Baptista: El Derby winner

I met some great people, as well as playing for Arsene Wenger, who is a great manager and a good man

Julio Baptista on Arsenal.
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• Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Julio Baptista told Revista de la Liga he is hoping his upturn in form and fortune this season will lead to a Primera Liga title.

The Brazilian - back at the Bernabeu following an indifferent year on loan at Arsenal - has become an integral part of Bernd Schuster's table-topping side in recent weeks.

The man known as 'The Beast' was given his chance to impress following Guti's sending-off during a 1-1 draw at Murcia back in November, and he seized it with both hands - scoring the winner in the pre-Christmas win at Barcelona.

Baptista has slotted into Schuster's 4-3-3 formation and his performances would be unrecognisable to supporters of Arsenal, where he struggled to make an impact.

He said: "That had a lot to do with my situation: the uncertainty about my future; not knowing if I was going to stay or leave. That is the most difficult thing for a player in that situation.

"The manager had a team that was runners-up in the Champions League (in 2006). It was difficult for him to change ideas and put a player in the side who had come in on loan.

"That said, I had the chance to play quite a few games and to get to know the English league. I met some great people, as well as playing for Arsene Wenger, who is a great manager and a good man."

So how does Wenger compare with Schuster? The German is "a manager who keeps himself to himself", according to Baptista.

"He has a very Germanic temperament, very cool. He doesn't talk much, but when he does he always makes sense and has very clear ideas."

Those ideas have quickly paid dividends, and Real have a seven-point lead over bitter rivals Barca at the halfway stage of the season.

Baptista said: "The most important thing is to have a team which is balanced, which performs as well at the back as it does up front.

"We are playing very well at the moment and must focus on maintaining this level. We must aim to play at our peak in every game."

To date this season, Real have avoided defeat in each of the games Baptista has started, but the 26-year-old does not yet feel comfortable enough to take his place for granted.

"I want to finish the season as a first-choice player for Real Madrid," he said, "and I want to finish the season winning titles. That is what I hope for."