TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2018 15 Rampant Suarez proud of thrashing Lopetegui set for sack Real without Messi as Real target Conte

AFP |

ulen Lopetegui’s brief and inglorious reign as Real JMadrid coach could come to an end yesterday with the defending European champions tipped to appoint Antonio Conte as his replacement. Madrid were thrashed 5-1 by great rivals Barcelona on Sun- day as Luis Suarez scored a hat- trick, surely sealing Lopetegui’s fate. Real Madrid’s Casemiro (C) and (R) in action against FC According to Spanish media, Barcelona’s Luis Suarez (L) during a Spanish soccer match between Real directors are set to meet FC Barcelona and Real Madrid later, when Lopetegui’s sacking could be confirmed. | Barcelona champions. He was named coach only “Madrid went out to win the 139 days ago, with his decision arcelona’s hat-trick hero game in the second half and to accept the post costing him BLuis Suarez said they de- they had chances but we did the chance to lead Spain at the serve extra credit for humili- a great job, we all ran a lot and World Cup. ating Real Madrid 5-1 in Sun- they left space, and we took ad- But Madrid’s dreadful recent day’s ‘Clasico’ as they did it vantage on the counter-attack run showed no sign of abating Arturo Vidal of Barcelona scores his sides fifth past of Real Madrid during the La Liga match without the help of talisman and killed the game off,” add- at the Camp Nou. They have between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid , who missed the ed Suarez, who rounded off a now managed one win in their game with a broken arm. memorable week in which he last seven matches, sit ninth in hand. The finger of blame is not only three-man defence was hailed “It’s better for Messi to play also became a father for the La Liga and earlier this month and Lo - being pointed at Lopetegui, with as a brilliant, and decisive, stra- as he is the best in the world third time. went more than eight hours petegui have both been keen Perez also being criticised for tegic move. and he gives you a boost but “Nights like these are unfor- without a goal. to afford freedom to the play- his failure to sign a replacement But they finished fifth in his we should be very proud as a gettable. After a special week Sports daily AS called the de- ers while Conte is seen as a for after the second year, when the Italian team, as we showed that we for becoming a father again feat a “lethal rout” on its front demanding coach, meticulous Portuguese superstar departed grew increasingly agitated and are a great team without Mes- these three goals taste even page yesterday, and it is a far in his tactical preparation and for Juventus. fractious. He criticised the si and we have a great coach better,” he added after the Liga cry from Sergio Ramos hoisting unrelenting when it comes to “It is not just Julen’s fault”, club’s transfer policy and fell (Ernesto Valverde),” Suarez leaders opened a seven-point a third consecutive Champions defensive organisation. read the headline on the front out with , who was said. gap on their arch-rivals. League trophy in May. “I’ve always had a good re- page of , Spain’s biggest eventually sold to Atletico Ma- The Uruguayan doubled Sunday’s thumping win over After Sunday’s game, Ramos lationship with all the coach- selling daily. drid. Barca’s lead from the penalty Real followed a convincing 2-0 pointedly stated that manag- es,” Ramos said. “Respect is Conte would be taking over a spot after ’s victory over Inter in ing the dressing room at Real earned, it isn’t imposed. Those Fractious Madrid team that is now seven early opener and then made it the Champions League group is more important than techni- are the coaches with whom Conte is available after be- points behind Barcelona, who 3-1 in the second half, extin- stage, in which Barca were also cal knowledge. Some now be- we’ve won titles. Managing the ing sacked by Chelsea in July. returned to the top of the table guishing any hope of a Real re- without captain Messi, who lieve, perhaps club president dressing room is more impor- He had led them to the Pre- after their emphatic win. Ramos vival after Marcelo had pulled broke his arm against Sevilla Florentino Perez included, tant than the knowledge of a mier League title in 2017 in his insisted, though, the title is not a goal back for the European last Saturday. that the team needs a firmer coach.” first season, when a switch to a lost yet.

Mourinho believes penny has ‘I was no longer indispensable’ at finally dropped for Martial Real Madrid, says Ronaldo AFP | Paris what made w a k e the Ballon d’Or this year, and me think Cristiano of that in doing so would pass Lionel ristiano Ronaldo has said about leav- Ronaldo game, Messi by taking the award for a Che decided to leave Real ing.” some- sixth time. Madrid for Juventus after The thing The winner of the prize, sensing that the Spanish club’s 33-year-old which awarded by France Football, president, Florentino Perez, no Portuguese Ronal- will be announced in early De- longer saw him as being “indis- superstar joined do admits cember. pensable”. Juventus in a 100 mil- confirmed to But while Ronaldo continues “I felt within the club, espe- lion-euro ($115 million) him that it might be to enjoy great success on the cially from the president, that deal in July, ending a time to move on. field, scoring twice for Juven- I was no longer considered in glorious nine-year asso- “My decision to tus at the weekend, he remains the same way as I was at the ciation with Real. leave was not based embroiled in off-pitch problems Manchester United’s French striker Anthony Martial (C) is tripped in the area beginning,” Ronaldo said in an His last act with the on him going. That after being accused of rape in by Everton’s Senegalese Idrissa Gueye (R) conceding a penalty interview with France Football Spanish club was to said, it was one of the the United States. magazine. participate in them little details that con- A former American model Reuters | Manchester, England “He has the same natural “For the first four or five winning the Champi- firmed to me what I Kathryn Mayorga, 34, of Las talents he had one or two years, I felt like Cristiano Ron- ons League for a third had been thinking Vegas, accused Ronaldo in a 32- anchester United man- years ago but he is improving aldo. Less so after. consecutive season by about the situation page complaint filed last month Mager Jose Mourinho said the way he thinks of football “The president looked at me beating Liverpool in at the club,” Ronaldo with a district court in Nevada, his French winger Anthony and improving his role in the in a way that suggested I was the final in May. said. of raping her in June 2009, just Martial is finally understand- team. I am happy with boys no longer indispensable, if you But Zinedine Zidane He added that he before he joined Madrid from ing exactly what is required who are improving,” said know what I mean. That is departed as coach in the would “deserve” to win Manchester United. from him after he delivered Mourinho. an outstanding performance in “He took quite a long time Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League to understand what we want, win over Everton. quite a long time for his brain Martial had a hand in Paul and body to be ready for how Players to blame for Real “disaster”: Casemiro Pogba’s opening goal, scored we want him to play. a superb second with a low “At the moment, he is play- Reuters | Barcelona “We aren’t playing well and about tactics or attitude, it’s October,” said Lopetegui, who curler into the bottom corner ing very well. Even if he hadn’t we can’t blame the coach, as the everything. The players have to was fired as Spain coach on the and was a threat throughout scored, to create what he is eal Madrid’s players should players are the ones who have to run more and fight more.” eve of the World Cup for nego- with his speed and directness creating, it is a solid perfor- Rtake the bulk of responsibil- perform on the pitch,” the Bra- Lopetegui cut a downbeat fig- tiating his move to Real behind on the left flank. mance for the team.” ity for the team’s “disaster” of zilian told reporters following a ure after the game while say- the federation’s back. But what pleased his man- Martial dug in to help out a season, not under-fire coach third consecutive league defeat ing he still believed he and his “Everything can be reversed ager the most was that Martial defensively in the final stages, Julen Lopetegui, midfielder Ca- for Real which looks set to see players could turn their terrible in the time we have left in the now appears to have taken on dropping deeper to assist left semiro said after the European Lopetegui sacked. season around. season and because of the con- board the instructions that he back Luke Shaw, but Mourin- champions hit a new low with “This result is a reflection “I feel sad and so do the play- fidence I have in the team. The should adjust his positioning ho said his improvement was Sunday’s humiliating 5-1 loss at of our entire season, which ers, it’s a very tough blow but team still has life for the rest of off the ball in order to help out about more than just tracking Barcelona. has been a disaster. It’s not I still feel strong, we’re only in the season.” his defence. back.