Real Madrid

Rubén de la Red was one of the pearls in the youth system for years until he joined Getafe last season. He became an important player on the team and made the Spanish national squad, winning the Euro 2008 this summer. The player is now back at Real Madrid, ready to prove his worth.

How do you feel now that you're back?
I feel great and I'm doing some recovery work. I sometimes join the squad, but I mainly do individual exercises.

You've been with the team three days. Do you know what Schuster expects from you?
Not yet. I'll have time to know in the next few days or when we return to Madrid.

Do you feel like a new signing?
I do because I played on another team last year and Real Madrid had to buy me back because I wasn't on loan.

You know how hard it is to make it big at Real Madrid. You recently won the Euro 2008 and had a great season with Getafe... Do you feel this is your last chance to make it here?
Maybe. I'm ready to prove my worth. Us youth system players are always asked to play for other teams in order to gain experience and I played much last season. I think I've covered what the Club expected from me and I hope to do what I did at Getafe now that I'm back.

Schuster wants you to be in midfield, but he tried you out as a centre back today... Where do you prefer to play?
I prefer to be an attacking midfielder, but I also feel comfortable as a centre midfielder.

What about playing as a centre back?
I'll try to do my best if that's where he wants me to play.

Isn't it a bit strange for you to be in a dressing room with many players who haven't won the Euro?
It is in a way. It's strange to look at Guti's or Raúl's amazing careers and realize they haven't been able to achieve what I did in a single year. That's how football goes. I just happened to be on the winning team.

Ramón Calderón said the current squad is enough for the team to be successful. What do you think?
I'm quite relaxed. I don't see myself out of the team anytime soon. The fact that no signings have been made means the current squad is good and that the Club has faith in it. It's good not to make many changes that have to be adapted to the team.

You look more serious.
I'm not, but life takes many turns. I'm slightly older now and see things differently. I only think about working hard and earning a spot on the team.

Has your entry on the team been different this time around?
People look at you differently when you get promoted from the second team. I've now returned having played 50 First Division games and won a European Championship with Spain. Things are different now. You have to earn a spot on the team and think differently.

Javi García said players treat him differently now.
That's normal because they've seen what we can do. They didn't know two years ago.

Do you think the signing of Van der Vaart could be detrimental to you?
I'm not worried about it. He must be a great player if the Club thinks he must be signed. We welcome him.

Do you think the team should be strenghtened in order to be strong in La Liga, the Champions League and the King's Cup?
I think the current squad, with myself, Javi and maybe some other new player, is very strong and can face the three championships.