Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Real Madrid manager sack threat: Ramos issues Lopetegui statement after Perez meeting
REAL MADRID defender Sergio Ramos has had a meeting with Florentino Perez as the president mulls over Julen Lopetegui’s future.
Real Madrid lost 2-1 at home to Levante today make it five games in succession without a win.
They also broke the club record of 464 minutes without a goal scored.
Lopetegui is facing the same, with Antonio Conte installed as the favourite to replace the former Spain manager.
And Ramos revealed he has already spoken to Perez after the defeat - but refused to explain why the meeting took place.
The decision to dismiss is not the responsibility of the players
"It would be very shameless to tell you what happens, I will not do it,” the Real Madrid star said.
“They are rules. The president usually goes down (to the dressing room) always.
“With me, with the captain, he has a lot of confidence, we talk about everything.
“There has been an opinion that we have to give and nothing more. The decision to dismiss is not the responsibility of the players.”
Lopetegui was thought to have been given three games to save his Real job heading to Saturday’s clash with Levante - a tie Real would have been expected to win comfortably.
Ramos has issued his backing to Lopetegui in the past and insists he is still keeping faith with the manager.
"I always said that manager changes are never good for anyone,” Ramos said, alluding to Lopetegui replacing Zinedine Zidane in the summer.
“It's a bit of an advantage. Calm must be kept.
“We do not make decisions about who has to be a coach. Julen has the support of all his players and together we will see how to turn this around.”
Next up is a Champions League tie at home to Viktoria Plzen in a clash Lopetegui will be expected to win.
Asked if Lopetegui is only still in a job because the players have requested he remain, Ramos said: "If they ask me for an opinion, I give it.
“But such an important decision of the club does not depend on the opinion of a player.
“Before making the decision, he always asks himself, but if he later has an influence or not, we do not know that.”