Former Real Madrid player Julien Faubert has reflected on his time at Santiago Bernabeu and revealed what he would have done differently.
The former France international was a surprise Madrid signing in January 2009, signing on loan from West Ham and making two appearances.
“I lived an incredible story. But if I could go back I would do a lot of things differently,” the 32-year-old told AS.
“I would have worked more in search of an opportunity with Juande Ramos. I couldn’t show my football.
“He didn’t give me confidence. For a player it’s important to train with the group, but I was never in his plans. I was Plan B.”
Faubert’s time at Madrid was marked by an image that appeared to show him sleeping on the bench during a game against Villarreal, Faubert denying that was the case.
“Once the picture was published I spoke to the Press officer at the club and he told me that when you play for Madrid you have to be careful,” he recalled.
“I just closed my eyes for two seconds! But the reporter wrote I was asleep…”
Faubert was part of the Madrid squad that lost 6-2 to Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu, and admitted there was nothing Los Blancos could do against the Catalans on that day.
“That was a bad experience. It was a Clasico. We couldn’t do anything,” he lamented.
“I remember how Barcelona took the tempo of the game, the rhythm they had and the technical excellence of Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.
“Messi is different from Cristiano Ronaldo. He didn’t have to work so hard to get to his level. He’s there through talent. Cristiano has had to work every day.
“Neymar has the same quality and is on a powerful team like Messi and Cristiano. He’s at a very high level.
“I don’t know about Gareth Bale. After Messi, Barca have Neymar, but after Cristiano, I don’t know what Madrid will do.
“The most talented Madrid player when I was there? Guti. He was like Messi and Zinedine Zidane, he saw football another way.
“I remember asking him for the ball and he looked at me, and two seconds later the ball was at my feet. He was a Ballon d’Or worthy player.”
Faubert is again playing in Spain, but at Tercera side Gava, and explained why he has found himself at the Catalan minnows.
“No offers convinced me. My wife is from Castelldefels [also in Catalonia] and through a friend I chatted with the Gava Coach, who opened the doors,” he revealed.
Faubert concluded with a thought on the terrorist attacks in his native France, drawing a comparison with events in Spain more than a decade ago.
“What happened was horrible. The attacks in Madrid 11 years ago came to my mind. These are sad times.”
