Raúl González Blanco

January 19, 200718 yr

Raul press conference

"We cleared up the situation and the President has our utmost respect"

Raul Gonzalez, Captain of Real Madrid, offered a press conference to explain the ins and outs of the meeting he and the rest of the squad had with President Ramón Calderón and what the current feelings are. "We cleared everything up during the meeting and the President has our utmost respect. Any problems will be dealt from within," explained the number '7' of Real Madrid.

What do you think of the President's statements?

The President spoke on Tuesday and we decided to meet with him to clear everything up, both these statements and other things that had also occured the days before and that bothered the squad. We spoke face to face and very clearly of what each party thought. He said he was sorry and we talked about our concerns with him. The meeting was very useful and allowed us to lay down the foundations to avoid this sort of situation in the future for the well-being of the fans, members and of the Club.

What we know and have heard is really what went on in the meeting?

I have been here many years and I have never been through a situation like this one... maybe a similar one, but with different nuances. Everything that goes on in this Club has the deepest significance. The best thing about the meeting is that everyone spoke frankly about the different concerns... and some are quite complicated. Talking and discussing things, like every family does, is positive. It allows us to conform one message for the public, avoiding confusion. There's much to improve between the Club and the squad. We laid down the foundation to avoid these situations in the future. Our commitment is to keep working and fighting. This Club's prestige is at stake in the next six months.

Did you ask the President to speak no more of the players?

The President can speak whenever he pleases. The members voted for him. But we need to speak in unison and deliver the same message. His statements were quite inopportune and they had a very negative reception. He said he was sorry and that his words had been taken out of context, but his statements are there. We all heard them. The image we have to portray is very different. It has to be one of unity.

Did he convince you?

We cleared many things up and we think this will not happen again. We were satisfied with the meeting. The players who were named are far more hurt, although it is a shared feeling. But what really worries us is being united. Problems have to be solved from within. We have all heard the comments about intoxicated players and the Club has said nothing publically to deny and condemn such words. The Club was not categorical when addressing this situation and left much up to rumours and doubts. No one can doubt how professional this squad is.

Is the Club hurting you with all this ?

We spoke of that. Everyone stated what they thought. We will try to change things. Also, the way things are expressed and the forms in general could be different to avoid hurting the group.

Do you think that the President should be punished?

He has our utmost respect. The members voted for him and that's why he's the President. He came to excuse himself and present his apologies.

Did you ask him to "stop speaking all that crap about you"?

We disagreed in a number of situations, but that's the reason we asked for this meeting. We have felt unprotected many times and we wanted to know what the Club's and the Sporting Director's opinion was. What we spoke of is a totally private matter. But that phrase was never used.

Why did Ramón Caderón not attend the Wednesday luncheon to explain himself there?

It was a team luncheon, which gathered doctors and equipment managers and therefore not the appropriate place for this meeting. In any event, we have Real Madrid City and the Bernabéu to speak clearly. I told him what I thought was best. I didn't hold the press conference on Wednesday because we had a very important game the next day.

It seems like something happens every day at the Club.

This worries us. We need to change this image. It is not the most appropriate portrayal of a Club with the history of Real Madrid. There has to be mutual respect, plus a respect for the members and fans. We are the first interested parties in winning. Yesterday's elimination has made us all sad. We fought hard and we can do better. But the message is one of unity and hard work. We're in a privileged situation, with intact chances both in the League and in the Champions League. It is not a dramatic situation. We were going nowhere with everything that was going on. Therefore, we spoke of the path we should follow.

Why did Capello not attend Wednesday's luncheon?

The coach is normally not there. He doesn't like to. Everyone was invited, but certain people could not make it due to preior personal engagements. I couldn't go to a previous dinner and there's no problem with that. It's not a question of paying too much attention to the fact that one or two people are missing.

You also spoke of Beckham's situation during the meeting?

We spoke about everything in general and this was one of the issues. Beckham is a top professional. We cleared a number of things up. There's some players who have problems. The best thing for the squad is if these things are solved privately, internally. We want to go about our wrok with some peace, without constant comments surrounsing us.

Do you think Capello helps with his decisions? Is hea ready to reconsider certain things?

I sense vceratin things might change, but it is not up to me. We need to focus on our work. In life, you can't categorically dig your heels in because these players are great professionals. This situation helps no one. But who plays is a decision left entirely up to the coach.

Are you paying for Ramón Calderón's verbal incontinence?

He explained the true sense of his statements. Evidently, we had heard them before. He has our utmost respect because he is the President.

Does Capello's decision break squad unity?

He takes his decisions. And if he took them it was certainly for the good of the team, but things could have been done differently. Now that the market is wide open, if we can solve these things, better.

What did you think of the statement about Guti?

Everyone was bothered by that. Guti was "born" in Real Madrid's youth system, from a sporting perspective. He has proved himself time and again. He's a great player. If the President thinks that, he has to tell Guti in private. But he's a crucial footballer. I hope he makes a full recovery very soon.

What did Calderón seek from this meeting, because there was some confusion?

That afternoon, we decided to meet in Valdebebas the following day. I received a telephone call on Tuesday night to let me know that the President preferred if all three first team captains went to the Bernabéu. We talked it over with the squad and we made the decision that it was better if he came here, so he did.

What do you think of Emerson being called up injured?

It's strange.

Did a player say during the meeting that he did not respect the President any more?

I don't think I heard anything like that. I didn't say that. In this situation, we are all to blame. We could have all done much more. We try to do our best, but we need more unity. We need to understand why things come about and happen the way they do.

Thank you all. We will see our commitment through and attempt to make all the Club members and team fans proud and happy.

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