Madrid

The team playing again after just three days...

The calender is very intense, because you have a game every three days in different competitions.. The important thing is to maintain energy and to recover from injuries and it's important not to suffer more injuries. The players aren't machines and to play a game every three days is difficult. In the league, the objective is to climb and to go from 9th to 4th is difficult, you have to keep cutting it down and fight to the end. In adversity is where you see character.

Are they being unfair to Marcelo?

Marcelo has had three injuries, it hasn't been easy for him. He has recovered, we had the Club World Cup, the break and now the return. He is getting up to speed and it is very important for us that he isn't injured more. It's fundamental for the team and the club. Throughout the year, there are good and bad moments but he is fundamental to the team. You have to look after him.

After the Villarreal draw, are you worried?

The objective is to climb, we are conscious that the start wasn't easy. We have gone from 9th to 4th position and you have to keep going, keep cutting it down, you have to fight, take up the challenge and the difficult situation, that is the character of a winner. We are happy with what we are doing, you have to keep cutting the lead down, we are clear on that. They are the maths.

The Villarreal result. Was it an accident of reality?

That is the competition, all of the teams compete, we have one of the most competitive leagues, and here nobody gifts you anything, anyone can beat anyone. It's difficult for everyone to pick up points. You can't underestimate draws, we have to win all the games but the competition is wide open. You have to give in every battle. We did well in the first half against Villarreal and in the second half, we struggled to kill off the game and we came away with a point and not three. We hope to come away with all three against Real Sociedad.

What does Bale have?

We believe it is something light and we aren't worried. Today, he will do tests and we will have more information. We hope to have him with us against quickly.

Why is this team more reliable in the Champions League than the league?

We are in three competitions, four with the Club World Cup. We try to put the specific level of concentration and energy into each game. The players are not machines, you don't plug them in and charge them up every day. You have to do exercises in renewal and energy. Nobody has more competitions than us this year and nobody has had less vacation. We put everything into our effort. You only need to look at the individual players' attitudes. Bale played at Vigo with a swollen ankle, Benzema is one of the most generous strikers I know, Lucas runs 14 kilometres in every game and on top of that, he had the most assists last year. Carvajal has an enormous heart, Modric played the other day with a high fever because it was important that he played... the level of compromise of these players is undeniable. They keep showing it.

Under Solari, are there undroppable players?

No, there are 24 players and they can play. Obviously there are players with a side and a past and glass cabinets full of glory and other much younger players. They are starting to rise up in the hierarchy. We have a team with mature people and many young people starting, any of them can play in any moment.

Isco played on the wing the other day. He doesn't play as a number 10 anymore?

For me, Isco is a player with enough quality to play anywhere. He doesn't have to be because he can be decisive with his speed, he can do it with his imagination, with his quality, with the final pass.. there are many ways. Everyone has their own characteristics.