Real Madrid are preparing to extend their winning run to seven successive games when they play host Racing Santander on Saturday night.
The only serious concern for Los Blancos is that in-form Arjen Robben might not be available to play due to an injury, but coach, Juande Ramos, already has a back-up plan in the form of new signing, Julien Faubert.
“Robben is in the squad but we will decide with the doctors if he is in the right condition to play,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“If he is not ready, then Faubert will be one of the options to replace him on the flank,” he added.
Juande went on to dispel the notion that Madrid are far too reliant on Robben: “There have been other games where Robben did not play but the team still did really well. Real Madrid have a big group of players with a lot of quality and we do not depend on one footballer.
“We have other players who may not have his same qualities but they can make significant contributions,” he emphasised.
The coach was then asked about his side’s chances of catching Barcelona in the Primera Division title race.
“Every week, you ask me about Barcelona and I always say that I do not focus on them.
“We have the obligation to win and to play the best football we can. Right now, we are challenging the best Barca in history, according to the statistics, but we are not obsessed about that. We are only obsessed about winning our own games,” he concluded.
KS Leong, Goal.com
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