Angel Di Maria has admitted that he would like to play more often in a bid to try and rediscover his form for Real Madrid.
The Argentine winger has found himself on the sidelines in recent weeks, after a downturn in form this season.
However, he is keen to prove himself once more at the club and has appealed to his Coach in public to help make that so.
“I feel very good. I have been working to be at 100 per cent. I’m not playing, but these are technical decisions,” he reflected to reporters today.
“I have to be ready for when I am needed. When you do not play, it costs you more. It is not the same to be on for 20 minutes than it is to start.
“It’s harder when you have no continuity. I’ve not spoken to Mourinho about it, nor did I when I was playing regularly. Every Coach will pick who they want to.”
Di Maria was talking ahead of Madrid’s first leg quarter-final with Valencia tomorrow night in the Copa del Rey. The two sides also meet in the League on Sunday.
“Every game is different. In the Cup we need a good result at home. The League is then something else. They are coming here to win. They will not sit back. The players will play us as equals.
“We know that the League is very difficult and that the Cup and Champions League are the two objectives. And that is an important motivation. We have to be at the level that we were at against Celta Vigo.
“It’s a very difficult tie and a bad result at home can knock us out. Valencia are difficult and we are not doing well in the League, but against Celta we gave everything and won with one less player.”
Di Maria was also asked his opinion on the level of officiating in recent games. Madrid have had a player sent off in each of their last three games.
“Referees are making mistakes against us lately. These things happen. For Kaka [who was sent off at the weekend at Osasuna], he did not see the elbow that cost him the first yellow. The opponent jumped on his back.
“The second card was bad luck. The opponent wanted to get him sent off. We are aware that there are mistakes being made against Madrid. There were red cards, yellows… given for nonsense. These are failures that are not committed by mistake.”
