Benítez: "We are winning and growing"

20/10/2015realmadrid.com

Rafa Benítez, Real Madrid head coach, spoke in the Parc des Princes press room on the eve of the PSG clash (Wednesday, 8:45pm CET). The Real Madrid head coach looked ahead to the third fixture in Champions League group A: "Looking at their performances over the last few years, PSG have demonstrated that they are the strongest team in France. They have been strengthening well in each new edition of the Champions League and they are a top side. It is an exciting challenge to face this team in this stadium. It will be a great match against a great rival. This is going to be a challenge we face with excitement and we're eager to do well".

"This is a game between two sides with top quality players. All of the players on both teams are hugely important internationally. We have to work as a collective unit, make the most of our strengths and try to keep them from tapping into theirs".

The keys

"Control the game, keep possession of the ball, keep our shape, attack and try to play well. They will make you work at the back. We'll have a better chance of winning if we hold onto the ball. We are up against an opposition side with a lot of ability: they are capable of penetrating with one-twos and by playing balls in behind the defence".

"We are going through a developmental stage but we're winning as we grow, which is the most important thing. If we added two or three of the injured players to this team, things would take on a different appearance. There's still a long road ahead and I hope we can continue improving".

Bale

"I've already explained the Bale situation. During the break in Saturday's game against Levante I had the sensation that he was tired in the dressing room and he told me he had a small niggle but wanted to continue playing. That's all there is to the story. After that we discovered he was injured".

"Losing a player of his ability is a blow, but the team did well in the second half and won the match, which is what matters most. He wasn't fully right coming into the dressing room. His stats during the first half look good to us and perhaps exhaustion played a role somehow. He wanted to play on and that shows he's committed".

Modric


"He has been training the last few days and if he's here that's because we think he's fit enough to play. We'll make a decision on him after today's training session".

Possession

"It can play a determining role if you have the ball near the opposition's box and can be effective if it's not just a stat that allows you to control the game. We have impressive possession stats but what matters most is knowing how to manage matches irrespective of what percentage of possession you have".

"We're an attacking team and the numbers back that up. That is our game plan and always will be because we want to score goals and win games. We are the highest scoring team and we have more strikes on goal than anyone else. I can't argue the point any more. If we need to attack, my team will do just that and if we need to defend, my team will also do just that. Our plan is to try and win matches by scoring goals. The Real Madrid supporters understand that our impressive figures haven't just come about by chance, but rather because of how we set ourselves out ahead of games".

Cristiano


"We have the top scorer in the history of Real Madrid and European football and one of world football's all-time greats".

The team's performances

"This team have played well during game phases and full games. When you have quality players, who know what they have to do, the team will play well. I'm fully at ease. When I'm asked the same question five times, I'm forced to give the same answer each time. We'll make our overall assessment at the end of the season".

Ramos

"He knows that if he plays the medics will ensure that he doesn't fell any pain. We've already spoken to him to explain that it's an injury that will cause him problems for a while".

Casemiro

"I've enjoyed how he's been playing because we already knew how much potential he had. He's a young man who is eager to learn. He's a great player who is still developing and will have plenty of playing opportunities, just like the rest of his team-mates. I'm very happy with him".

Jesé

"The message I sent out, and which others misinterpreted to attack me, is that a Real Madrid player has to be ready at all times to give it his all. He came on and played extremely well. All the players are capable of doing well because they are of such high quality".

PSG

"I'm at a great team and this is not the moment to be talking about what could have benn. This is a club, a city and a country with such a huge global standing, but I'm more than happy being at the world's greatest club".