Solari’s claim on Real job faces test at Celta
barcelona — When Real Madrid visits Celta Vigo on Sunday, interim coach Santiago Solari may have his last chance to convince the club that he should stay on the job.
Solari has steered Madrid to three wins since he was promoted from reserve team last week to replace Julen Lopetegui with the team in slump and coming off a 5-1 rout by Barcelona.
By indicating Solari was taking over “provisionally”, Madrid made it clear that it was still searching for a permanent replacement. Media speculation placed Antonio Conte, Roberto Martinez, Mauricio Pochettino, and even former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho on the list of high-profile candidates for the coveted job.
Next week’s international break could offer a new coach a window to adjust to the job. Madrid will have 12 days between matches. It returns with a game at Eibar before it visits Roma in a match that will likely decide who wins their Champions League group.
If Solari gets a win at Celta, the former Madrid midfielder would present a strong case that the right move is for the club is to do nothing at all.
“The only thing I can do is focus on our next game and that’s fine with me. I can only see as far as the next link in the chain,” Solari said after Wednesday’s 5-0 win at Viktoria
The only thing I can do is focus on our next game and that’s fine with me. I can only see as far as the next link in the chain
Santiago Solari
Plzen. “Soccer is all about the here and now and the most important thing is your next game. We’ve come through this one with flying colors and we now have to think about our next match and focus all of our efforts and energy on it.”
Some of Madrid’s most important players have backed him. “We are doing well with him, he should stay until the end of the season,” Madrid striker Karim Benzema said. “He is a great coach. We are playing with more confidence.”
Casemiro added: “People can talk about what he is, if someone else is coming, but we are treating him with a lot of respect, like the coach of Madrid. If things go well, why not give him the chance?”
At a glance, it seems Solari has completely turned around a team that when he inherited it had won only one of its previous seven matches. With the Argentine directing the team, Madrid has outscored its three adversaries 11-0. —