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Monday, 15 March 2010

World News Ramos Relishing New Real Role

Ailing Spanish giants Real Madrid turned to former Sevilla and Tottenham coach Juande Ramos in a bid to get their stuttering season back on track after today parting company with Bernd Schuster.

Ramos was presented to the media at an impromptu press conference at the Bernabeu this afternoon immediately after Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic confirmed that Schuster had left the club by mutual consent.

Schuster's final game in charge was Sunday's 4-3 home defeat to Sevilla - Madrid's third defeat in four league games and a result that leaves the two-time reigning champions nine points adrift of leaders and arch rivals Barcelona.

Ramos has a huge task on his hands to get Madrid back into the title race, not least because the squad has been decimated by injuries, but the 54-year-old insists he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I would like to thank the board for their confidence - I face this job with excitement," said Ramos.

"I hope I don't let anyone down and that I achieve the successes that this club has set for this season.

"Real Madrid are a club at which any professional dreams of working. Once you have the chance, it is practically impossible to say no. This is what happened.

"I've spent 20 years as a coach and thank God I've done quite well. I'm happy with the way my career has gone, but to arrive at a club like Real Madrid, I don't think there is anything higher."

Ramos, who has been out of work since leaving Spurs in October, has been given an initial six-month contract and will take charge of his first match tomorrow night when Madrid host Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League.

Madrid are already assured of a place in the last 16 of that competition but have only an outside chance of pipping Juventus to top spot in the group, trailing the Italian side by two points.

The pressure may therefore be lessened for that match, but this weekend Ramos faces a monumental challenge as Madrid travel to the Nou Camp to take on a Barca side that are unbeaten in their last 20 matches, of which 17 have been victories.

Ramos' predecessor Schuster caused a storm in Spain when, following Sunday's loss to Sevilla, he claimed that "right now it is not possible to win at the Nou Camp".

Inevitably, Ramos' thoughts on this weekend's clash was a hot topic at his presentation today, and the new man in the hotseat was in bullish mood.

"I think Real Madrid are a team who have to face any game with the highest hopes and desire to win it, as we are talking about one of the world's great teams," said Ramos, who was a huge success in his previous spell in Spain, leading Sevilla to five trophies in just two years including back-to-back UEFA Cup titles.

"It is true that Barcelona are playing excellent football but Real Madrid have the character and prestige to go for a victory in any stadium in the world."

Today's announcement that Schuster had left came following weeks of speculation about the German's future following a series of poor results.

Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey after suffering a humiliating exit at the hands of minnows Real Union, while Sunday's loss to Sevilla left the Whites fifth in the Primera Liga standings and well adrift of Barca.

Overall, Madrid have lost six of their last 12 competitive fixtures.

Schuster then hit the headlines with his comments about not being able to win at the Nou Camp, but Mijatovic insisted that was not the reason behind the former Getafe boss's departure.

"We can't pinpoint one specific moment that made us reach this decision," said Mijatovic, who went before the media a fortnight ago to give Schuster a vote of confidence.

"Making a decision like this isn't easy and we had to make a very deep analysis of the situation of the team.

"Schuster's declaration the other day hasn't had any influence on our decision.

"Two weeks ago I said that we don't make difficult decisions like this easily."

Schuster had been in charge since replacing title-winning coach Fabio Capello in the summer of 2007, and last season the German helped Madrid retain their Primera Liga crown before beating Valencia this summer to win the Spanish Supercopa.

However, things have gone sour for Madrid this season and a series of bad results and an injury epidemic has left the Spanish champions in all sorts of trouble.

Mali international Mahamadou Diarra was yesterday ruled out for up to nine months with a knee problem, and he joins Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze, Pepe, Wesley Sneijder, Miguel Torres and Ruben de la Red on the sidelines.

Mijatovic added: "I had a meeting with him (Schuster) where we analysed all that had happened over the last few months.

"It was an amicable meeting, and we came to the mutual agreement to take this decision. He took the decision well, although with sadness because nobody wants to stop being coach of Real Madrid."

Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association

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