‘Journalists try to hurt us… maybe it’s because you don’t know how to play football’: Marcelo launches staunch defence of under-fire Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui after first win in six
- REPORT: Real Madrid hang on for win after Karim Benzema and Marcelo goals
- The Champions League victory ended a five-game winless run for Los Blancos
- Manager Julen Lopetegui’s job has come under threat after recent results
- Marcelo, however, hit out at the press in a passionate defence of his manager
- Should Real Madrid sack Lopetegui, however, it would cost them £16million
Marcelo has hit out at the press in a staunch defence of under-fire Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui.
Los Blancos were winless in their previous five games before earning a narrow victory over minnows Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Lopetegui’s job at the Bernabeu was looking increasingly untenable and defeat at home against the Czech side may well have proved terminal.
Marcelo has hit out at the press in defence of under-fire Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui had seen his side go five games without a win before beating Viktoria Plzen
However, following goals from Karim Benzema and Marcelo himself, Real walked away with all three points and the Brazilian took the opportunity to give the manager his full backing in a loaded interview after the match.
‘It’s hard when you don’t win, but you talk about a crisis like you want to hurt this squad,’ said Marcelo.
‘All journalists try to hurt us, maybe it’s envy because you don’t know how to play football.
‘In my view, he’s doing a great job.’
Marcelo’s comments were backed up by club director Emilio Butragueno, who suggested Lopetegui would not be fired before Sunday’s Clasico.
Asked directly: ‘Will Lopetegui be sat on the bench at the Camp Nou?’ Butragueno answered: ‘Yes, yes, everything is totally normal. We have to stay calm and united.’
Should Real Madrid sack Lopetegui it would cost them a hefty fee of £16million
Given the haste in which they lured Lopetegui away from Spain and into the Bernabeu hot-seat, should Real decide to sack him it would come at a hefty cost.
Real named Lopetegui as Zinedine Zidane’s successor just two days before the start of this summer’s World Cup, resulting in Spain sacking the coach on the eve of the tournament.
The lucrative offer — a £5.3million-per-year, three-season deal — tabled by Real, however, means it would be extremely costly for the club to give Lopetegui the axe.
Spanish outlet Sport claim the manager’s sacking would cost the club an eye-watering £16m.
That number in itself is enough for Real’s top brass to pray for results to turn around in the Spanish capital.
