REAL MADRID 0 - ATLÉTICO 1
"Cristiano doesn't really think that, he expressed himself badly"
"As the captain, all I can say is that I am proud of all of my team mates and the younger ones like Lucas Vázquez and Jesé". Ramos said after the derby
Sergio Ramos was asked about Cristiano's problematic post-derby comments in the Mixed Zone and the captain tried to calm the waters, saying: "Everyone is free to express their own opinions as they see fit. As the captain, all I can say is that I am very proud of all of my team mates, and that includes the younger ones like Lucas Vázquez and Jesé and I know Cristiano feels the same way. In difficult moments, those of us who have been here for longer have to really hammer that home. I know Cris very well, maybe he didn't express himself as he would have liked. If he really thought that, he would have said so before but I have never heard those words coming from his mouth during the time I've known him".
Ramos continued: "Those words were not exactly what he was referring to. I haven't heard much of what he said but what Cris meant was that the team is not at its best because of the injury problems we've had - with Karim and Bale - players who are normally first choice but who are out of the team because of fitness problems. It's not that we don't have any other players. All of us are very proud of the younger lads coming through - players like Lucas Vázquez or Jesé who would kill for a place in the side. He expressed himself badly but I know him well, I don't know whether today or tomorrow, he'll come out to explain what he really meant to say".