Juande Ramos: Real Madrid Ready For Barcelona Title Showdown

Real Madrid successfully slashed Barcelona ’s lead at the top down to just four points following their 4-2 win at Sevilla, coupled with the Blaugrana’s 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday night.

The stage is now set for a title-deciding El Clasico showdown next weekend and coach, Juande Ramos believes his ‘Men In White’ are now ready to face their biggest match of the season.

“The obligation was always to win against Sevilla. We had won so many matches but we could not close the gap on Barca, and sometimes, it all seemed too much hard work,” he said during the post-match conference.

“But today, we have managed to cut the lead down to just four points and next week, we play Barcelona at home and we will put our title aspirations on the line,” he added.

Juande then gave a brief analysis of Los Merengues’ come from behind victory over his former club.

“Sevilla were in control for the first twenty minutes of the game and we did not have any possession at all,” he assessed.

“But the next twenty, it was all Madrid and the key was our equalizer just before the break.

“We improved in the second half because we had to take the risk as nothing other than a victory would have mattered and that was a huge factor.”

Finally, the La Mancha-born coach admitted that he was always expecting a hostile reception from the Sanchez Pizjuan crowd after abandoning the Nervionense outfit in 2007 in search for more money at Tottenham Hotspur.

“I was not surprised at all by the fans’ reaction because I knew how the press had played up my situation,” he revealed.

“We are professionals and we are subjected to people’s criticism. It’s part and parcel of football. For me, it would have been harder if there was an indifferent reception and in that respect, I’m delighted to have left my mark.”