Under-pressure Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui admits he cannot guarantee that he will be in charge of Saturday’s El Clasico following a disastrous start to the season.
Lopetegui joined Real Madrid, who are seventh after nine matches, after being sacked as Spain manager days before the World Cup and has started his tenure with a poor start in La Liga and the Champions League.
His side also made history and set a new record for the longest goal drought in their 116 years of existence: a spell that lasted 481 minutes.
Lopetegui said he cannot guarantee he will be in charge of Sunday’s league match against Barcelona as he prepares to face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, a game with surprising pressure after Real Madrid were beaten by CSKA Moscow in their previous group match.
"I can't guarantee that. I'm sat here now," he responded when asked whether there is any truth to the reports in Spain that he could be sacked before the weekend. “I’m focused on preparing the game tomorrow and not on anything else.
“You are thinking that I am reading and listening to what is being said. But I am just preparing my team for the game. I do not look any further than that, which is my responsibility as a coach.
“This is a strong dressing-room, they are champions, that is not by chance. And in difficult moments champions come through. I see things in a much more normal way, I am going day to day the same as always. That is the only thing we can control. I have max ambition and max motivation, and just looking forward to winning tomorrow’s game.”
Reports in Spain suggest it is increasingly likely that Lopetegui’s tenure will end following three straight defeats and no win in five games, however Isco has hit back at the media and says that the manager has the full support of the players.
“The press do not have the power to get rid of a Madrid coach,” he said. “We believe fully in what this team can achieve, and the coach has full confidence of the players. After that, many things can happen, but I am convinced we can have a very good season.
"It is not about just me, the squad in general, we all believe in him, in his work, and that all together we can turn this situation around.
“If you throw out the coach, you would have to throw out all of us, as it is the players who go out onto the pitch to play. I am still confident we can have a magnificent game.
"We are worried, of course, as we are not getting results we deserve. There are games maybe we do not deserve to win, but not to lose either. We must find that balance, avoid the defensive mistakes we are making, and improve in front of goal. That will mark our results."
Lopetegui also refused to confirm whether Gareth Bale would be fit to play against Barcelona, who will be without Lionel Messi who is missing through injury. “You can’t ride two horses at once,” said the Real Madrid manager. “Tomorrow’s game is sufficiently important and I won’t be thinking beyond that.”
