MADRID, March 4 -- Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari had a difficult press conference on Monday as his side prepares to face Ajax in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The European competition, which Madrid have won for the last three seasons is effectively their only remaining chance of silverware this season after two defeats to FC Barcelona in four days saw them knocked out of the Copa del Rey and trailing 12 points behind Barca in the Liga Santander with just 12 games left to play.

The defeats have also raised questions about Solari's own future with speculation that Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino thought to be a possible candidate, while Jose Mourinho has also emerged as a possible replacement.

Solari took to the microphone in the press office at Real Madrid's training ground after Luka Modric had told the press that some players, such as Gareth Bale, Marcos Asensio and Karim Benzema, had to "take a step forward" in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the club last season and the coach said that "those who are here are working to do things the best way possible."

Solari refused to blame individual players, saying "those editorials are for you (the press). That's your job, while mine is to try and make this squad as strong as possible and get the best out of every player."

He was asked about the possibility of Mourinho returning to the club and replied that a club like Madrid "always has more suiters than (the actress) Julia Roberts," and when asked if she would prefer him or Mourinho, commented "I don't know, you'd better ask her."

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