Santiago Solari: Real Madrid is bigger than all of us. I want to be a part of it

Argentine took his first training session and first press conference since being placed in temporary charge following Lopetegui's sacking, and says he is open to taking the job full time

Temporary Real Madrid first-team manager Santiago Solari waves during a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training facilities as he prepares his team to take on Melilla in the Copa del Reyon Wednesday. AFP

Santiago Solari will take charge of the Real Madrid first team on Wednesday following Julen Lopetegui's sacking on Monday. AFP

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos attends a training session. AFP

Santiago Solari oversees training with Welsh forward Gareth Bale in the foreground. AFP

Real Madrid players training at Ciudad Real Madrid, Valdebebas, Madrid. Reuters

Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric, background, and Toni Kroos. AFP

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema. AFP

Santiago Solari watches on as his coaching staff give instructions to Real Madrid players. AFP

Santiago Solari enjoyed a spell as a Real Madrid player during his playing days and is now coach of the reserves.

Santiago Solari, left, watches over Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale. AFP

Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio. Reuters

Real Madrid players in training. Reuters

Santiago Solari says he is open to turning his temporary stint into a full-time role after being placed in charge of Real Madrid following Julen Lopetegui's sacking on Monday.

The Argentine, who enjoyed a successful playing career at the Bernabeu at the start of the century, will lead Madrid in their match against third-tier Melilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Solari has been promoted on an interim basis from his role in charge of Real Madrid Castilla, the Spanish giant's B team, for the first leg, last-32 encounter on the tiny Spanish enclave off the north coast of Africa after Lopetegui was relieved of his duties after Sunday's heavy defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the first clasico of the season.

Spanish league rules mean the 42-year-old Argentine can only manage as an interim for two weeks.

His audition for the long-term role begins with the seemingly simple task of dispatching Melilla, who sit second in Segunda Division B Group 4, and he refused to rule himself out of the running on the eve of the contest.

"I'm going to go into things very positively," Solari said at his opening press conference on Tuesday.

"I will do everything I can. It's a great opportunity and it's a great club. I don't just say that now as coach of the first team. I've been here with other teams, I've played and sweated in the shirt of this club.

"Madrid is bigger than all of us but it touches us all with its greatness. I want to be a part of it."

Solari, who won two La Ligas and one Uefa Champions League at Madrid from 2000-05, led training on Tuesday as speculation over who will be appointed as Lopetegui's permanent successor continues.

The former Spain manager lost his job after a run of five defeats in seven games, culminating in a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of La Liga leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou which leaves Madrid ninth in the table.

The likes of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino have all been linked to the vacancy, while talks to lure former Juventus and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to the Bernabeu have stalled. The National understands that Madrid's preference has switched to Roberto Martinez, the Spaniard in charge of the Belgium national team.

Solari could yet land the post full-time though if the club decide to promote from within their own coaching system. Lopetegui succeeded Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid manager - the former France midfielder having also managed the club's B team before being taking over from Rafa Benitez in January 2016.

Zidane left in the summer after winning three Uefa Champions League titles in a row and Solari is not ready to draw comparisons just yet.

"With respect to Zinedine Zidane, he is one of the greatest things we have had at the club," he said.

"All of the adjectives you can think of are not enough to describe Zizou, he is very calm, a great coach and nobody can be compared to him."

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After taking his first training session Solari got the feeling he is about to start working with a squad wanting to set the record straight.

"They are a bit hurt," he added. "They really want to change things and turn things around, it is a group of hard workers and players who have won a lot of things for this club.

"It is not the easiest situation but I saw them in a mood to turn things around and change things."

Melilla will be massive underdogs heading into the round-of-32 clash but manager Luis Carrion is targeting more upset for the 19-time Copa del Rey winners.

"I do not want it to look arrogant but our goal is to fight to go through," he said.

"The draw gave us Madrid and the goal is to beat them - we have to think big. We play against a better team but the idea is not going to change.

"The harder the challenge, the braver we must be. We do not have to be suicidal, but we have to be brave and try to get what we want to happen on the pitch."