Raul eyes glory on all fronts

Real striker Raul Gonzalez has refuted any suggestion that Real Madrid will be concentrating on the Champions League in their centenary year.

Speaking after Thursday’s training session, the 24-year-old folk hero insisted that the Whites would be gunning on all fronts, including that of the King’s Cup, from which they were bundled out last season by Third Division Toledo. He emphasised that the Spanish league title, which the Merengues have won no less than 28 times, was especially important for them.

"It’s the league that brings the Bernabeu to life every two weeks," he said.

With regard to the fact that Real are currently occupying one of La Primera’s relegation spots, he remarked that "there’s plenty of time ahead, and I’m sure that once we get two or three wins we’ll be up there fighting for the top positions."

He also expressed his opinion that Real were playing similarly in the league and Champions League, and that the only difference was in the results.

They will be hoping to start putting things right in the league on Saturday, when they entertain Espanyol at the Bernabeu.