Realmadrid News

Cannavaro: "Team spirit is most important"

"It's a matter of time," said Fabio Cannavaro, who thinks the team is improving gradually because the new players are beginning to fully adapt and the whole team has gotten used to the new coach. He said the most important thing is the team spirit amongst the squad, who are excited about winning and playing. The Italian defender said he had a bad aftertaste from the match against Olympique Lyonnais and that he wished to wash it down by defeating Dynamo Kiev.

Were the three points the most imprtant thing in the match against Betis?
We played a good match. We won by playing well and our frame of mind was the right one. The crowd liked that.

Real Madrid were more into the game this time.
We are excited about winning and playing. Many people criticise us right now, but we are calm nevertheless because we know we are a good and solid team. It's a matter of time.

On Tuesday you play against Dynamo Kiev.
We played appalingly in Lyon. On Tuesday we have to show people we can win in Europe.

Cicinho's injury is very bad news. Do you think the Club will have to sign a right back?
We have Salgado, Raúl Bravo, Sergio Ramos... This team has many versatile players. We aren't worried.


How is Cicinho?
He's unhappy, which is normal. He's got a serious knee injury and he's only 25. I hope he recovers soon. He was very happy and cheeful before this happened, but it must have been fate. These are the dangers that lurk over footballers.

The centre back defense wasn't up to scratch in Lyon.
Yes, but that's normal. We will play 50 to 60 matches this year and won't be able to be equally fit in all of them. Physical conditions were very different in the Lyon match. These things happen when a team at 100% faces a team at 50%. We defenders are relaxed because we know we can play good football.


Did you expect such a hard season opening?
No, I didn't, but I soon realised it was natural in a team that has so many new players and a new coach. We're going through an adaptation process and we need to get over it soon.

Do you think the team has to play better?
It's always important to improve on anything we do. A team's principal aim should be to always improve.

Do you think we will see stylish football with Capello as coach?
Juventus played stylish and beautiful football the two years Capello trained them. The most important thing is to have team spirit.

Do you need Ronaldo to play again?
Yes, of course. He's a phenomenal player. Ronaldo is different from anybody else.


The team has only conceded one goal in four matches. Do you think other teams will have a hard time trying to score goals against Real Madrid?
I do because we are hungry for the ball, which is very important.

After scoring the goal against Betis it seemed you pressured less. Were you saving energies for Tuesday?
We needed to score the second goal in order to relax a bit. Winning allows you to stay calm and prepare well for the next match.

What do you know about Dynamo Kiev?
Eastern European teams are always powerful. Kiev run a lot and are a very solid team.

Next Sunday will be the derby against Atletico Madrid.
I'm curious to seeing how it is. I guess it's the same as in Italy, where fans want to win by five or six goals and the whole atmosphere is pumped with adrenaline. That match is very important, but for the moment we have to stay focused on Tuesday.

Valencia and Barcelona face each other tonight. Who do you think will be more dangerous this season?
I think Barça will be because they are full of euphoria for having won the League and the Champions League. They do everything right. I think Sevilla and Valencia are candidates to winning the League.


Report by Laura Navas
Photography by Daniel Sastre
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 6:47 AM