Real frustrated in hunt

The new head coach does not have full control over transfers - that is left to sporting director Predrag Mijatovic - and has seen the club fall short in their attempts to cover the flank left bare by the return of Jose Antonio Reyes to parent club Arsenal.

"What we have, apart from the left wing, is very well-balanced," the German tactician admitted. "We're having a little trouble finding someone to cover that flank, but I have faith in Pedja [Mijatovic] and his work.

"It's not easy because of all the information that has been leaked, but I am sure we will come out on top."

Real have been linked with Florent Malouda, who moved to Chelsea, Arjen Robben, who is set to stay at Chelsea, Feyenoord's Royston Drenthe and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed a new contract at Old Trafford, but all their bids have come to nothing.

The failure can be put down to the perception that, despite winning La Liga for the first time in four seasons, Real are still run in shambolic fashion, with title-winning boss Fabio Capello sacked after his achievement and a protracted saga to employ Schuster seeing Los Merengues left behind by big-spending rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona.

One player who will be at Real next season, however, is Brazil midfielder-cum-forward Julio Baptista, who returns from his patchy loan spell at Arsenal but with his pedigree intact after impressing for his country in their Copa America win.

"[Baptista] is a player who is very suitable for Real Madrid," Schuster declared.

"We'll have to see how he does, but I don't have any problems having him on the squad because he is a great player."

The former Getafe boss also stated that he prefers using young defender Sergio Ramos as a right back as opposed to a centre half.