Spanish La Liga: Real Madrid sack coach Lopetegui

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02:11

In Spain, Real Madrid have sacked coach Julen Lopetegui after just four-months in charge. The 51-year-old could only lead Los Blancos to ninth in La Liga after ten games with Sunday's 5-1 defeat to Barcelona proving to be the final straw. Al Goodman reports from Madrid.

At the Bernabeu stadium, home to Real Madrid, fans know it's "adios" or goodbye, to coach Julen Lopetegui. Los Blancos are off to their worst start in 70 years.

The final blow to Lopetegui was a 5 to 1 loss to arch-rival Barcelona in the Clasico in the Spanish league. Barcelona played well, even without their star Lionel Messi, who's injured.

Yet Real Madrid have stumbled without their star Cristiano Ronaldo. He's now with Juventus, after leading Real Madrid to three straight Champions League titles. This veteran Spanish sports reporter says Real Madrid's problems are numerous, but management sees a quick fix.

JAVIER HERRAEZ SER RADIO REPORTER "It's much easier to fire one coach than 25 players. Lopetegui is a good coach but the results determine if the manager gets to continue."

AL GOODMAN BERNABEU STADIUM "The immediate task for Real Madrid is to get out of ninth place in the Spanish league, which has 20 teams. Real Madrid are seven points behind the leader, Barcelona, and they're not used to be being that far down in the standings."

Lopetegui is out after only four and a half months. Media reports said the replacement would be Antonio Conte, the former Chelsea coach. But Real Madrid instead named an interim coach, Santiago Solari, who's been coaching Real Madrid's second division team. Outside the Bernabeu, reaction was swift.

MIGUEL ANGEL TORIBIO SPORTS JOURNALIST "It's an option that won't convince the Real Madrid players. Solari is a coach close to the Real Madrid president and that's why players don't fully embrace him. And in football terms, what will he do?"

CELIA ZURDO SPORTS JOURNALIST "Conte is a coach who left Chelsea and who would need to come to Real Madrid, a team of champions, and try to get them out of ninth place. Maybe that's not what he was hoping for."

Real Madrid management badly wants to set this ship straight and return to the glory days. Into this highly-charged game steps the new coach. Al Goodman, CGTN, Madrid.