Conte talks stutter in wake of coach’s axing

– Julen Lopetegui’s brief and inglorious reign as Real Madrid coach lasted just 139 days after the club confirmed he had been sacked on Monday.

Lopetegui was dismissed following a meeting of the board of directors, who concluded there had been a “great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid and the results obtained to date”.

Santiago Solari (right), the club’s B team coach, has been put in temporary charge and is now expected to lead Real for their Copa del Rey game against minnows Melilla tonight.

The Argentinian could also remain in charge for Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Real Valladolid.

Lopetegui’s last game proved a humiliation as Madrid were hammered 5-1 by Barcelona in the Clasico on Sunday. The defeat was their fifth in seven games and convinced president Florentino Perez that change was required.

“This decision, adopted from the highest level of responsibility, aims to change the dynamics of the first team, when all the objectives of this season are still achievable,” a club statement read on Monday.

“The Board of Directors understands that there is a great disproportion between the quality of the staff of Real Madrid, which has eight players nominated for the next Golden Ball, something unprecedented in the history of the club, and the results obtained to date.”

Antonio Conte is the early favourite but initial talks have not gone smoothly, according to reports. Others linked with the post include Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and former Real Madrid midfielder Guti.

Solari is the man in position, however, after two seasons with Castilla, in which he oversaw them finishing 11th and eighth in Segunda B.

For Lopetegui, the two biggest jobs in Spanish football have been lost in less than five months after his decision to join Madrid also cost him his role as Spain coach at the World Cup.

Spain subsequently failed in Russia under Fernando Hierro, their stand-in coach, and now Lopetegui’s failure at Madrid has been confirmed too.

Zinedine Zidane was always a hard act to follow given his three consecutive Champions League triumphs. – AFP