Santiago Solari not worried about Jose Mourinho speculation

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 04 March 2019

Solari not worried about Mourinho speculation

Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari insists that he is not bothered about talk of Jose Mourinho being lined up to replace him after less than a season in charge.

Santiago Solari has made light of speculation regarding his future, insisting that it is par for the course for a Real Madrid manager to have their job status questioned.

The 42-year-old is under growing pressure at the Bernabeu after back-to-back defeats to bitter rivals Barcelona left Los Blancos' domestic prospects in tatters.

Real are now 12 points adrift of top spot in La Liga and are out of the Copa del Rey, leaving only the Champions League - a competition they have won three years running and four times in the last five seasons - as their only hope for silverware.

Solari was only appointed on a permanent basis in November, but Mauricio Pochettino has been strongly tipped to take over and Jose Mourinho has confessed that he is open to a return to the club he previously managed between 2010 and 2013.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Ajax, however, Solari insisted that he is not worried about Mourinho's comments.

"This club has always had more suitors than Julia Roberts," he said.

Madrid lead Ajax 2-1 from last month's first leg in Amsterdam.