Salgado press conference

"We have many teamworkers on our squad"

This is Míchel Salgado's ninth season at Real Madrid and this has earned him captain honours with Raúl, Guti and Casillas. A true football and Real Madrid veteran, he believes the squad is balanced and that the team can achieve something big this year.

The team looks very different. Has the atmosphere in the dressing room changed?
It's different. The atmosphere wasn't this good a week and a half ago because we had just lost the Spanish Super Cup. Good results and, especially, good work have changed this. We feel this is a good team.

What will the four Dutch players on the squad be asked to do?
The same is asked of every Real Madrid player; to know where they are, to be aware of the great responsibility playing for this Club entails, to be aware of the fact that playing for this Club is very different to playing anywhere else, and that -for good or for bad- what you do here counts twice more than anywhere else. Winning the League last year has eased things for us. The Dutch players are quality footballers and Ruud has already paved the way for them to triumph here.

Do you give them any advice?
I always tell the new players to enjoy themselves. They should cherish every single minute at Real Madrid as a unique experience.

How has the team been able to change so much with the arrival of three new players?
It's not like that at all. Last season the situation was completely different and this year we have only played four official games so far. Criticism was very different after the Spanish Super Cup. We must all be calm. We have very good stock, but the team still has to be built. We have a large squad that will allow us to try out several options. Last year there wasn't a standard line-up and many of us played many encounters. Several players got injured throughout the campaign and others had to be used. We will be more relaxed this year because of what happened last season. It will be the second year on the team for several players and that also gives us more confidence and stability.

Do you think the squad lacks a right winger?
< I think a lot has changed in the last week and a half; we didn't have men for the left wing back then and now the situation seems to be quite the opposite for some people. The truth is Sergio Ramos, Torres and myself can play as right backs and Higuaín, Sneijder and Robinho as right wingers. I think the squad is very balanced.

During the preseason it seemed you would be left out... Things have changed a lot for me. I'm very happy. The coach has never told me he doesn't count on me.

Why do you think the youth Spanish national teams reach tournaments' semifinals and finals, and the first national team doesn't?
Playing on a youth national team isn't the same as playing for the first team. Spain has great players, but it is extremely hard to win a World Cup or a European Championship. France won after a very long time, and England are currently in the same situation as us. The good thing is we are always one of the eight strong contenders. There is a lot of quality on the team. We may not have been able to make it big yet, but I think that has been talked about a lot before.

What do you think of Raúl's absence from Spain?
This issue comes up whenever Raúl scores a goal. It's easy to criticise, but it is very hard to be a national coach. Raúl would always be on my team, but it's up to Spain's coach to decide.

You arrived nine years ago, at a time in which the Club primarily signed Spanish players... Real Madrid haven't signed a Spaniard in two years...
There's been a radical change all over the world. I believe Inter Milan played some games last season without a single Italian player on the pitch. That was unthinkable a few years ago. This makes it harder for players on national teams and clubs' youth systems. I am a staunch defender of the youth system because I believe Spanish players are as good as the rest, but it is easier to sign a famous, world-class foreigner, especially if you desperately need good results.

Do Barcelona's problems due to their star signings ring a bell?
Their signings aren't bad at all. Touré is a great player, and Henry and Milito are true teamworkers. Maybe Henry's signing may cause problems due to the problems there already were in the dressing room last season. Nevertheless, Barcelona still have a lot to say in the League and they are a great team. Last year they went through the same as us during the Queiroz days, in which we suffered greatly in the King's Cup final. Maybe having many stars hinders the chances of forming a proper team, but that's their problem and I don't really want to dwell in it. Barcelona are a great side and they have made excellent signings.

Do you thihk it will be important for Real Madrid to finish the first round of the Champions League as group leaders in order to have the home advantage in the Last-16?
My experience tells me that it is essential to have the home advantage. Last year we had that handicap against Bayern Munich and we lost against them in Germany. Our goal is to qualify as group leaders.

Why do you think there are only two Real Madrid players on the Spanish national team?
There aren't many Spaniards on Real Madrid's starting line-ups and the Club signs more and more foreigners each year.


Report by Arancha Díaz
Photography by Ángel Martínez
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

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