When Santiago Solari was handed his three-year contract last November most believed it wasn’t worth the paper – even by Real Madrid contract standards – that it was written on.

Surely he was there to hold the fort until the club could pursue Mauricio Pochettino, Massimiliano Allegri or even, if Florentino Perez could persuade everyone else at the club to rehire him, Jose Mourinho.

But Solari has ceased to be just the pretty face filling the space for a more permanent manager. This week Madrid retook their team photo – something they have to do most years because they have changed coaches mid-season – and Solari, flanked by Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, was in the middle of the shot looking as permanent as a Real Madrid coach ever can.

Santiago Solari has done his chances of staying as Real Madrid boss the world of good recently

Everything will be decided by titles won at the end of the season; but he has turned things around in the league sufficiently to go into this week’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg knowing that if he were to beat Barcelona over two games and send the team into the final he would have massively improved his chances of permanently landing the job.

Solari has succeeded where his predecessor failed by bringing in new young players, handling older, established but slightly fading stars, and by tinkering tactically with the team to help it cope in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo world. It’s a measure of how well he is doing that in recent weeks no-one is talking about how much the great Portuguese is missed.

The individual success stories of his reign so far are easily identifiable. The 22-year-old left back Sergio Reguilon and 18-year-old forward Vinicius were both struggling to get a look in under Julen Lopetegui.

Both have come in and done well not just because they have the burst of youthful energy that Madrid need, but because they also have the intelligence that makes it all the more difficult to fathom why they were not used before.

On Saturday, as Madrid struggled to break down a stubborn Alaves side who had parked nine men behind the ball, it was Reguilon who broke from deep and it was Vinicius who spotted him and played a pass through defender Vigaray’s legs to send him clear.

Reguilon then lifted his head and crossed for Karim Benzema to score the all-important breakthrough goal. The early-season Madrid would never have carved a way through Alaves’ stubborn defence. Solari has given the team width with Vinicius on the left and right back Alvaro Odriozola or Dani Carvajal attacking on the other flank.

His promotion of Vinicius has been one masterstroke that has helped reignite the team

Sergio Reguilon has also been a success at left back, winning Solari credit at the Bernabeu

Modric has been rewired and is now firing. In part that is down to him having shaken off his World Cup hangover but it also owes something to Solari playing him slightly further forward, using Toni Kroos alongside Casemiro to shield and protect the defence.

The players have responded to his honest managerial style. His battle with Isco, who he originally left out because he believed he was training badly, has ultimately seen him win the confidence of senior squad members, save perhaps Marcelo who like Isco has been sidelined.

Solari has also won his personal battle of wills with outcast former favourite Isco

Marcelo is another big name dropped ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday

All this has brought Solari’s Madrid through some difficult games. Now he must lead them at the Nou Camp. Jose Mourinho’s first league Clasico away to Barcelona ended in a 5-0 defeat. Rafa Benitez’s first Clasico ended in a 4-0 defeat at the Bernabeu. And Lopetegui’s first Clasico finished 5-1 to Barcelona.

If Solari begins not with a humiliating defeat but a win, albeit in the cup, then he will have gone some way to keeping the job at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi (second left) and Barcelona could scupper Solari’s dreams, however

West Ham and the Metropolitan Police are investigating a video circulating on social media which shows supporters racially abusing Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah while he takes a corner. 

In the footage, taken on a mobile phone inside the London Stadium on Monday night, you can hear one fan call Salah a ‘f***ing Muslim c***’ before telling him to ‘f*** off’. 

It is understood anti-racism group Kick It Out brought the video to the attention of West Ham, who have promised lifetime bans to anyone involved.

The shocking video of abuse hurled at Salah on Monday is being circulated on social media 

A club spokesperson said: ‘At West Ham United, we have a zero tolerance policy to any form of violent or abusive behaviour. We are an inclusive football club.

‘Regardless of age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability, everyone is warmly welcomed at London Stadium.

‘Anyone identified committing an offence will have their details passed to the police and will face a lifetime ban from London Stadium. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at our stadium.’

The game between West Ham and Liverpool on Monday night finished 1-1 but it has been overshadowed by this horrid footage.

The Football Association will also look into the incident, it is understood. 

A video shows supporters racially abusing Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah while he takes a corner

A statement from the Met confirmed: ‘We are aware of a video in which it appears racial abuse is being directed at a player at a West Ham vs Liverpool game at London Stadium on Monday, 4 February. Officers are in the process of reviewing the footage. 

‘No arrests have been made and enquiries continue. Anyone who witnesses inappropriate behaviour during a match is urged to bring it to the attention of a steward or police officer.’ 

Miqdaad Versi, media spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, commented on social media: ‘Deeply disappointing to see such disgusting Islaimaphobia from what appears to be West Ham supporters calling Mo Salah a “f***ing Muslim c***”. T

‘This is unacceptable and I hope the individual is found and at least banned from future matches.’ 

West Ham launch investigation as video emerges of fan calling Mohamed Salah ‘F****** Muslim c***’ during Premier League draw