Lopetegui buys time with win

UNDER-FIRE coach Julen Lopetegui will still be in charge of Real Madrid for Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ away to arch rival Barcelona, club director Emilio Butragueno said after an unconvincing 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Lopetegui said before facing Plzen he could not guarantee whether he would be in the dugout at the Nou Camp against champion Barcelona. He avoided the same question after the victory which ended a winless spell spanning five games but did little to dispel doubts about Real’s current form.

Former striker Butragueno, however, said there was no danger the former Spain coach would be sacked before Sunday. “Lopetegui will be in the dugout at the Nou Camp with absolute normality. In these type of situations it’s important to stay calm,” he told reporters.

“We hear a lot of rumors but we are dealing with the situation as normal. I hope the team can put in a good performance against Barcelona.”

Goals from Karim Benzema and Marcelo put Real on its way to victory although the impressive Czech champion squandered a number of glaring chances before midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky pulled a goal back for the visitors, setting up a tight finish.

When full time came, Real was booed off the pitch by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful, who had also whistled the players at the interval. Butragueno said fans needed to show the team more support.

“Madrid fans are very loyal and they think that the team should always be scoring four or five goals but we have to change that tendency,” he added.

“In delicate moments we need the support of the crowd to change the situation.”

Lopetegui, sacked as Spain coach on the eve of the World Cup for announcing he was joining Real without the national federation’s consent, said he was unaffected by the boos.

“I didn’t notice anything special, the supporters are sovereign and they treat us very well,” he said.

Lopetegui initially avoided the question of whether he would be in charge against Barcelona by saying “that is not a question for me”.

When later told that Butragueno had guaranteed his presence at the Nou Camp, he insisted he was not focused on his future.

“You do not change course in one day but I think today can be a turning point for us,” he added.

“We have to keep gaining tranquility little by little.”