The ESPN FC crew break down why Real Madrid couldn’t take advantage of Barcelona’s upset loss against Leganes, instead losing themselves to Sevilla.
Julen Lopetegui has said he is not thinking about what might happen if Real Madrid lose to Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Lopetegui’s side were beaten 3-0 at Sevilla on Wednesday in a game that saw them three down at half-time.
But asked whether defeat to city rivals Atletico could put him under pressure, the coach said he was focused only on an improved performance from his players.
“We don’t think about what can happen before a game but on what we can do to help the team to compete,” he said.
“That’s what we are focused on, knowing the connotations of a derby.”
Madrid will be without Marcelo and Isco and face an Atletico side unbeaten in their last five visits to the Bernabeu.
But Lopetegui said: “This team is on a good path. Against Sevilla, we didn’t have a good game but we are convinced that we will show a good version of this team, the regular dynamic of this team for the rest of the season.”
Zinedine Zidane guided Madrid to the Champions League last season, but although they finished 17 points adrift of rivals Barcelona in La Liga, Lopetegui said it was not true that the players had less appetite for domestic success.
“The perception can be that way, but in reality it’s not the case,” he added. “The team is motivated, with a lot of desire to win the league.
“We are very well positioned, in a position to be candidates for the title. It’s a very long league and you have to be prepared. But the motivation of my players is at the maximum.”
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