Established 1961 27 Sports Wednesday, October 31, 2018 Lopetegui sacked as Real coach, Solari takes charge Lopetegui has now lost two jobs in under five months MADRID: Real Madrid sacked coach Julen Lopetegui the role having guided the club to three successive three months into his first season in charge after the Champions League titles in May. Spanish giants were beaten by arch rivals Barcelona After the club’s all-time top scorer Cristiano over the weekend, the European champions said on Ronaldo also departed for Juventus in July, Lopetegui’s Monday. stint at Real got off to a difficult start as they were Real have failed to win in La Liga since beating beaten 4-2 by city rivals Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Espanyol on Sept 22, losing to Sevilla, Alaves, Levante Super Cup. and drawing with Atletico Madrid before Sunday’s 5-1 His side then won four of their opening five La Liga thrashing by Barcelona. Former player and reserve games and a 3-0 win over AS Roma in their team boss Santiago Solari has been put in caretaker Champions League opener. But things started to fall charge after negotiations between the club and former apart when they were thrashed 3-0 by Sevilla last Chelsea, Italy and Juventus boss Antonio Conte broke month, a result that started a run of four defeats in five down on Monday, the club added. matches in all competitions. During that stint, they also “The Real Madrid board met today and decided to failed to score a goal for eight hours. Last Tuesday’s 2- renounce coach Julen Lopetegui’s contract with the 1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League club,” the club said in a statement. “The board feels provided a brief respite but the team were still booed there has been a disproportionate difference between off the pitch after an unconvincing display. the squad Real Madrid possesses... and the results Sunday’s 5-1 hammering proved to be the final obtained until now.” straw for Real president Florentino Perez. During his Lopetegui has now lost two jobs in under five 10 La Liga games in charge, Lopetegui won four, drew months as he was also fired by the Spanish Football two and lost four, leaving Real floundering in ninth Federation as coach of the national team the day place in the table. before the World Cup started in June for announcing Spanish Federation rules allow clubs 14 days to his move to Real behind the organisation’s back, name a permanent successor, meaning that Argentine BARCELONA: Real Madrid’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui gestures from the sideline during the Spanish throwing Spain’s tournament preparations into chaos. Solari, who played for Real between 2000 and 2005, league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on The 52-year-old replaced Zinedine Zidane as Real could potentially be in charge of four first team October 28, 2018. —AFP coach after the Frenchman decided to step down from games. — Reuters City win pitch battle as Mahrez Martial has world sinks Tottenham at his feet, says LONDON: Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Tottenham was extra special because of teammate Matic the problems posed by Wembley’s damaged pitch. Playing on the scarred Wembley turf just 24 hours after LONDON: Anthony Martial can become one of it was torn up by an NFL fixture, City’s peerless quality the Premier League’s top players if he believes in and a predatory finish from Riyad Mahrez helped them himself, according to Manchester United teammate win the pitch battle. Nemanja Matic. Jose Mourinho’s men received a A sixth victory from their last seven league games much-needed shot in the arm on Sunday by over- lifted Guardiola’s unbeaten side back above Liverpool coming Everton. on goal difference. And the City manager admitted he Martial’s delightful curling effort proved the dif- was relieved to see his players cope with the treacher- ference in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, where he ous conditions. “It was a great victory in special condi- LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Dele Alli (C) crosses the ball during the English Premier was crowned man-of-the-match after also winning tions, against one of the most physical teams in League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, on the penalty that eventually led to Paul Pogba open- Europe,” he said. Monday. — AFP ing the scoring. The 22-year-old appears to have “It was not football conditions to play. We reacted turned a corner at United, having struggled to earn well. For our players and the players of Tottenham, the trust of Jose Mourinho and at times endured a hopefully they will sort the problem for the future. “It’s It was a dispiriting evening for fifth placed Tottenham, But City were unfazed as they raced into the lead testy relationship with the manager. Martial’s run of a question for the Premier League and Tottenham. We who now trail City by five points after their first league after just six minutes. Tottenham defender Kieran four successive starts has brought four goals and were invited to come here today for the fixture hope- defeat in five games. Tottenham defender Toby Trippier misjudged a long kick from City goalkeeper teammate Matic believes the forward has the world fully they can solve that problem.” Alderweireld blamed the pitch, saying: “I have to be hon- Ederson, his errant header allowing Raheem Sterling to at his feet. Guardiola hailed City’s Champions League win over est, the pitch wasn’t good. steal possession and cut past him into the penalty area. “Anthony is a great player and he needs to Shakhtar Donetsk last week as the finest display of his “Both teams like to play out from the back and to play Sterling showed tremendous composure as he picked understand that,” the United defensive midfielder reign in Manchester. This was a far more prosaic per- football in these circumstances, it was very difficult.” But out Mahrez’s run and the Algerian finished the raid with said. “He needs more confidence. He is still young formance as City’s defenders took centre stage, his manager Mauricio Pochettino was more frustrated by a clinical close-range finish. It was an emotional moment and I think if he continues to score in the next game equalling the club record of six consecutive league the woeful defending that led to City’s goal. for former Leicester star Mahrez just 48 hours after the he will get that. If he reaches his top level, he can clean-sheets. “The circumstances of the pitch were the same for death of Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a hel- be one of the best players in the league for sure. Guardiola was frustrated that City wasted several both sides. It was the kind of cheap goal you cannot icopter crash outside the club’s King Power Stadium on “Sometimes I don’t think he understands how chances to kill off Tottenham and warned them they concede in this type of game. Football will punish you,” Saturday. good he is. He is quick, he is good with the ball, he must improve if they want to retain the title and win the Pochettino said. “I’m proud of the effort, we created a Mahrez pointed his fingers to the sky in what can run.” Asked if senior players like himself have Champions League. “We had many chances. We need- lot of chances. Last season it was difficult to compete appeared to be a tribute to Vichai. City seemed less told Martial just how good he can be, Matic said: ed to score and we didn’t. We have a lot of things to against Manchester City, but today the level was closer.” troubled by the surface and they scythed through the “The manager speaks with him about it. I have told improve,” he said. Pochettino’s cause wasn’t helped by the presence of Tottenham defence with a flowing move that ended with him once. “But he is a great person and a great guy, “Of course we are very good side, I’m not saying the the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles at Hugo Lloris pushing Mahrez’s drive onto a post. and I am happy for him that he is scoring. It is opposite, but if you are going to play in the later stages Tottenham’s temporary home a day earlier. There were Sent clean through on goal by Erik Lamela’s pass, great. “The quality is there, confidence is there now of big competitions we need things we don’t have at the large areas of worn brown turf down the middle and both Harry Kane had a golden chance to equalise but his poor and he just needs to be more consistent. I am glad moment. “We will talk and work and hopefully we can flanks, while the NFL logo in the centre circle and yard- first touch, which couldn’t be blamed on the turf, allowed we have him in the team.” improve.” line markers the length of the pitch were all still visible. Ederson to block with his legs. — AFP Matic is also certain that out-of-sorts striker Romelu Lukaku will get back on track. After eight scoreless appearances for the United, the Belgium international was dropped to the bench as his for- Icardi double lifts mer club Everton visited Old Trafford.