Conte lined up at Real Madrid with Lopetegui on the brink

Julen Lopetegui's brief and inglorious reign as Real Madrid coach could come to an end on Monday with the defending European champions tipped to appoint Antonio Conte as his replacement.

Madrid were thrashed 5-1 by great rivals Barcelona on Sunday as Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, surely sealing Lopetegui's fate.

According to Spanish media, Real directors are set to meet later on Monday afternoon, when Lopetegui's sacking could be confirmed.

He was named coach only 139 days ago, with his decision to accept the post costing him the chance to lead Spain at the World Cup.

But Madrid's dreadful recent run showed no sign of abating at the Camp Nou. They have now managed one win in their last seven matches, sit ninth in La Liga and earlier this month went more than eight hours without a goal.

Sports daily AS called the defeat a "lethal rout" on its front page on Monday, and it is a far cry from Sergio Ramos hoisting a third consecutive Champions League trophy in May.

After Sunday's game, Ramos pointedly stated that managing the dressing room at Real is more important than technical knowledge. Some now believe, perhaps club president Florentino Perez included, that the team needs a firmer hand.

Zinedine Zidane and Lopetegui have both been keen to afford freedom to the players while Conte is seen as a demanding coach, meticulous in his tactical preparation and unrelenting when it comes to defensive organisation.

"I've always had a good relationship with all the coaches," Ramos said. "Respect is earned, it isn't imposed. Those are the coaches with whom we've won titles.

Managing the dressing room is more important than the knowledge of a coach."
- Fractious -
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"I have won La Liga from 10 points behind. The key to success is to work. Madrid never gives up when it can turn the situation around."
"But it did not happen, and there was more bad luck, more injuries, and the third goal killed our hopes. The punishment was excessive, 5-1 does not reflect the game."
"We have to run more, stand up more, fight more. We have played well in spells, and today we started the second half well but that is this season. We are a disaster, all playing very badly, all of us."