Schuster: Refuses to be ruffled

Related links

Teams

• Real Madrid

Players

• Pepe

Also see

• Primera Liga fixtures
• Primera Liga table
• Primera Liga stats

Bernd Schuster believes that he has no reason to consider resigning from Real Madrid and is not concerned by reports suggesting that he will face an ultimatum should his team lose again this weekend.

The German coach is reported to be under intense pressure at the Santaigo Bernabeu after defeats in Europe and the Copa del Rey have been compounded with stuttering league form.

Real entertain Recreativo Huelva on Saturday and anything other than a convincing win could see his situation became untenable, but he insists he will not be going of his own accord.

"I have not thought about going because there is no reason to," he said in Marca.

"I believe I have the support of the club and that is all I need to remain calm and to continue doing my job."

Despite the rumours claiming that the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Quique Sanchez Flores have been lined up as possible replacements, Schuster does not believe that he will lose his job if Real fail to beat Recreativo.

"If it was up to the press then yes, but I think that the club want me to stay. I laugh about some of the stories that have come out with my friends," he continued.

Risk

Turning to matters on the pitch, Schuster admitted that Pepe's appearance for Portugal in a midweek friendly against Brazil had come as surprise as the centre-half has only recently recovered from injury.

"It was a surprise that we were not expecting. Medically he was fine, but he had not been able to train with the squad and that was why it was a risk," the coach explained.

"But it is not a bad thing because nothing has happened."

Recre boss Lucas Anlcaraz is a familiar opponent for Schuster and he knows that the Huelva-based outfit will travel to the Bernabeu aiming to frustrate the hosts.

"Knowing the coach, Recreativo will be defensive, but they also try to play good football," he added.

"We know that they will try to close us down and not allow us any space and that is how the whole game will be."