Real Madrid players want Solari to stay until end of season

Real Madrid stars Casemiro and Karim Benzema are suggesting that Los Blancos players want caretaker manager Santiago Solari to stay in the managerial hot seat for the foreseeable future.

Solari has had an immediate impact since taking over on a temporary basis from sacked boss Julen Lopetegui at the end of October, winning his first three games in all competitions by a combined score of 11-0.

The 42-year-old, who spent five years at the Bernabeu as a player in the early 2000s, has been a coach with the capital club in various roles since 2013, most recently overseeing the team’s reserve side, Castilla.

Real Madrid’s performances and results have won Solari the early faith of supporters, and it appears the players are united behind him, too.

“We are facing up with Solari as coach of Madrid,” Casemiro said after Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen, according to ESPN’s Dermot Corrigan. “People can talk about whether someone else is coming or not, but we are showing him respect as Madrid’s first team coach. If things are going well, why not give him a chance?”

Benzema, who has played under six permanent managers at Real since his arrival in 2009, added: “Julen is a great coach but we are with Solari now, and playing with more confidence. For me, he should stay until the end (of the season).”

It remains to be seen whether Real president Florentino Perez will agree with his players. Real were thought to be seeking a big-name boss, but in Solari, they have a man who knows the club inside out.

A report earlier this week suggested the club is chasing former AS Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim as a full-time appointment.