Del Bosque scoffs at weak rivals theory

Vicente del Bosque has laughed off suggestions that his team's displays in the Champions League are down to playing substantially weaker rivals.

Real have had a somewhat schizofrenic season to date, their impressive run in Europe has contrasted with an uninspiring showing in La Liga.

Unbeaten in the Champions League, Real have taken just nine points from their opening eight games on the domestic front and their Jekyll and Hyde performances have raised question marks over whether or not there are actually two sides to the team, or that their European run has been masked by the fact that they have played some 'inferior' teams.

Del Bosque responded on Thursday: "We have put in some extraordinary performances in the Champions League this season, we are top goalscorers with 12 and we have a 100 per cent record in Group A.

"No-one can say that our rivals have been easy. Take Roma for example, they struggled in Brussels and against Lokomotiv and they're one of the top teams in the world - our opponents have not been easy at all."

Regarding the poor start to the defence of their Spanish championship, the Real coach said: "There are not two sides to this team, in the league we have played some excellent football but the results haven't corresponded to that, it's as simple as that."