Real Madrid's Butragueno: Players must stick together

Real Madrid must stay united amidst their current crisis, insists sports director Emilio Butragueno.

"Now is the time for the players to stay together," he said. "The game against AS Roma is most important and we trust the players that they know what it means for the club."

"In addition the return of Zidane is positive. Also the home Bernabéu crowd is conscious of the game and will support us."

Butragueno also praised captain Raul for his return to form at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

"His commitment, attitude and determination have always been there."

"Luckily he has broken his negative form in Bilbao and hopefully he will continue this way."

"Our problem is that we are not scoring many goals, but everything will have to return to its natural way. This is so strange a run of form and it will finish someday. We hope that it is tomorrow."