Ramos relaxed in Real role

Former Spurs boss ready to tackle Reds

Last updated: 9th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ramos relaxed in Real role

Ramos: Relaxed over future

This is a delightful, delicious game, and it is sad that one great side will be left by the wayside.

Juande Ramos.
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Juande Ramos does not believe he needs to overcome Liverpool to earn an extended stay at the helm of Real Madrid.

The former Tottenham and Sevilla manager was brought in to replace Bernd Schuster at Santiago Bernabeu on a short-term deal which runs until the end of the season.

Speculation continues to rage over the identity of Real's next boss, with Reds manager Rafa Benitez linked with the role, especially given he has yet to sign a new contract at Anfield.

Ramos and his Real troops have travelled to Merseyside for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit, with the Spaniard adamant that he is relaxed over his future.

Comfortable

He said: "I still have three-and-a-half months left on this contract, and I feel very comfortable about that.

"This is not a subject that will be addressed until June, but whether we win tomorrow or get eliminated, it will not influence my contract."

Real have been knocked out at the last-16 stage for the past three seasons, and Ramos is determined to change that statistic.

He said: "This game requires a fine performance, and if we do turn this result around it will restore some of the club's prestige in this tournament.

"I hope that we can achieve such a result and take the club closer to another final.

"The first leg was a real tactical battle, but we are only halfway through, we are confident we can turn things around and reverse 0-1 deficit. My players are convinced they can do this, we must work, though, as hard as we can."

Delicious

Ramos revealed he was unconcerned by Liverpool's injury problems, with Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger and Yossi Benayoun all requiring late fitness tests.

Ramos said: "Knowing who will play for Liverpool is not something I can control, but Liverpool do not base their success on one individual and they always have a squad and strength in depth, it is never about just one player.

"We accept that it is tough at this stage, but must deal with it, but we have the quality to go through. This competition is all about bringing out the best in a team.

"This is a delightful, delicious game, and it is sad that one great side will be left by the wayside."