BARCELONA, Oct 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Julen Lopetegui said it was the
happiest day of his life being named coach of Real Madrid but he could not
have imagined this.
Four and a half months, 138 days, nine La Liga games. One defeat at Camp
Nou on Sunday and that might well be that.
If Florentino Perez’s mind is already made up, the result against Barcelona
may not matter. A draw, or even a Madrid win, is not beyond the realm of
possibility. After all, this game rarely has much respect for form and Lionel
Messi is injured.
“It’s a great game for us in this moment because we have no choice but to
stand up,” Toni Kroos told AFP this week. “We have to show how good we are
against a difficult opponent and I think we can do it.”
A surprise success would make sacking Lopetegui harder to justify but five
games without a win, more than eight hours without a goal, these are not
quickly forgotten either.
There were disgruntled whistles at full-time on Tuesday, the home fans
deflated after watching a team that featured UEFA’s best goalkeeper, defender
and player hang on for a 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen.
After the match, Lopetegui talked about turning points and changing
dynamics but his demeanour perhaps betrayed the truth. “I don’t often smile
anyway,” he said. Madrid’s chaotic performance had weakened his position, not
strengthened it.
Isco insisted on Monday that if they fire the coach, they should fire the
players too. Lopetegui might have added the one the club did let go last
summer took an average of 50 goals a season with him.
Players though are never accountable – certainly not ones crowned European
champions only five months ago – and besides, the coach sets the tone.
He instils confidence, which leads to creativity and precision. He also
sets the rules and for some, perhaps Perez included, this team has been
indulged for too long.
For their part, the players might argue they have struggled before and come
through, not least under Zinedine Zidane last season.
– Confident of revival –
“The confidence in my opinion is not a problem,” said Kroos, whose Germany
coach Joachim Loew is among those considered a potential successor to
Lopetegui.
“We have many champions in the World Cup and the Champions League, and we
have shown we can turn around tough situations. Remember that in the last few
years, we have not only played good games, there have been bad ones too.
“We are creating, we are doing everything we can to get good results and
that proves we are behind the coach. He is a very good coach in my opinion
and I’m confident we can turn this around with him.”
Opposite Lopetegui this weekend will be Ernesto Valverde, watching his
Barca side with their own superstar extracted too.
This will be the first Clasico without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo
since December 2007. The strikers then included Ruud van Nistelrooy and
Robinho for Madrid, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho for Barcelona.
Messi will return, in three weeks if his right arm heals as expected, but
Ronaldo’s permanent absence has weighed heavier with every chance missed.
When Barca went three games without a win last month, the feeling was both
clubs were in crisis. Lopetegui was under pressure, but so was Valverde.
Then Messi blew away Tottenham at Wembley and, a day later, Madrid lost 1-0
to CSKA Moscow, lacking the snap and spark Ronaldo once provided and that
Messi had given the night before.
Momentum has diverged since. Two more Madrid defeats followed to leave
Lopetegui on the brink while Barca are now 10 points from 12 and top of the
table.
“Madrid will be even more dangerous,” Valverde said on Wednesday. “They
will come here to demonstrate all the strength they have.”
He also knows failure to put away a wobbling rival will see the doubts
circling again, but win, and a seven-point gap opens up.
Or, Madrid can cut it to one, with only a single game, at home to Real
Valladolid, against an opponent in the top half before Christmas. It will
either be a chance for a Lopetegui revival or, the perfect start for his
successor.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Real Valladolid v Espanyol (1900)
Saturday
Girona v Rayo Vallecano (1100), Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (1415), Celta
Vigo v Eibar (1630), Levante v Leganes (1630), Atletico Madrid v Real
Sociedad (1845)
Sunday
Getafe v Real Betis (1000), Barcelona v Real Madrid (1415), Alaves v
Villarreal (1630), Sevilla v Huesca (1845)