Ramos: "Anyone would think we were raised in Beverly Hills"
Real Madrid's captain hit back at Atlético Madrid's recent talk of 'values' ahead of the sides' Champions League semi-final second leg.Athletic Club-Real Madrid live online
Sergio Ramos looked ahead to Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid in Tuesday's pre-match press conference.
Madrid visit the Vicente Calderón in the stadium's final European fixture on Wednesday with a 3-0 advantage from last week's first leg at the Bernabéu.
Ramos avoided discussing seemingly Real-bound Theo Hernández, and responded to Atleti's recent social-media rallying cries focusing on the club's 'values' and the passion shown by the supporters of Los Rojiblancos.
Sergio Ramos's Champions League press conference:
What will be your message to your team-mates before taking to field? "[I'll say] what I've been stressing all season. Nothing will change tomorrow. We have to go out there with a clear idea of what we want to do and give our all. The key to success is sticking together, working hard and working for the team."
Atlético's '#TheyCantUnderstand' clarion calls: "We saw a great atmosphere at the Bernabéu and the [Real] fans roared us on [to victory]. I'm not going to get into any controversy about the opinion they have about their support."
Expectations for match: "When a place in the final is at stake, you're well aware of what you're playing for and the significance of the match. We'll need to be absolutely focused out there."
Will the Theo affair have an impact on the match? "No, not at all. It's not the time to talk about signings. If the time comes to open the door to a new team-mate after the season's over, then we'll do that."
Hostile atmosphere at the Calderón: "It's not the first match we'll have played there. Their fans don't stop cheering, but the more they do that the more it motivates me. We're very good at dealing with pressure. At the end of the day, it's two teams, 11 against 11."
Atlético's emphasis on the club's 'values': "Anyone would think that we [at Real Madrid] were all raised in Beverly Hills; there are people from humble backgrounds here too, and we also have values and principles. The campaigns and tweets are all well and good, but they won't change the values and humility that we have, or how hard we work out on the pitch."
Gerard Piqué jeered at Madrid Open: "What can I say? If I went to Barcelona, the same would happen to me."
Zinedine Zidane: "He's achieving things that hardly anyone has achieved and that has to be valued. Us players are really happy with him."
Real's strength in depth: "It's up there with the most complete squads we've had. The key to success is not only having 11 players competing, but the whole squad."
