I´m not going to die – Lopetegui focused solely on Clasico

Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui played down the significance of Sunday’s Clasico on his own future, insisting “I don’t think I will die” irrespective of the result.

Reports in Madrid suggest Lopetegui’s short reign at the Santiago Bernabeu will end next week regardless of how they perform at Barcelona, but the former Spain boss was understandably more interested in talking about the game itself than his current job security.

Asked if the game with Ernesto Valverde’s men was ‘do or die’ for him, Lopetegui replied: “I don’t think I am going to die. Everyone has a certain amount of energy, mine is focused on the team. That’s the job.

“I focus on my work as a coach, that is what I can do to improve my team.

“What you [the media] say does not help me win or improve my team, we are trying to improve the efficiency in both defence and attack and preparing for a very demanding match.”

EL CLÁSICO IS COMING.#RMClasico | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/Z6A40xtkDx

— Real Madrid C.F.