder, but wishes people appreciated Francis Coquelin more. (Guardian)

Juventus are apparently in for both Paulo Dybala and Edinson Cavani, not one or the other. Guess they’re anticipating Carlos Tevez going home and Real Madrid buying Alvaro Morata back? (Football Italia)

Real Madrid are also looking into buying Robin van Persie. (Goal)

Check out Tigres-Emelec highlights here. (FootballManiaChannel)

Arsenal vs. Sunderland (2:45 p.m.) - A draw seals safety for Sunderland and third place for Arsenal, so expect a draw.

Juventus vs. Lazio (2:45 p.m.) - The first of two finals for Juve as they pursue a treble.

Sporting KC vs. New England Revolution (8 p.m.) - Injuries have decimated the Sporks, while New England are finally healthy.

Santa Fe vs. Internacional (9 p.m.) - Santa Fe look like the best dark horse, out of nowhere contenders for Copa Lib this season.