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Julen Lopetegui was sacked by Spain and Real Madrid in the space of four months
2018 was a difficult year for Julen Lopetegui.
The 52-year-old was sacked as Spain coach on the eve of the World Cup after announcing his intention to join Real Madrid after the tournament.
Barely three months after his arrival at the Bernabeu, Lopetegui was sacked after five defeats in seven games, resulting in a 5-1 win from his rival Barcelona.
In one of his first interviews since leaving Real, Lopetegui spoke with Guillem Balague, European football expert at the BBC, about his hectic year, of the possibility of a transition to the Premier League and the influence of Johan Cruyff on his management style.
Listen to the full interview on Thursday on the live Football Live 5 podcast.
Leave Spain – "I did not say anything about a five-hour flight"
Lopetegui was fired two days before the first group match of Spain against Portugal
On June 12, 2018, two days before the start of the World Cup, it was announced that Lopetegui would join Real Madrid after the tournament.
Lopetegui felt that it was best to be open to the decision and put an end to speculation, allowing everyone to focus on the World Cup.
The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has seen things differently and felt that he had no choice but to dismiss Lopetegui as the negotiations took place. were unfolded in the back of the federation.
"It was not easy for me," said Lopetegui. "We worked very hard for two years, we felt ready to organize a fantastic World Cup.
"Two months ago, when I signed a new contract with Spain, they put a buy-back clause. [Luis] The idea of Rubiales, I accepted it without problem, then [the Real Madrid job offer] come.
"The schedule was not chosen by me or by Real Madrid, I said yes, but I knew that the World Cup was my only responsibility, keep it secret for a month is impossible and no Was not honest.
"We were convinced that it was best to organize a press conference to open and close the file, and then the only goal was the World Cup.
"The players were great, and after having informed them, we had our best training session in three weeks of preparation, so we were very happy but the president finally made that decision.
"It was a very difficult moment and I will never forget it because it was a surprise, I felt it was very unfair.
"It was five hours of flying back and forth from Moscow to Madrid and I did not say anything, it's life, it was a very difficult experience, but you have to try to put it in a positive situation."
Real life – I have not slept; I did not know where I was
Lopetegui struggled to control his emotions on the day of his appointment as Real Madrid coach
The day after his hasty departure from Russia, Lopetegui, moved, was struggling to hold back his tears when he was introduced as the new coach of Real Madrid.
"I did not sleep, I did not know where I was.One day I was in Russia to train for the World Cup the next day, I 'm not sure where I was. was in Santiago Bernabeu with a new team, "he said.
"It was very fast, difficult to badimilate and the emotions were strong, it was hard to be told to leave the World Cup, it was a dream for which I had worked so much for and with all this emotion, I am human, so sometimes you can not control it. "
The first title game of Lopetegui was an extra defeat against Atletico Madrid in Super Cup Europe. The team then responded with five wins in six games, including a 3-0 win against Roma in the Champions League.
However, Real would win only one of his next seven games and Lopetegui was sacked on Oct. 29 following Barca's 5-1 defeat at Nou Camp.
The last Lopetegui match at the head of Real Madrid was a 5-1 defeat to rivals Barcelona
"We had a good start, the team was playing well, but we had three really bad weeks," he said. "You just hope you have time to find a solution, because these problems can be balanced in one season, we were sure this situation would disappear.
"I did not have the time, it's the best way to explain it."
Despite his premature departure, Lopetegui insisted that he felt no discomfort towards the club.
"I have all the respect of the new coach [Santiago Solari], his new staff. And the players – I love them, they had a fantastic attitude with me.
"I would never say a bad word about Real Madrid, managing the club is a fantastic experience for any coach, I hoped to have more time, but I have to look to the future."
Is it possible to move to the Premier League?
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are among the top coaches of the Premier League
Lopetegui has never been successful outside of Spain and Portugal, but with top coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp who work in the Premier League, is he tempted to join them?
"A coach must be open for the future, but if I can choose, I prefer to be in the best leagues," he said.
"England is a fantastic league, and when you watch a game in England, you feel the atmosphere, the respect of the players and the coaches, it's very important, I want to feel it.
"Of course, Spain is a fantastic league too, with fantastic players and coaches, but we'll see."
Influence of Cruyff
Lopetegui spent two years as a player of the Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in Barcelona.
Lopetegui worked for two years under the leadership of Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, a Dutch legend who inspired a generation of coaches, including Guardiola, Michael Laudrup and Ronald Koeman.
Lopetegui is no different.
"As soon as I had the first training session with Johan, I thought" it's different from all the other coaches, "he was brilliant.
"He sowed the seeds so that other coaches could take back his ideas and develop them.He was one step ahead of the others.
"He also understood that you were thinking about the game and wondering what he was saying.As a coach, you have to be ready to explain" why "to the players, why we work that way and why we chose this solution.If a player understands, he is a stronger player. "
You can hear the full interview with Julen Lopetegui on the Football Daily podcast.
Source: bbc.com
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