Juande Ramos believes that the current Barcelona side is the best in the club's illustrious history.
Real boss acknowledges achievements of rivals
Juande Ramos believes that Real Madrid are only behind in the Primera Liga title race because the current Barcelona side is the best in the Catalan club's history.
Real's coach is delighted with the way his squad have responded since he replaced Bernd Schuster before Christmas and his only regret is the continued fine form of their closest rivals.
While there will always be comparisons between how Real and Barca play, Ramos thinks that his side are not that far away from Pep Guardiola's outfit.
"Since I arrived we have won just one less point than Barca. They have had a goal difference of plus 20, while we have plus 18," he said.
"Without doubt we are playing some brilliant football and are not so far away, but we are talking about the best Barcelona team in history."
With a 10-point gap between themselves and Barcelona in the league, many are tipping Real Madrid to focus all their efforts on the UEFA Champions League, but Ramos does not see that.
"If someone were to ask me which is easier to win then I would say the Champions League. There are less games and we depend upon ourselves," he continued.
Solution
"Making Barcelona play badly is not among my powers. But I do not agree that we have spent the last two months preparing to play in the Champions League.
"Within the squad there is a great satisfaction because of the way that we are playing. Nobody is thinking about Barca because our only aim is to improve the way that we play.
"I have been asked to resolve a short-term solution. I think that the team let in too many goals to achieve the objectives that they had.
"The players all agreed and they have worked hard to find a solution and I think that the results have been very positive."
Ramos' contract runs out at the Santiago Bernabeu in June, but it will be automatically renewed if he wins a trophy, and with presidential elections being prepared for the summer, he does not know what will happen.
"On 30th June I will be free and if anyone can advise what the best beach in Sardinia is then that is where I will be waiting to hear about news from Real Madrid without any anxiety," he explained.
"Even if we win a trophy I will have no problem going if the new president has other ideas."
