Juande Ramos: Real Madrid Are Not Defensive

Real Madrid are not a defensive team coach Juande Ramos explained over lunch with his opposite number, and former assistant, this weekend, Racing boss Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz.

Juande Ramos has stated that he is unhappy with critics labelling Real Madrid as defensive, while Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz has explained why Ezequeil Garay has not been playing recently.

The duo met for lunch ahead of Real Madrid's game against Racing Santander at the weekend and discussed their time working together as well as looking ahead to the game in the Bernabeu.

Madrid may have strung six consecutive victories together, but the defensive nature of the team with two holding midfielders has led to Alfredo di Stefano stating that he is not entertained.

"I do not agree with the criticism of Real Madrid,” Ramos told AS. “It is a label I do not agree with. Are Barca a defensive team because they have lost the least games? No."

"It is clear that we are not shining like Barcelona, but we are picking up results at the moment. My starting point in a game is not defensive though."

Ramos and Muniz worked together at several clubs as coach and assistant, but this weekend they are on opposite benches and have already analysed their opponents' star players.

"[Nikola] Zigic, like [Arjen] Robben, is capable of causing problems and is very difficult to mark,” Ramos explained. “I always prepare the strategy looking at my team first, but this time we will have to closely study his movement to stop him,".

"He has given Racing that something extra in front of goal that they were missing and the team are now looking up despite their economic limitations and lack of signings."

"Zigic makes his team better. With him Racing are an above average team now. I think that they are playing very well, especially away from home."

Muniz believes that Robben will be a player that his side will have to watch, but he has not plans to change his system to stop the Dutchman.

"He can win games with his speed and ability. Opponents have to remain very focussed to stop him and that is what we will have to do," the Racing coach stated.

"Even so, I ma not someone that likes to set my team up to mark one player. We will pay attention to him, but they also have Raul and other stars."

Muniz then revealed why Garay has not been in the Racing team recently and said that he feels that he will slot in at Real Madrid when he joins them in the summer.

"Garay did not play against Barcelona because the previous week another player [Oriol] did very well and I kept him in. Nothing more," he said.

"He did not do pre-season because of an injury and he is not in the same form as last season, but he is improving."

"I know that he is a superb central defender and a professional; I think that he is worthy of playing for Real Madrid."

"We will just have to see how he does when he is there because there is a lot of competition. [Fabio] Cannavaro wants to stay and [Christoph] Metzelder will stay."