Real Madrid president blames media for attempting to destabilize team

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez held an impromptu press conference today where he blamed the media for attempting to “destabilize” the club. Perez also went on to back his under-fire manager Carlo Ancelotti, while calling for fan support during his side’s “bad moment”.

After weeks of heavy criticism, Perez apparently felt compelled to address the media after his side were continually jeered by home supporters during Tuesday night’s 4-3 defeat to Schalke 04.

Speaking to the press, the Real Madrid president backed Carlo Ancelotti while pointing to the manager’s immediate impact at the club. He blamed the media for attempting to “destabilize” the team, and also called for fan support as Madrid prepare for an important stretch of the season.

“I’m here to clarify declarations that have nothing to do with the truth and only destabilize our club and coach,” Perez stated. “Our level of self-criticism has made us the best club in the world, we are more demanding than anyone, but I don’t think it’s acceptable to take advantage of our bad moment.

“I want to say that whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Carlo Ancelotti will still be our coach.

“Real Madrid has the best players and coaches that we could have. These players and coaches have won trophies that Real Madrid fans had dreamed about for years – the Copa del Rey, the Champions League and the Club World Cup – playing, until two months ago, spectacular football.

“All this has been achieved by our coach, our players and by the fact Madrid are united. We will continue to fight for the 11th Champions League, and La Liga.”

“I ask, as president of Real Madrid, to our members, to support our players and coach, they need to feel your strength and support. This support and love is even more important when they need us.

“I’m not going to come out every day and deny stories but I want to clarify that I am proud of our players and coaches. When there is a great feeling between the fans and the players, that is when the team does best.

“There is a lot of self-criticism, but the players have been confused by some of the stuff that has come out. We need to get behind the team, that’s our strength and what has made us the best club ever.

“I think it’s never one thing, it’s a series of things. It’s down to the effort that we made to win the Club World Cup, including injuries to the team’s spine (Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos) and it’s not always possible to maintain a great run, but this has happened throughout the history of this club, it’s what’s made us great and we’ll be winning games again soon.

“I said when the coach came here that what he had experienced up to now would not prepare him for what he would experience here, in terms of pressure.

“He’s a little surprised by the stories that have come out but he’s very experienced, I have no doubt he’s going to have a great season.”