Bernd Schuster has experienced some lows in his 16-month spell as Real Madrid manager but the German coach is currently facing his most difficult time, with intense speculation that he could be set for the axe if things don’t improve, starting with today’s match at Valladolid.
The champions are only two points behind leaders Barcelona but Schuster is feeling the heat after back-to-back defeats to Juventus in the Champions League, unconvincing displays in the league and a humiliating Kings Cup defeat at the Bernabeu to third division Real Union, who play at the same level as Real’s reserves.
“I’m not worried about my job, but I understand that others will have some doubts,” said Schuster. “That’s logical with what we are seeing.”
To compound Schuster’s woes, Dutch marksman Ruud van Nistlerooy, the league’s top-scorer two seasons ago, is out for the season needing surgery on his troublesome right knee.
The 32-year-old former Manchester United player, the top scorer in the 2006-07 Spanish league season with 25 goals in 37 matches, picked up the injury during a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Juventus last month.
The Dutch striker made the trip across the Atlantic earlier this week to see Richard Steadman, who operated on him on Wednesday, Real said.
Steadman successfully operated on the same knee in 2000 after the marksman, then a PSV Eindhoven player, suffered ligament damage during a training session that threatened to end his career.
Real will hope Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain can fill the void left by van Nistelrooy and build on his four-goal haul in the 4-3 win over Malaga last weekend.
“It’s very sad because Ruud is very important to this team,” Higuain said. “My teammates and I offer him all our support and hope he gets better.”
“It was disappointing to go out of the Cup but I don’t think there is a crisis. We are two points behind the leaders and our destiny is in our own hands in the Champions League,” he said.
Real, who have not kept a clean sheet since the end of September, have leaked eight goals in their last three matches — something Schuster needs to sort out quickly.
Valencia are a point behind Villarreal in third under new coach Unai Emery and host Sporting Gijon tonight.
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS