Real Madrid fires coach

Dec 9, 2008 - 4:11 PM MADRID, Spain (Ticker) -- Off to a slow start this season, Real Madrid fired coach Bernd Schuster on Tuesday.

Schuster, who claimed it would be "impossible" for Madrid to beat rival Barcelona this upcoming weekend, guided the Spanish powerhouse to its second straight Primera Liga title just six months ago.

But Madrid has struggled through its first 14 games this season, going 8-4-2 to drop into fifth place in the league standings.

Last Saturday's 4-3 loss to Sevilla placed Madrid nine points behind first-place Barcelona (11-1-2), which will host this weekend's "classico" derby.

Schuster, 49, was replaced by Juande Ramos, who will make his Madrid debut in Wednesday's Champions League match against Zenit St. Petersburg.

One of the greatest players in German history, Schuster coached Madrid to the 31st title in club history last season.

But after going 6-1-1 over its first eight games, Madrid has scuffled of late, losing three of its last four matches. The skid hit a low point three days ago, when Schuster essentially gave his side no chance to beat Barcelona following the loss to Sevilla.

"At the Camp Nou now, it's not possible to win," he said. "(Barcelona) are playing really well there and it's their year. We can just try and hopefully play a good game."

That comment apparently was the last straw for Madrid executives, who met with Schuster on Tuesday morning before finalizing his ouster.

Team spokesman Miguel Angel Arroyo said in a statement that Madrid and Schuster "parted ways amicably."