Samuel: Basel ready for Madrid

Basel defender Walter Samuel says the Swiss outfit are ready for Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The experienced 36-year-old centre-back, who joined Basel in July after nine seasons with Inter, admits he has observed Madrid’s poor start to the season and says he is not surprised at the criticism levelled at the players.

“The criticism they have received doesn’t surprise me because, apart from the fact they are European Champions, they are always under pressure. So it’s no wonder I’m not surprised.

“However, we are ready and looking forward to this match, because getting a good result and taking points from here would be very important,” he told a Press conference.

Samuel, who spent the 2004-05 season at Real Madrid following a move from Roma, maintained he is not concerned who or who isn’t on the pitch for the hosts.

“Some great players have left the club but others have come in, so we are only concentrating on ourselves. We are thinking of playing well and not about those who have left or the ones who have arrived at Madrid.

“We need to concentrate to the maximum and try to forget about their situation,” he added.

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