Wanderley's known worse, says Real Madrid coach
Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo tried to gloss over the problems facing the Spanish giants after their third consecutive loss, going down 1-0 at Espanyol.
Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo tried to gloss over the problems facing the Spanish giants after their third consecutive loss, going down 1-0 at Espanyol.
"We can recover. Worse things have happened," said Real's Brazilian boss after their latest humiliation on Sunday.
"There were opportunities but they defended well and their goalkeeper pulled off a series of great saves," added Luxemburgo.
He paid tribute to Espanyol's Cameroon international keeper Carlos Kameni who thwarted Real's best chances, which were mainly in the first half.
The only goal of the game came when Daniel Jarque headed home an Ivan De La Pena's free kick.
Real players protested long and hard that the goal should not have been allowed to stand as the referee had blown for a penalty while the ball was in the air, with Real's Sergio Ramos having apparently fouled Alberto Lopo.
"It's a pity that yet again we went down to a goal from a free kick although something strange happened there. The players thought that the whistle had gone for a foul before they conceded a goal," added Luxemburgo.
Ironically, Real had spent much of their Saturday training session sharpening up their reactions at dead ball situations, only of the areas Luxemburgo had admitted earlier this week was a weakness.
The former Brazilian national coach now knows that there will be many Real fans and media pundits calling for his head.
He could soon become the fifth Real coach to resign or be sacked since July 2003.
"When you lose, you don't have much time for analysis, I am not looking for excuses because this is a difficult moment. What we have to do is remain calm and work even harder."
Real ended the game with nine men, with Sergio Ramos and Julio Baptista sent-off late in the game, to complete a miserable week.
The downhill slide started with a 3-2 home defeat by Celta Vigo last weekend and continued with a 3-0 mauling by Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Ramos, who signed from Sevilla three weeks ago for 27 million euros, got his second yellow card for a tough challenge on De La Pena three minutes from time.
Julio Baptista then followed Ramos off three minutes into injury time after a wild sliding tackle on Espanyol's Joanthan Soriano.
The 19 year-old Espanyol striker was left writhing in agony, clutching his right ankle and had to be stretchered off, but Luxemburgo refused to admonish his Brazilian compatriot, who could face a two week ban or longer.
"I think he was looking for the ball," said Luxemburgo, but there will be few who will agree with him.
Inevitably, speculation will start about who could potentially replace Luxemburgo, should he go.
Real officials commented on Saturday that they were not considering a change of coach but several British newspapers said on Sunday that England coach Sven Goran Eriksson could be a candidate for the hot seat at the Santiago Bernabeu.