Don't take the Michael: Real coach

Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon said he would not swap his in-form England international striker Michael Owen for Barcelona's Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o.

With Owen having banished the memories of a stuttering start by netting the only goal in the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev and then following up with the winner against Valencia Garcia Remon told Spanish television the Englishman was the man for him.

"I like Owen more than Eto'o. He has played from the start for two matches and given us six points. I'd not swap him for Eto'o," said Garcia Remon, who took over from Jose Antonio Camacho after the latter resigned last month.

Owen has forced his way into the reckoning after a slow start on arrival from Liverpool and left Spanish international Fernando Morientes behind him in the pecking order in the process.

Nevertheless, Real remain nine points behind league leaders Barca, who have steamrollered everything in their path to date while Eto'o, following his summer move from Mallorca to the Nou Camp rather than the Bernabeu is league top scorer with seven goals.

"Barcelona are playing well but they have had a bit of luck which we were missing at decisive moments," said Garcia Remon.

"Nine points are nothing - but the gap mustn't get any bigger."