Santiago Solari has described Real Madrid as having a âfantastic, humble squadâ following remarks from Cristiano Ronaldo about his former employers.
Ronaldo, who switched from Real to Juventus in July, spoke about the clubs in an interview published by Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday, saying the Italian outfit felt âmore like a familyâ than the Spanish one.
He said: âI can say this (at Juventus) is the best group Iâve ever played with. In other teams some players feel bigger than others, but here they are all on the same level, they are humble and want to win.
âFor me it is beautiful and I can feel the difference. Even in Madrid they are humble but here, even more so. It is very different to Madrid â it is more like a family here.â
Real boss Solari gave a response to that at a press conference ahead of Wednesdayâs Champions League Group G clash with CSKA Moscow at the Bernabeu.
According to AS, the 42-year-old told the press conference when asked about Ronaldoâs comments and if he would say he had a humble dressing room: âHumility is a virtue that top players need, and at Real Madrid weâve got a fantastic, humble squad; theyâve shown that.
âWhen it comes to every one of the values bound up in sport, this is a top group of players.
âCristiano will always be special to this club, he went down in its history, and itâs not down to anyone to judge the way he feels; thatâs something personal.â
Since losing 3-0 at Eibar in La Liga in their first match with Solari as permanent boss, Real have played four times in all competitions and won on each occasion.
They are fourth in La Liga, five points behind leaders Barcelona, and go into Wednesdayâs contest, their concluding Group G fixture, having already guaranteed top spot in the pool.
Solari said he had no preference in terms of potentially winning La Liga or the Champions League, stressing he would like both.
And he added: âIâd also like to win the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup. Every competition merits our complete attention and should stimulate our competitive spirit.
âIâve never been one to pinpoint a competition; I like every one of them, and we should be aiming to challenge for them all.â
The Champions League title-holders face a CSKA outfit who are fourth in the group but can still claim the third-placed finish that will take them into the Europa League, and who beat Real â still managed by Julen Lopetegui at that point â 1-0 in Moscow in October.
CSKAâs boss Viktor Goncharenko said in quotes on their official website, when asked what had changed about Real since Lopeteguiâs sacking: âIf we talk about Real, it is in any case a very high level. It is clear that we must do everything possible.
âWith regard to changes, then, probably, now more young players have appeared.â
He added: âWithout faith in yourself and your team you canât go out on the pitch. It is clear that we came here with hope. Hope dies last.â