Hard work will see Real out of "crisis", says Hierro

Real Madrid will need to maintain their calm, up their workrate and demonstrate their character if they are to play their way out of the current "crisis", according to captain Fernando Hierro.

Real were at full strength for the first time this season in Wednesday's Champions League Group C clash with AS Roma, yet Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos and Zinedine Zidane could no nothing to prevent the Italians claiming a 1-0 win.

The European champions made it through to the second phase despite their defeat, after a draw between AEK Athens and Genk, but with just one win to show from their last seven games at home and abroad alarm bells are ringing at the Bernabeu.

"We all know how things are at Real Madrid, where two bad results constitute a crisis," Hierro said after the side's training session on Thursday.

"The moment has arrived for the team to show their maturity and personality. All I know is that you get out of a situation like this by keeping calm and working hard. There's no other way I know of."

Real could be facing more trouble with a difficult game away to Deportivo Coruna in the Spanish league on Saturday but Hierro said he was confident the players would respond.

"With the talent we have in the squad and in the coaching staff we can do better," Hierro said. "We have to be optimistic."

"We know it's going to be difficult against Deportivo, who are one of the candidates for the title, but we also know we can win."