In the crosshairs of the white defense in Europe since their game last season against City, which cost Real Madrid elimination in the Champions League, Raphaël Varane has analyzed this Monday the decisive match that the team faces against Inter. This Tuesday, at the Alfredo di Stéfano stadium (9:00 p.m., Movistar Champions League), Zidane's men need a reaction with a view to reaching the second round.
His tenth season in the Champions League: “A game like tomorrow's is difficult. We face a good rival, we have to win, we are going with great enthusiasm. We don't have to speculate much, but go for the game, give everything. We like games with pressure, we They cheer a lot. We have the illusion of winning and giving everything in this competition “.
Play without Ramos: “As a defender I always feel more comfortable when the team defends more compactly. When it is worse and we do not defend well, we have to make more complicated decisions behind. The last results in the Champions League without Sergio …, the team has not been well. Sergio He contributes a lot at a collective level, that character he has is very good for the team. I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but without him we have not been well at a defensive level in the Champions League. But it is everyone's question. I do better for him. and he makes me better too. We all have to be together. We know the importance of Sergio, but we have to be all of us. “
A lot of pressure very soon: “It is a slightly different situation than what we are used to, but we have to take this game as if it were a direct elimination. We have a squad to face any challenge. And we like this. I see it as one more opportunity. We are looking forward to it. “.
Lukaku's downfall: “I know him well, I played against him when he was at Manchester, also with the national team and when I was at Lens and he at Anderlecht. He is a very good player, but Inter have a very complete squad, a well-positioned team He is solid and always creates danger at the top. He is a very good opponent. “
Militao's positive: “We know that in this period we have to be prepared for this type of thing, unforeseen. We have not thought about not playing the game, we have to always be prepared and adapt to any situation. Preparation is a bit complicated, with two or three test to be calm “.
The Manchester ruling: “It is the past, you have to learn from it and become stronger and better. You have to think about the positive. After the good things we did in the past we cannot live from it, nor from the bad.”
Hazard: “He is a very good person, with whom we can talk about everything, laugh … He has adapted very well to the dressing room, although now we spend less time there. He is top, he will give us a lot, he has a lot of quality. He is unbalancing , special and on a technical level he is going to give us a lot. As a person, as I said before, he is very good and always positive. “
The level of Madrid and Barcelona in the League and Champions: “It is true that we lack a bit of regularity, it could be for different reasons. The calendar is clear that it is very complicated, the preparation has been a little different this year. There is still a lot left, we think about improving. We have done very good things and we have to think about it in order to continue growing. We are going to need everyone with this calendar, that each one give their best. We are going to continue our efforts to make this special season a very good one. “
Zidane spoke of the fact that outside does not help: “The Madrid dressing room is very close. We know the context, the responsibility and the difficulty of playing at Madrid because of the pressure that exists, because of what is said outside. We are used to it. We help each other. Outside, when the results are not. they are good, the pressure is very strong and when they are good we look for something, so we know that we have to be united on the field and outside. That depends on us, there are other things that are not. “
Many losses in defense: “The calendar is complicated, there are many games. We have casualties behind and we think about preparing well on a physical level to play every three days. It will never be easy, but we all have to be prepared, work very hard and not think about injuries. In Europe there are many players who have been injured at this rate of matches. You don't have to think about half-time, but give one hundred percent, which is how you win games. “
Achraf returns: “He had to make a decision and made what he thought was best for him. Madrid will always be special for him, sure, but then he has to think about his career, what he wants to do. The player also adapts to the context, the offers, what there may be and he chooses for his future. He's a good player. “
Patience with young people: “For young people it is always complicated, a lot is always expected from the press, the fans and even within the dressing room. You have to always be calm, you have to give them time to gain experience and progress. The context in Madrid is complicated for the players. young people. There are always young players who grow fast, who learn. There is no greater learning than coming to Madrid young. I lived it and others are seeing it now. “