Defender Fabio Coentrao says he is happier on loan at Monaco and that the media were unfair to him when he played for Real Madrid.
He told Marca of his feelings toward the Madrid press, saying, "Honestly? Yes, I think they were [unfair]. I feel as though they never gave me the benefit of the doubt.
"If I had a bad game, they attacked me immediately. If I played well, they gave it very little recognition. Even today, I still ask myself why I was the media's 'ugly duckling.'"
The Portuguese is currently a first-choice player for both his club and country and said he feels less pressure at Monaco.
"There's always pressure, but pressure to win. It's the same at any team, although it feels greater at some clubs because of their fans and expectations," the left-back said.
"Looking at the squad, many people think you'd have had a place in the team because they need cover for Marcelo at left-back."
Coentrao wouldn't speculate on what his role might be had he stayed at the Bernabeu.
"That doesn't really matter now and it's absolutely impossible to say what would have happened," he said. "The option was to move to Monaco and play more, which was exactly what I needed, and it is here that I want to play and win things."
Coentrao saw action on Thursday as Portugal saw off Denmark 1-0 in Braga to qualify for the European Championship as Group I winners.
The 27-year-old, who moved to Madrid from Benfica in 2011, said he misses the company of fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Of course I do," he said. "He's been a special person and a great friend to me over the past four years. That said, in the end, my best option was to move on."