Real Madrid galacticos rebel against Sacchi

Real Madrid general manager Arrigo Sacchi is losing control of the club's senior players.

ABC says Real's leadership group rejected Sacchi's training program ahead of major games against Athletic Bilbao and Juventus last month. Only Roberto Carlos backed Sacchi, but was overruled by the rest of the senior group.

The senior players insist they know how best to train themselves and will not take instruction from Sacchi - or trainer Vanderlei Luxemburgo - over a training timetable.

Luxemburgo is said to be fuming over the position of his leadership group and is demanding president Florentino Perez lay down the law to his galacticos.

Its also emerged that only a week into his job as Real coach, Luxemburgo was forced to back down from his demands of double training sessions after complaints from senior players.