Steamroll United Real pressure on Lopetegui mounts
Star forward returns to Old Trafford in Juventus colours, eager to let his football do the talking
have managed a turnaround on the domestic front with a comeback win against Newcastle and a draw against Chelsea, their defensive fragility will be a big concern against high-flying Juve, who have won 10 of their 11 games in all competitions so far.
to manage defensively-sound teams, United have already shipped in 16 goals in the league this season as opposed to the 28 they conceded in the entirety of the Premier League last term. MADRID: matches in their history.
One theory goes that Perez is keeping the treasury full in preparation for a fresh tilt for Neymar next summer. It might explain too why a move for Eden Hazard has never been pushed through.
In the meantime, Zinedine Zidane and now, Lopetegui, have been charged with papering over the cracks.
Zidane managed it, spectacularly, by winning in Europe, although if Michael Oliver had not puffed his whistle for a borderline 98th-minute penalty against Juventus, Madrid would have been out in the last 16. In La Liga, they finished 17 points behind Barcelona.
Three Champions League titles in a row is no fluke, just as two interventions from the Video Assistant Referee were not the sole reason Madrid lost at home to Levante for the first time in 11 years.
Defensive mistakes, panicky finishing and stodgy build-up all reflected badly on Lopetegui, who made matters worse by leaving Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema on the bench.
Both endured fitness issues over the international break but were excellent in the second half. By then, it was too late.
“I believe in this team more than ever,” Lopetegui said.