By Alberto Bravo, IANS
Madrid : The future of the Real Madrid bench continued to be buffeted Tuesday with the emergence of Denmark's Michael Laudrup to join a soap opera already involving Fabio Capello and Bernd Schuster.
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon fed the confusion when he said the team's new coach would be known in 10 days, and the situation was getting more complicated by the hour.
Laudrup is now seen as the German Schuster's main rival for the post, while the only thing that looked certain was that Italian Fabio Capello, Real Madrid's current coach and who led the team to the title in La Liga only eight days ago and thus put an end to a four-year drought, was about to leave the Spanish giant.
After that, all bets are on – courtesy of Calderon, who still has not announced the chosen coach. The Spanish daily El Pais, quoting a Real Madrid high official, went a step further in its Tuesday analysis.
"What is happening at Real Madrid is inexplicable. The signing of Schuster was going to be announced Monday, but it has not been done.
"Right now, the German has almost been ruled out as an option and the chances rise that the future coach is Michael Laudrup. That is what sports director Pedja Mijatovic wants."
In the stormy setting surrounding Real Madrid, then, the following looks to be the case: Calderon wants Schuster, Mijatovic wants Laudrup and the players are standing up for Capello – an option that appears to have few chances.
Mijatovic's bet sounds like a duel with his president, particularly amid rumours that point to the former striker's exit from Real Madrid. Schuster is not in the list of coaches with Calderon requested and which Mijatovic gave the club board.
The sports director scored major points with the recent title in La Liga because he was the only one who backed Capello at the start of the season. Calderon now appears to be a hostage to his own words.
"Decisions will be made by those who know best, those in charge of the sports area," he said after winning club elections.
Then, like now, Calderon wanted Schuster but gave in to Mijatovic. And a fair portion of the media is wondering whether he will do so again.
Calderon got his hands dirty when he reached an agreement with Schuster in March, at a time when things between Capello and Real Madrid were not going well at all. However, against all odds, the giant from the capital won La Liga and presented the president with a dilemma.
As the mess gets bigger, there is a sense that everything is up for a decision, including player signings. Argentine striker Javier Saviola, for example, is still waiting for a ratification of the verbal agreement he reached with Calderon, with Schuster's approval.
The club board is set to meet on Thursday and could include an official announcement of Capello's sacking. His successor would have to be designated next.