Real Madrid president: Let's not blame Ruben

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted yesterday that it was wrong to heap the blame of Sunday's 4-1 shock at Seville on young defender Ruben.

3-0 down, the youngster was hooked by trainer Carlos Queiroz before the half-time break and was caught by the TV cameras in tears slumped on the bench.

"It is not right that Rubén is made the culprit of this defeat," said Perez. "Everyone is responsible."

"The trainer does what he thinks is right, but I do not believe that he is right to indicate Ruben is to blame for what happened in the first-half."

Perez added, "It is important to know how to win, as it is to know how to lose. I congratulate Seville on their victory."