Real give up hope in chase for Poch

REAL MADRID want to make a speedy appointment to replace Zinedine Zidane after accepting defeat in their pursuit of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Real identified Pochettino as their No 1 target following Zidane’s shock departure, as reported by Sportsmail last week.

But the Spurs boss has made it clear he will not force his way out and the European champions don’t want to enter a bidding war.

Pochettino has no release clause in his contract and buying him out of his recently extended deal — along with his assistants Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino and Toni Jimenez — could cost in excess of £50million.

Real have spoken to former captain Fernando Hierro, Spain’s sporting director, about him assisting a younger first-team coach such as Guti. SPAIN were held 1-1 at home by Switzerland last night after a David de Gea mistake gifted Ricardo Rodriguez an equaliser. Real Sociedad’s Alvaro Odriozola had opened the scoring.