Real can prove critics wrong, says Beckham

Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham says the recent crescendo of criticism is motivating the team towards a late-season turn in fortunes.

He also said panic measures for the European giants, who are facing a second season without silverware, would be a mistake, including replacing under-fire new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

"People say that many of the players are coming up to 30 and that the team is finished but the motivation for us and me is to prove those people wrong," the England captain told a news conference on Thursday.

"We have to stay together as a team, stay strong and believe in the team's ability. We have the best players in the world in this team."

"We are in a bad position at the moment but we shouldn't listen to things that are being said about us. We should just get on and play our football."

Real were knocked out of the King's Cup by second division Valladolid in January, eliminated from the Champions League by Juventus last week and are a distant second to arch-rivals Barcelona in the league.

"People are saying players will get sold at the end of the season but we can handle what people say about us," said Beckham.

"We are 11 points behind in the league but there are still 10 games left and anything can happen. It will be difficult but it's not impossible."

Beckham also backed Luxemburgo. "For me it's very important not to change the coach," he said.

"He has the players working hard and we want to win for him, so we shouldn't change him. It's only the players who can change the situation and we can do that by working hard and playing hard."

Beckham, who will turn 30 in May, admitted that when he signed for Real two years ago he never thought the team would go two seasons without winning any significant silverware.

"I didn't imagine this year would be like last because Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world but things like that happen in football."

"But this team isn't finished. We have to stay strong as a team and believe in ourselves and make people believe in us again."

Beckham did, however, add that he was concerned about the reaction of disgruntled fans at the Bernabeu when the side host Malaga in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

"Maybe in the first 20 minutes it will be tough. But we're paid to play football and win games and when people see us not winning games they obviously get disappointed. We are professionals though and we have to go out there and win."