Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has defended his right to express his opinion if he disagrees with something.
The Spanish international was surprisingly dropped by boss Jose Mourinho for the Champions League clash with Manchester City and has had things to say in the past if he feels he has been wronged.
It is an issue he feels strongly about, although he dismisses the idea that he feels the need to argue with Mourinho, who claimed some days ago that Ramos is the best central defender in the world when he is on top form.
“I’m not here to have debates with the Coach. Criticism or praise are things that don’t affect me as my mentality is the same one that got me where I am and I’m going to carry on like that,” he declared in an interview with AS.
“I’ll defend my ideas and principles to the end and if there's something I don't like why should I have to stay quiet about it?
“I don't have as much experience as [Luis] Aragones but, as he says, I've been around the block. Nobody can question my work and my loyalty to this club.”
Although his omission from the squad for the City game caused general surprise, Ramos feels he was not singled out for the previous Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sevilla.
“Nobody can blame me for my attitude but we are not machines or robots and can all have an off day.”
Having been converted from right-back to centre-half in his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 26-year-old says he is now happier in the middle of the back line.
“It was circumstantial but if I had the choice I’d always play at centre-back. However, we’re here to help and I’ll play anywhere,” he said, before commenting on next week’s El Clasico.
“It’s a one-off opportunity to close the [eight-point] gap and could be a very important game.”
Ramos also revealed he had watched the Sevilla-Barcelona match on Saturday when Gary Medel was dismissed for an apparent head butt on Cesc Fabregas.
“I’m a football fan and I watch all the La Liga and Premier League matches I can, but I don’t talk about referees because it will be tomorrow’s headlines,” he concluded.
