Raphael Varane has it clear. «A game like tomorrow’s is difficult. We face a good rival, we have to win and we are very excited. Do not speculate and go for the game. We like games with pressure. We have the illusion of winning and giving everything in this competition that we like very much, “said the central defender on the eve of the match against Inter on the third day of the Champions League group stage, which is shaping up to be decisive for the future of both teams on the continent.
“It is a slightly different situation than what we are used to. We have to take this match as a direct elimination match. We have a staff to face any challenge. I see it as one more opportunity “, emphasized the Frenchman, who will return to form in the axis of the rear along with Sergio Ramos. «I always feel more comfortable when the team defends more compactly. When we don’t defend well behind, we have to make more complicated decisions. It is true that in the last Champions League games without Sergio the team has not been well. That character that Sergio has is very good for the team. My qualities are very complementary with Sergio’s. I make him better and he makes me better too», He pointed out about his partnership with the Andalusian.
Varane referred to the more than probable loss of Romelu Lukaku due to injury. I know him well. I played against him when he was at Manchester, in the national team … He is a very powerful footballer who has a special physique and is very good. But Inter have a very complete squad. It is solid and always creates danger above. We have to be prepared to face a very good opponent, “said the Frenchman.
The effect that Éder Militao’s positive for coronavirus may have had on the preparation of the meeting was less important. “We know that in this period we have to be prepared for this type of unforeseen event. We have not thought that we could not play the game. We have to adapt to any situation, “he said.
“Hazard is going to give us a lot”
Early has turned the page after his poor performance last August against Manchester City, with two major errors that cost his team elimination. It’s the past. You have to learn from the past and become stronger. Always after victories we say that we cannot live from the past. When we lose it is the same. You have to look forward, be positive and always try to be better, “he stressed.
He referred to Hazard, again with good feelings after his goal against Huesca. «He is a very good person with whom we can talk about everything, laugh. He adapted very well to the dressing room. He is a top player who has a lot of quality. It will give us a lot. He is a special player, “he said about the Belgian.
He also spoke of the irregularity that Real Madrid and Barcelona are showing at this beginning of the season. «It is true that we lack a bit of regularity. It can be for different reasons. The calendar is different, the preparation too. There is still a lot left and we think about improving. We have done very good things and we have to think about these things to continue growing. With the current calendar we are going to need all the players, that each one gives the maximum. We are going to give everything to make this season a very good one. We have to achieve regularity to continue adding».
Varane defended the ability of Real Madrid footballers to isolate themselves from criticism. «The Madrid dressing room is very united. We know the context, the responsibility and the difficulty of playing for Madrid because of the pressure. We are used to what is said outside. We have to be calm and help each other “, stressed the defender, who pointed to the concatenation of matches in a few days as an explanation for the plague of injuries in defense of his team. «The calendar is complicated and there are many games. We have casualties behind us, but we think about preparing well on a physical level to play every three days. We do not think about injuries. We know that there are many injuries with this rhythm of matches, but we always think about giving one hundred percent on the field, “he argued.
.
