Higuain press conference

Gonzalo Higuain is still sad about Wednesday’s defeat, but he asked the fans for their support in the 12 “finals” the team has left this season.

Is the squad hurt by the defeat?
This is a delicate time for us, but we can still fight to win La Liga. We are six points behind the leaders and we will try our best. We will have to try to win in Bilbao; that’s the most importantt hing for us right now. We have to improve on the current situation with good results. That’s all that matters now.

People are making lists of Real Madrid players that should leave the team…
I haven’t seen them. Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. The 24 players on the squad are here for a reason. We will give our all to try to win the only title we are fighting for now: the league.

The team has been eliminated in the Last 16 five years in a row. Does the squad need to be improved on?
The team hadn’t won the league title in years and we managed to do so two years in a row. I think this squad is good enough. Unfortunately, we were unable to put an end to the streak in the Champions League, but he hope todo so next year. The Champions League is different to La Liga.

Are Barcelona to be feared again?
No. We don’t fear them. We will try to win the league title. Barcelona still have to play at the Bernabeu. We have 12 finals left this season and we will try to win all of them. It will be complicated, but we have to be ready to put up a fight.

Has the squad come to grips with the notion that this team isn’t as good as Liverpool, Manchester United and others of the sort?
I don’t like to compare ourselves with other great European teams. Real Madrid is a great club due to is history and titles. We haven’t reached the quarterfinals in five years, but we hope to break that curse next season.

The press makes Casillas look like a hero and the rest of you as villains.
We were all very sad after the match; nobody likes to lose like that. I agree with what Heinze said yesterday. We are a team and we win or lose together.

You were in a similar situation two years ago. What do you remember of that season? Do you think the team can pull it off again?
I’m sure we can. We were eliminated by Bayern Munich, but we drew 3-3 at Camp Nou and everything changed. We have to do our best now. Winning three consecutive league titles would be a very important achievement. You don’t pull off things like that every day.

You were worse than your opponents in the games against Barcelona, Liverpool and Atletico. Are you ready to face strong sides?
I’m sure we are. What’s important is that we believe we are ready.

Has the squad conspired in any special way to win in Bilbao?
We are very excited about the game. We know it will be a difficult match and that they will put a lot of pressure on us. We have to win all our fixtures if we want the title and we should triumph on Saturday.

A few days ago you were considered to be a great player, but some people now believe you should leave the team.
I don’t see that. We are all here for a reason. We are all proving our worth on this team. Everybody is entitled to have an opinion. We have to show people why we are here.

Does the fact that there are only two Spanish internationals on the squad influence the team in any way?
That has nothing to do with it. We also have other European champions on the squad. The fact that other teams provide more internationals for Spain has nothing to do with it. It’s a matter for the Board to discuss, not me. There are excellent players throughout Spain doing a great job at their clubs.

Bringing you on or off the pitch during a game seems like an easy option…
The coach decides that and a player should always accept his decision. I will always respect his wishes. I never have an opinion when I play and I won’t have one when I don’t. We should all be ready to play because I think it’s obvious we are all given a chance.

What would you like to say to the fans?
I ask them to support us, because that’s what really matters. We are sad about our elimination, but we want them to fiercely cheer for us at the Bernabeu because we are excited about winning the league title. It’s important that they do this both for us and for themselves.

March 12, 2009 | Categories: Press Conference | Tags: Gonzalo Higuaín | Leave A Comment »