Calderon backs troubled Schuster

BEIJING, March 28 -- Bernd Schuster has been assured by club president Ramon that he will remain Real Madrid coach even if his side fails to win the league title this season.

"A little while ago Ramon Calderon told me that even if we didn't win the league I would stay on at Real Madrid because this is a project and we are building a team," Schuster told Radio Marca yesterday.

"We still have to complete the second phase of building a team this summer and I'm convinced that we will do it with the league title under our belts. I enjoy the full confidence of my president and I don't need anything more."

Spanish media has reported that Schuster's job is under threat if Real fails to win the league title.

Its lead over Barcelona at the top of the table has been whittled down from eight points to four after five defeats in eight games and Schuster's tactical decisions have been criticized in the media.

Last season coach Fabio Capello was sacked despite leading Real to the title for the first time in four years.

Real welcomes Sevilla on Sunday.

The alarm bells have been ringing at Real since suffering a second defeat in a row with its 2-3 loss at home to Valencia last weekend.

But Dutch winger Arjen Robben believes the result against Valencia did not do his team justice.

"Yes, it was a big disappointment, but we played well and deserved to win," said the former Chelsea player. "We had a lot of chances and just failed to take them.

"I don't think we are in crisis."

Sevilla, whose hopes of earning a place in next season's Champions League was dented with a 1-2 home defeat by Atletico Madrid last week, is anxious to exploit any anxiety on the part of Real.

"Real aren't very consistent at the moment and we can take advantage of that," said Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute. "It will be difficult for us at their ground because they have some quality players but it is the sort of game we like playing."

Sevilla crushed Real 5-3 at the Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey's at the start of the season and it won 2-0 when the two teams met at the Sanchez Pizjuan in November.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)