Real concerned by fan hostility

Real Madrid's world record signing Zinedine Zidane has told his new team mates that he was shocked by the hostile reception given to the team by opposing fans ahead of their 1-0 defeat against Valencia on Saturday.

"Zidane was very surprised and asked us if the team could expect to receive this sort of treatment throughout the season or if the events in Valencia were exceptional," right back Michel Salgado was quoted as saying by sports daily Marca on Monday.

The Frenchman's comments came after windows on the team bus were smashed while the players were in the hotel prior to the match. The vehicle was also showered by objects as it made its way to the Mestalla stadium.

"We told him that he should get used to it because we are always the enemy to beat wherever we go," said Salgado.

Real coach Vicente del Bosque said he was concerned by the growing hostility shown towards the team when they made trips to away matches.

"Stoning the bus is not what I would consider normal behaviour, but recently we have been accepting such incidents as if they were normal and we should not be doing that," Del Bosque said.

"It is becoming an ugly habit, and I stress I am not using it as an excuse for Valencia's win, but the atmosphere against Real Madrid is extremely hostile at the moment."

The mild-mannered Real coach said the image surrounding the team may have contributed to the creation of tension when Real travelled to play other teams.

"I am not sure if some people see an image of a conceited team, or if some of the signings made by the club have played a part in creating such an image, but the truth couldn't be more different. "

"We are trying to show that we are just a bunch of normal blokes," he said.

Last February, Real's team bus was stoned by rivals fans on its way from the team hotel to the Riazor stadium for their top-of-the-table clash with Deportivo Coruna.

A window of the bus was smashed, but the players sitting inside escaped injury.