Real Madrid president: Raul will always be our most important

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has stepped into the debate over Raul's poor form to back his club's captain.

"Raul always has been the best and when he's just a little bit low, people are surprised," said Perez. "The player must have a right after ten years to drop his form just a little bit, but nobody has doubts about his quality and ambition, because Raul has been, is and will be the most important player that there is at Real Madrid."

Perez also spoke about Real's new look defence, describing Jonathan Woodgate and Walter Samuel as their continent's best defensive players.

"One is the best defender in Europe and the other from South America. People are going to be impressed by this great defence that Real Madrid now has."