Marcelo has outlined Real Madrid’s ambition to ‘qualify as soon as possible’ for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Los Blancos are all but guaranteed a spot in the Last 16 of the competition this term and can make certain with victory over Galatasaray on Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Our goal is to qualify as soon as possible. We want to achieve it now, so as to be less anxious and to focus on the League,” considered Marcelo, before reflecting on his current level of confidence at the club.
“Regardless of who the Coach has been I have always had confidence in Madrid. Last season I had an injury.
“Now I am well and I have more confidence than last season. But just because I am not injured.
“The tactical system with Madrid in which I feel most comfortable with is the one in which I play! We have quality, we can change the formation, it is not a problem.
“It is good to see that the team is much better than at the beginning of the season. Offensively and defensively we have changed much. This is our goal, we want to score as many goals as possible.”
The Brazilian was asked of the FIFA Ballon d’Or polling and who he would vote for.
“I hope that Cristiano wins the Ballon d’Or. It is nice that people will be wearing the masks [of Ronaldo’s face, handed out to fans for tonight’s match].
“He deserves the Ballon d’Or not only for this year, but he is a great guy and an athlete and it would be for his work over the years.”
Last year Marcelo was quoted as saying he hoped Iker Casillas would win the Ballon d’Or and it was subsequently rumoured that this caused a rift with Ronaldo.
“You are wrong and this is not how it happened. When I was with the national team, a reporter asked me if Iker deserved the Ballon d’Or like Cristiano deserves it and I said yes.
“It then created an incredible mess with Cristiano Ronaldo. I said he deserved it like others did. My relationship [with Cristiano] is very good. People want to create things that are not there.”
