Solari looks to Isco

REAL Madrid coach Santiago Solari expects out-of-favour attacking midfielder Isco to remain at the club and rediscover the form that made him one of the team’s most important players over the past two years.

Isco has not started a league game since Solari succeeded Julen Lopetegui as Madrid coach at the end of October, but the team’s results have improved dramatically in his absence, with Real winning five out of six league games since the Argentine took charge.

The Spain international’s prolonged absence has sparked reports that he will seek an exit from the club, but Solari said Isco can work his way back to prominence at the Santiago Bernabeu

“Every player here has to be committed, dedicated and keep working with hope and excitement; they are all fundamental to us,” Solari told a news conference.

“Isco has given us a lot of joy and he has to keep doing that. He’s a magnificent footballer and, now that we have lost Marcos Llorente, Javi Sanchez and Mariano, we’re going to need everyone.”

Real’s 2018 was a year of highs and lows. A third successive Champions League triumph was followed by the Club World Cup title, but the team’s La Liga showing has been peppered with disappointments.

Victory over Villarreal tonight would put Real level with Sevilla in third place, though they have not won their first away game of a new year since 2014.

Meanwhile, as Atletico Madrid prepare to resume their La Liga title chase with a mouthwatering trip to Sevilla next Sunday, uncertainty surrounds the future of their defence, which has been the bedrock of their sustained success under Diego Simeone.

Captain Diego Godin leads a list of four players who have all been the fulcrum of that reliable rearguard in recent years but have an unclear status at the club whose fortunes they have transformed.

Godin has six months left on his contract, meaning he is free to negotiate with other clubs and can leave in June for no transfer fee.“Atletico and Godin don’t see eye-to-eye,” Spanish newspaper Marca said yesterday, reporting that the player and club made a verbal agreement last August on a new deal after the Uruguayan received an offer from Manchester United, but that no progress has been made on signing a new contract.

Spanish right back Juanfran and Brazilian left back Filipe Luis, both 33, are also in the final six months of their contracts with the club. | Reuters