Julen Lopetegui recalls being released from the Spanish national team - short spell with Real Madrid: 'It wasn't just about football'

Julen Lopetegui, manager of the Qatar national team Appearing in an interview with El Mundo, he recalled what turned out to be a turning point in his career in the summer of 2018, when he was sacked as head coach of the Spanish national team just days before the World Cup. Before accepting the job of managing Real Madrid, which lasted only four months. Lopetegui pointed out that when the Spanish national team traveled to Russia as one of the favourites. The qualifying period's performance clearly reflects the team's recovery. He led the team through the qualifying round without losing. and was able to regain the confidence of the players after the decline of the golden star era. “A break wasn't my plan (laughs). I've just had two great years with the national team. The results were impressive. We beat some big teams, played well and went into the tournament in great shape. But because of the situation everyone knows, we have to go. It is not up to us and it is not up to us and it is not only about football,” Lopetegui commented. After his departure from the national team, he moved to Real Madrid, taking on the job during one of the most challenging years of his career. The club had to adjust to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, while some players returned late from the World Cup. “The job at Madrid started with a challenge. Because many players were still at the World Cup and returned late. It was also the year that Cristiano left. It's not easy for many reasons. But we're off to a good start. I have earned the trust of the dressing room and we are building on something good,” he said. However, the good times ended with a poor record in the following matches, with Lopetegui explaining that there was a two-week period where everything went wrong. For example, an own goal in Moscow and Isco's appendicitis incident caused his performance to plummet. And the team lost seven points behind Barcelona. before he resigned in October after just 14 matches in charge. The previous Spain coach also pointed out that events after his departure further suggested that the problem was deeper than it appeared: "I think the effects of the World Cup are beginning to fade. Modric, for example, came back exhausted from the tournament. We want to see this work continue to the end. We were seven points behind Barcelona. But in the end the team finished more than 20 points behind and were eliminated by Ajax in the Champions League,” Lopetegui concluded. Looking back at that time shows that despite the competition schedule and important factors within the stadium, But off-field events and unfavorable times played an important role in this coach's career.