'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 The Real Madrid job might be a step too far for Julen Lopetegui
Following the shock resignation by Zinedine Zidane after guiding the club to an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League triumph, Real Madrid sought a replacement and turned to then Spain manager Julen Lopetegui to take over the reins, having secret discussions with him and announcing his appointment a day to the commencement of the World Cup, leading to his sack as Spain coach.
The 52-year-old has started life as Real Madrid coach in an unconvincing fashion. He lost his first official match as Los Blancos manager to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup and has been unconvincing in the league despite sitting second in the standings behind Barcelona.
Real Madrid are winless in two La Liga matches, posting blanks in the 3-0 defeat to Sevilla and the goalless draw in the derby with Atletico Madrid.
Under his watch, Real Madrid has struggled for goals, and are currently on a run of three matches without finding the back of the net.
This would come as a real shock to Real fans, who have been accustomed to supporting a free-scoring side, with the club recently going over 70 consecutive matches in which they scored at least a goal.
Real Madrid defeated AS Roma on the opening day of the UCL 3-0, and many would have expected the club to have gotten the job done when they travelled to Russia to face CSKA Moscow, but the match panned out differently, as Vlasic put the Railway Men ahead in the 2nd minute and that was enough to see out a memorable victory.
Despite fielding a second team owing to numerous injuries, Real still had enough firepower on the field to see off CSKA, and this defeat would mount early pressure on Julen, showing him the heat taken by Real Madrid coaches.
Lopetegui has had a less than spectacular managerial career to date, and on evidence of Real's recent struggles, his tactical nous might not just be enough to steer a club the size of Real Madrid who are accustomed to winning every week.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
