Morientes content with Owen

Fernando Morientes is happy to fight Michael Owen for his place at Real Madrid.

The Spain international returned to El Santiago Bernabeu over the summer after a hugely successful season-long loan at Monaco.

Morientes was merely expecting to battle it out for a starting spot with the talismanic Raul and Brazilian ace Ronaldo.

But Real drafted in England international Owen in August to add more depth to the team's strike-force.

Owen got the nod from coach Mariano Garcia Remon to start against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend, with Ronaldo absent, before being replaced by Morientes early in the second half.

Both players have looked out of touch this term and Morientes admits he is still adapting to the greater competition for places in the Spanish capital.

He claims Owen was brought to the club at the behest of Real president Florentino Perez but is content to keep working for his berth in the team.

"I am very satisfied with what I have given to this club and with what I have got left to give," said Morientes.

"Owen is an acquisition of the president's and he will be happy with him. We all know who Owen is and what he has done in the world of football.

"I am not here to complain. I have been playing football for Real Madrid for a long time and I will wait for my opportunity.

"It is always difficult to get in to the team. I stayed here after talking to the coach (at that time Jose Antonio Camacho) but things changed when we went from three to four forwards.

"It is certain that, with the arrival of Owen, the competition is greater because we now have four forwards and, if there were only three, I would have played on Sunday.

"The coach decided to pick Owen because he wanted to give the team more speed and it is not necessary to speak about this anymore."