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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire from Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre for the comments he made about his own team mates in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat to neighbours Atletico de Madrid.

Shortly after Los Blancos slipped to a 1-0 loss that all but ended their hopes of winning the title, Ronaldo told reporters that Real would be top of the table if ‘my team mates were on the same level’.

His comments were seen as a barb to players such as Lucas Vasquez, Jese Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic who all featured in the derby defeat. But Ronaldo later clarified his comments by saying that he did not mean to insult anyone but he was merely saying that any team missing the likes of Karim Benzema, Pepe, Gareth Bale and Marcelo would find it hard to compete and Los Blancos have been hit hard by injury this year.

Speaking after Los Cules had beaten Sevilla on Sunday to extend their lead at the top to eight points, and 12 over Real, Mestre said: “Our players would never make statements like Cristiano did. We always look at these sorts of things before signing players.”

He also said while Barcelona are in a good position, the league isn’t over yet.

“These are three more points, but the League isn’t won at the end of February. It’s not a cliché. It’s true because we can drop points and I’m sure that Real Madrid can capitalise. In this League, no-one gives you anything.”

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Atletico de Madrid defender Diego Godin has hit back at former Real Madrid midfielder Guti by claiming they should be shown more respect.

Ahead of Saturday’s derby, Guti said he didn’t think any of the current first team at the Vicente Calderon was good enough to get into the starting 11 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Those words only served to motivate the visitors as Diego Simeone’s men put in another solid display and took the three points thanks to a second half Antoine Griezmann goal. Atletico made history with the win becoming the first visiting team to win three consecutive league matches at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Godin said people are entitled to their opinions but should be a little more respectful when it comes to expressing them.

He stated: “As a child, I was taught to be respectful, humble and especially not arrogant,” the defender said after the game. Anyone can take this advice, but I’d like everyone to respect the Atletico players in the same way we respect Guti and the Real Madrid players.

“We’re very happy about the win. It’s a joy for what the points mean in the table, but especially for what it means emotionally for the fans, that their side have beaten Real Madrid. The mentality of this group is a winning and positive one, and we continue to believe in our work, which is what brings us closer to victory.”

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says he would bet ‘an arm or a hand’ that striker Neymar will never leave the club to join Real Madrid.

The Brazilian, tipped to eventually win the Ballon d’Or one day, has been in superb form for his side this season and makes up one third of perhaps the most feared strike force in world football right now – Messi, Suarez and Neymar.

Speculation has linked the 23-year-old former Santos star with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu as club president looks to wrestle back the balance of power towards the Spanish capital again.

But speaking after netting Barcelona’s win over Sevilla on Sunday – a victory that took them eight points clear of Atletico and 12 ahead of Real – Pique said he was confident his team mate would stay.

He told reporters after the match: “I’d bet an arm or a hand that Neymar will never join Madrid. He likes Barcelona very much, he’s in love with the club and I think he’ll stay here for many years.”

He also pointed out that the Camp Nou side have many other rivals other than Los Blancos.

He commented: “Our rivals aren’t only Real Madrid. There are others in the league, like Atletico and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, plus those in the Champions League.”

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says the team just not have the right to win games just because they are at the biggest club in the world but rather have to fight for every point.

Los Blancos slipped to a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening, a loss that ends their hopes of catching Barcelona in the league.

Fans were naturally upset at the result and jeered at the the final whistle having not seen their team beat Atletico in the league for three years now. Los Colchoneros are the first visiting team ever to win three consecutive league games at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking to the club website, Navas said the players need to show they are up for a battle in every game they play.

He stated: “We have to really feel this shirt and be proud. In life there are difficult moments where we have to go out and show character. The club’s name alone does not win you games and you have to battle for them. We are players at the best side in the world and have to show that out on the pitch.”

And he went on: “We have to get back up again because there are a lot of games left. When Zidane arrived everyone experienced a different atmosphere. I think that we are doing things well, the side is not playing badly, and we aim to control games. We are all aware that La Liga is difficult, but we are Real Madrid and we have to keep going until the end.”

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Real Madrid players Isco, Jese Rodriguez, Mateo Kovacic and Lucas Vazquez have taken the Bwin Freestyle Challenge, competing against freestyle world champion Sean Garnier and Andreas Cetkovic.

The Los Blancos players have faced three challenges: A nutmegging competition, a football tennis match and a free-kick battle.

Despite being experts in this kind of tricks, Garnier and Cetkovic have struggled against Los Merengues stars. Zinedine Zidane men proved to be especially skilled for football tennis, as they have certainly practised it a few times during their training sessions at Valdebebas sports ground.

The four professional footballers seemed to enjoy this competition a lot, and they showed the joy and good atmosphere in the squad.

Want to know who won the challenge? Don’t miss the video.

* For more Real Madrid videos, follow our page on Facebook.

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Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri says he will not stop Riyad Mahrez joining a European giant this summer if they come calling.

The Algerian international has been a sensation in midfield for the Premier League leaders, netting 15 goals and assisting a further 12 more.

Such has been his form that speculation has suggested both Barcelona and Real Madrid could be prepared to pay up to 25 million euros for his services this summer – a huge profit for Leicester, who paid just 700,000 for him.

Mahrez has said he would like to one day play for Barcelona as his idol is Leo Messi, but with Real set to go on a spending spree ahead of a possible two-transfer window ban, the 25-year-old could end up at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ranieri said he wouldn’t stop his star man moving if a huge club came in for him.

“We want to keep all our players. We believe in them. But if a player comes to me and says: ‘Boss, I want to go there because it’s my ambition to go there’. I’ll say: ‘Go and enjoy and have good luck’,” he commented.

And he continued: “If I am Riyad I say: ‘There are a lot of teams who want me, OK, I have to show more if I want to go there. I have to show my best, because if I should do my best maybe they want to buy me.’ But for now he must concentrate on the rest of the season with Leicester. If I see him thinking of other teams he comes with me on the bench.”

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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says the players need to be more united than ever after the loss to Atletico de Madrid.

The defeat, courtesy of an Antoinne Griezmann goal in the second half, means Los Blancos are out of the title races and have all their eggs in the Champions League basket now.

Losing to a rival is never easy but facing Atletico seems to be becoming a serious issue for Real, who have lost three league games in a row at home to Diego Simeone’s side and are without a win in La Liga against them since 2013. Los Colchoneros have avoided defeat in 11 of their last 12 encounters with the 10-time Champions League winners.

In quotes published on the official club website, Ramos said playing for Real means having a high level of commitment, pride and unity and the team needs to show that now more than ever.

He said: “If this badge and this institution stand for something, it is values, pride, heart and in that regard, this is when we must be the most united and believe that something can still be achieved. My DNA is to do as well as possible and my teammates think like me. Nobody goes out on the pitch aiming to do badly and we all like to win because that is when people are happiest.”

He added: “At the end of the day, everyone tries to perform at their maximum level and as captain I feel proud of every single teammate. We all try to help in the best way possible and sometimes things to do not turn out well. The idea is to be united. The season is still wide open, we have the Champions League ahead of us and La Liga is still not over.”

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Real Madrid defender Danilo believes the team did not deserve to lose the derby against Atletico de Madrid on Saturday.

Los Blancos slipped to a 1-0 defeat leaving their title hopes dead in the water. The visitors became the first team in history to win three consecutive league games at the Santiago Bernabeu and leaves Real without a win in the league over their city rivals since 2013.

Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the game as Atletico’s game plan worked to perfection once more – stifling the hosts with a resolute defence and hitting them on the break.

Talking to the media after the final whistle, the Brazilian, who arrived from Porto in the summer, said: “We’re sad about the result. It wasn’t in our plans. We have to work hard to improve. I don’t think that the defeat was fair. We had chances and they have scored from one attack. It happens in football and we deserved better luck. They were sat back waiting, we went for the game and on a counter attack they scored.”

Having filled in for the injured Marcelo at left back, the defender added that he is happy to play wherever the boss wants him to.

He commented: “I’m always here to help the team, whether that’s on the left or on the right”.

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Cristiano Ronaldo says winning football matches is tougher when Real Madrid’s best players are missing.

Los Blancos slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Atletico de Madrid, losing to their city rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu for the third successive season. The defeat all but ends their hope of catching Barcelona and means their only chance of silverware this season rests with the Champions League.

Real went into the game without injured trio Marcelo, Gareth Bale and Pepe. They also lost Karim Benzema to injury on the day. Danilo, Jese Rodriguez, Mateo Kovacic and Lucas Vasquez all got some minutes in the match against Diego Simeone’s side.

Speaking after the final whistle, Ronaldo said: “To win a competition so long, you have to have the best players and we haven’t because of injuries. We are playing and we are good, but not the best. When you don’t have the best players like Bale, Pepe, Benzema or Marcelo it’s not easy to win a competition. This is our main problem this year.”

With some sections of the media seeing that as criticism of the other players who have filled in, Ronaldo moved quickly to clarify his comments.

He stated: “I am referring to my fitness level, not level of play. I am no better than any of my teammates. “I like playing with Karim and when he’s not hear it’s more difficult. When Bale or Marcelo aren’t here too. During the season it’s difficult if they’re not playing. This doesn’t mean that Danilo, who for me was the best on the field, Jesé, Kovacic or Lucas are not good, they are very good.”

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Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid’s defeat to Atletico de Madrid is a tough one to take but the team must keep working and get back to winning ways.

Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the game as Los Rojiblancos became the first ever team to win at the Santiago Bernabeu on three consecutive league visits. The loss also means Real’s hopes of catching Barcelona in the league are all but over – should the Catalans beat Sevilla they will move 12 points clear of Los Blancos.

Real have taken just one point from their last two games having drawn with Malaga last week. But boss Zidane told his press conference after the game that the players must keep working, especially as they are still in with a shout in the Champions League.

“We have things to do this year. We have the Champions league and La Liga games. We have to keep up our work. This is a difficult time. It is necessary to be professional and think about the next game. Madrid will never give in, neither me nor the players. They can criticise us, but I am going to look for a solution and to do that we need to win on Wednesday,” he commented.

And he continued: “Before the Champions league we have a game on Wednesday and we have to prepare for that game in order to play at our top level and win. Our duties and aims are for the next game. Today is a tough blow. Losing at home against Atlético is difficult.”

Asked why Madrid were suffering such an alarming slump this season, Zidane said: “I don’t know if it is a result of attitude. Probably the football. I am not happy with the game and I cannot be happy with the defeat, with what happened and the game we had. The important thing for me and for the team is to think about the next game. Before you ask me if La Liga is over, it is always difficult and I will say what I said yesterday: if you lose more points it is more difficult. We’re not going to throw away the season because we have challenges.”

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