MADRID, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- New Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui has the chance to start his spell at the club with a title at the expense of local rivals Atletico Madrid, when Champions League winners Real face last season's Europa League champions Atletico Madrid in the European Supercup final in Tallinn on Wednesday night.
Lopetegui will no doubt be under the spotlight after his controversial arrival at Real, who announced his appointment as coach less than a month after he had extended his contract to coach the Spanish national team, leading to Lopetegui being sacked by Spain on the eve of this summer’s World Cup finals.
Perhaps because of the pressure already on him, he told the official UEFA magazine that Wednesday’s game will not “have more pressure because it is against Atletico Madrid, it is a final and a trophy.
“That means that we will give everything, we are obliged to win everything,” said Lopetegui.
Real Madrid have not been very active so far in the transfer market this summer, bringing in right back Alvaro Odriozola from Real Sociedad and Belgium international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea, while losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus and Mateo Kovacic, who has been loaned to Chelsea.
Although Lopetegui is thought to want another striker and a central defender, he is not complaining.
“The club gives us what we need so that we can do our work in the best way and so we are fortunate because of this,” he commented. "We will try to be a good team and make the most of what we have collectively and individually for the collective good.”
“We will have a clear, defined style that makes the most of the individuals that we have,” he concluded. Enditem
