Schuster Hails Teamwork After Camp Nou Win
Bernd Schuster was full of pgraise for his team's collective display after the 1-0 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Real Madrid produced a physical and defensive masterclass to pick up only their second Camp Nou win in 25 years.
What is more, they prevented Barcelona from scoring at home for the first time in almost three years, and Schuster was quick to draw attention to the collective work.
"It is important to speak of the entire team," he said. "The players worked together, and have won this together. It has been a real team victory."
It was indeed, as the Madrid players seems to be first to every loose ball, and closed down every Barcelona player as if there was no tomorrow.
In that sense, he did outsmart Frank Rijkaard, planning superbly for Barca's predictability, and exposing the Catalans' weaknesses on the break.
"I do not like to reduce a game to a battle between the two coaches," he insisted, when asked if he had out-thought Frank Rijkaard.
"All I will say is that it has been a just and deserved win. We picked up a good result against great opponents".
"Barcelona were never really very close to our goal, and we forced them to go wide.
"I think it is a real positive that it is the first time Barcelona have not scored at home."
Real Madrid take a massive seven point lead into the new year, something that many believe could well turn out to be decisive.