Interim manager Santi Solari begins with 4-0 win over Melilla; says players are committed after their poor run led to sacking of previous manager Lopetegui
Real Madrid players celebrate a goal during their Copa del Rey match against Melilla on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
Santiago Solari believes Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Melilla proves there is nothing wrong with their commitment. Madrid began life after Julen Lopetegui with a comfortable 4-0 win at third tier Melilla in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey fourth round on Wednesday. Madrid dispensed of the former Spain manager after a humiliating El Clasico defeat at the weekend, with Solari taking temporary charge.
Solari, who played for the club between 2000-2005, watched on as Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Odriozola and Cristo Gonzalez goals downed the Segunda B outfit, with the second leg at the Bernabeu still to come. This was always going to be a nice way for Solari to ease into things as he begins a caretaker spell which is not expected to last much longer than two weeks as Madrid plot their next move.
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Real Madrid interim coach Santiago Solari
And the interim coach was pleased with what he saw from his players. "I don't like to put a mark on the performance," he told the club's official website. "The team played with a smile on their faces, they were keen and committed. The final score is a result of that. It wasn't easy, but we worked hard and played with those characteristics. The pitch was heavy and they pressed very high. We have to be happy. The players are committed to the shirt and to the fans who are with them. I'm now a part of this group."
Melilla are in third tier, a level that Solari was recently coaching at with Real Madrid B. So Solari was not prepared to take any chances. "We knew it was going to be difficult because it's a tough place to come," Solari added. "I'm coming up from the Segunda B and know all about the difficulty of the competition, against some very good teams that play great football. "They pressed very well, played at an impressive pace and there's a reason they're high up in their group.
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