Real Madrid coach Santi Solari praised his team’s “character” after a “difficult week” following Sunday evening’s 4-1 La liga win at Real Valladolid — but the Argentine said he had no opinion when asked if this was his last game in charge of the team.
Relegation threatened Valladolid completely dominated the first half and had already missed a penalty and seen two goals ruled out by VAR calls before Anuar Mohamed opened the scoring on the half-hour mark.
But Madrid were soon level when a goalkeeping mistake by Valladolid’s Jordi Masip then allowed Raphael Varane to equalise from close range
Valladolid had two more chances just after the break, only for Madrid to finally get going and take control through Karim Benzema’s coolly converted penalty and then neat header at a corner, with Luka Modric finishing off the scoring late on for a welcome victory.
With Madrid’s previous three games being Liga and Copa del Rey Clasico defeats to Barcelona, and Tuesday’s humiliating Champions League exit to Ajax, the Los Blancos coach told the postgame news conference that his players had shown “spirit” and “professionalism” to come through and get a badly needed victory.
“It has been a difficult week for everyone, and of course the players too,” Solari said. “The first 25 minutes reflected that, and we found it difficult, at such a difficult stadium, against a team in this situation, and with so many injuries.
“But the players knew how to come through that suffering, which speaks to their spirit and professionalism, and how they react to adversity. It is a group full of very good players and very good characters.”
Asked directly whether he expected to be relieved of his position before next week’s La Liga game against Alaves at the Bernabeu, Solari said he was focusing on the very short term.
“I cannot give an opinion on that,” he said. “I am just focusing on our next training session. We always work the same way, even in these difficult weeks.
“But the reaction in adversity is important for everyone, not just me, the players. We need to go to work again tomorrow, to aim for three points next weekend, and try and catch up on the teams above us. That is all that is left to us now.”
Asked on Movistar TV after the match whether Solari would still be in charge for next weekend’s game against sixth-placed Alaves, Madrid’s director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno would only reply: “Let’s see, [Solari] is a great professional, but I’m here to talk about this game”.
Pressed as to whether he could confirm or deny that Solari remained in charge for now, the former Madrid striker merely repeated the same phrase “I’m here to talk about this game.”
Defender Nacho Monreal admitted that the team was in an unusual position with having nothing left to play for in terms of trophies, but said the team would fight for Solari until the end.
“This victory does not make up for the week we have had, this club obliges you to win every game and we try to defend this badge every day,” said Nacho.
“It’s difficult because things are not going well for us, but Solari is our coach and we have to be behind him.”
Be the first to comment