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With so many reactions coming from another disappointing league loss for Real Madrid, it’s important to analyze some of what the players are saying about the situation and the constant rumors of Lopetegui being on his way out.
Ramos gives his thoughts on Lopetegui
Real captain Sergio Ramos was interviewed after Saturday’s loss to Levante and gave his thoughts on the result and staying united as a team.
“Individual mistakes have condemned us but we should not point the finger at anyone, the only way to turn this around is to be united.”
“Lopetegui is a very motivating person, he convinces, and we have to believe, he is the first to believe, we need unity.”
“If I am asked for an opinion, I give it, but I do not think that an opinion of mine could influence such an important decision as the coach’s continuity.”
These have been dark times as of late for Real Madrid. There’s not much too be positive about on the pitch and the results they are coming away with.
If there’s one thing that can be drawn as a positive right now, it’s that the players seem to be remaining confident about themselves and Lopetegui, at least in the public eye.
Ramos does make a good point about staying united, the last thing they can afford to do during a struggling time is turning on each other and their manager. Even if Lopetegui is really going to be sacked soon, they can’t do it until he is truly gone, if they even really reveal their true thoughts about him as manager.
Marcelo also backing Lopetegui during slump
Marcelo was also asked about the performance of the club and Lopetegui during Saturda’s postgame press conference.
“We’re with the coach to the death.”
“He tells us things very clearly. He has a really good relationship with us. It’s unfair, as you were with Benitez. I don’t like it when the coach isn’t allowed to work.”
“It’s very unfair. The journalists, when they ask, form an opinion. We’re worried, the pressure of playing at Madrid is tremendous.”
“We have to show our faces on the pitch and in front of the cameras. We’re not afraid, but we’re worried.”
I love the last part of Marcelo’s final quote: “We’re not afraid, but we’re worried.” It shows that the players are conscious of the bad form of the club currently and that they need to be concerned about the way things are heading.
Like Ramos, Marcelo has seemed to have chosen uniting alongside Lopetegui as manager for the duration of his tenure. He also brought up the rumors about players not getting along with former manager Rafa Benitez, which some seem to theorize about what’s happening between players and Lopetegui.
We’ll never know what’s said behind closed doors between the players, but again, publicly it seems they are focusing on working with Lopetegui until he is potentially sacked.
Lopetegui speaks out, feels ‘more motivated than ever’
After hearing from two of the club’s leaders, we hear from Lopetegui about the club and the recent results after Saturday’s home loss.
“I feel more motivated than ever to continue, because the team has left everything on the field.
“Sooner or later we will get ahead. We know the injustice that football has had with us, but only the dynamic is changing.”
“The dressing room was sad, but with the desire to raise their heads and look at the next game. The team has given their all and is going to leave everything to get out of this situation.”
Obviously, Lopetegui isn’t too concerned with the rumors circling around his sacking. There’s not much he can really do except motivating the club to win against Plzen on Tuesday.
Recent talks have Lopetegui being sacked before El Clásico next Sunday, which we’ll just have to see what happens between now and then. Either he knows for a fact he is being sacked already and obviously isn’t going to tell the media, or he is still waiting to find out his fate this week like the rest of us.