Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui has come under fire for the club’s poor form ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen.

Reports suggested the former Spain manager was about to lose his job after an embarrassing 2-1 home loss to Levante at the weekend made it four defeats from five in all competitions and left them seventh in La Liga.

However, midfielder Isco is firmly behind his manager and says the players must take responsibility for the reigning European champions’ slump.

He said: “I think it would be crazy (to sack him), you have to let him work.

“He has only been here for two months. If you get rid of the coach you have to get rid of all of us.

“It is us that haven’t been scoring goals or playing well. It belongs to all of us, not just the coach.

“The responsibility is on everyone, not just the coach. It’s the players that don’t score the goals.

“We know better than anyone what the atmosphere is in the changing room.

“It’s calm, we’re confident we can turn things around.”

Real are third in the group, a point behind leaders CSKA, who play Roma.

Plzen travel to the Spanish capital second in their domestic league, but without much expectation.
And midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky is not being fooled by Real’s predicament.

“We certainly have respect for each rival, and of Real Madrid for that quality of course,” he told the club’s official website.

“Now they are not doing so much, but last season it was similar and eventually won the Champions League.

“The quality is huge here.

“I look forward to the stadium and the team, it is definitely an exceptional team, three times in a row they won the Champions League and, of course, no one knows if we will ever have a chance to play against such a team again.”