"The match day squads and line-ups are made based on players’ performances on the field and always for the team to win", said the White’s assistant coach

Edu Bueno

Aitor Karanka appeared in the press room at the Santiago Bernabeu after Real Madrid’s thrashing of Malaga. The Real Madrid assistant coach once again highlighted Cristiano Ronaldo influence: "The ideal place for Ronaldo is Real Madrid". He also said that all decisions are made for the benefit of the team: "The match day squads and line-ups are made based on players’ performances on the field and always for the team to win".

The Real Madrid coach, who was very pleased with the win, was asked about the condition of Mesut Ozil, who was forced off the field a few minutes before the end with an injury to his right ankle: "He has a problem with his ankle and hopefully he will recover. We will have to wait to see how it is over the next few days". About Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance, Karanka once again piled praise onto the Portuguese and said: "The coach has already answered questions about Ronaldo. The kind of player he is and the club where he is, Real Madrid, are good for each other. He will keep getting better. Here is the ideal place and for Real Madrid it is great to have him". He also referred to Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration after the goal: "When he scores a goal he always looks towards the bench. I was not surprised. If you'd named another player, I still wouldn’t have been suprised, but he always looks towards the bench".

Karanka doesn’t want to speak about his future and wants to focus on the final stretch of the season: "I will think about it when the day comes that I have to. If the coach stays here, I will continue with him and if he goes elsewhere, we’ll have to see. In the future I would like to coach on my own but right now these aren’t things that I am planning. If you were paying attention to those things you wouldn’t be able to live your life. Now I have to enjoy what I am doing and work hard. We have matches left, like the cup final and then I'll see what's best for me".

He also reaffirmed the coaching staff’s confidence in Gonzalo Higuain: "This is what football is about. A year ago we came here after winning the League in Bilbao and the crowd sang "Pipa, stay!". The coaching staff know the performances that Higuain has had and we have to keep our confidence in him continuing to score goals. He knows the confidence we have in him".

About Pepe not being picked, the Real Madrid assistant coach said: "The matches and performances that Varane is having are being seen by everyone. Before you were all out for Pepe saying that he was not a Real Madrid player and now you are all defending him. I know the type of player that Pepe is and I still think the same of him". He also explained that "match day squads and line-ups are made based on players’ performances on the field and always for the team to win".

When asked if Mourinho had given the halftime team-talk, Karanka said: "Yes, it was Mourinho as always. The same person that won the league title last year, the record breaking one". Finally, he didn’t want to talk about the whistles coming from part of the stadium when the coach’s name was announced before the match: "We're not on the field. The thing about the whistles is the same as always. The crowd do what they want and the coach and the coaching staff do what they believe will get the best out of players and win matches".