Deportivo striker Riki believes that Real Madrid will be 100 per cent focused on Sunday’s game and that his will be at 120 per cent in order to get a result.
Los Blancos go into the sixth round of action still eight points behind League rivals Barcelona and, despite a trip to Ajax to come in midweek, will be fully intent on picking up a win on Sunday against Depor, says Riki.
“I don’t think they will be distracted by the Champions League because the difference to Barcelona is eight points.
“Their Coach is very ambitious and I do not think they will fall into that. I hope they do, but I guess they won’t,” he mused to reporters today.
“Every point they drop will be an opportunity less for them to catch Barcelona. We know we have to play 120 per cent to get something out of there and that they have one of the best players in the world too.”
Deportivo suffered a first defeat of the season last weekend at home to Sevilla, but it hasn’t stopped Riki considering how his side can more than match the defending La Liga champions this week.
“They are a very intense team and at home are very strong. Everyone knows about Madrid.
“Their start was not expected and we will have to try and hurt them, but above all they have very important players and so we will have to be very focused. We also have our weapons and it is beautifully set up to watch.
“We are prepared for what the Coach requires, even for a formation change. Maybe at the Bernabeu we cannot discuss having the ball as much as the home team, but we have to use other weapons besides possession.”
Riki is a former Real Madrid C and B team player and took some time to reflect on that experience, which ended eight years ago.
“I signed up when I was already 20, it was a little late, I was there for four years and I got the chance to play for the first team and to take an important step in my career, which was signing for Getafe, then just promoted to the Primera.
“I appreciate the treatment I received both on a human level and a sporting one.”
