Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has hit out at critics of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, and hinted that there is an agenda against the club's star players.
Cristiano Ronaldo, like Madrid, was on fire before Christmas but has scored only twice in his last six La Liga appearances. He did net twice in the shock 4-3 Champions League defeat to Schalke at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, but there is no doubting his form has dipped since he won the Ballon d'Or two months ago.
World-record signing Gareth Bale, meanwhile, now looks completely bereft of confidence and a shadow of the player signed from Tottenham in the summer of 2013. He is now firmly the target of the fans' ire, and that has seen the forward further retract into his shell.
Perez told a news conference on Thursday: "I am not getting into questioning Cristiano Ronaldo. There are people who do not love us in the media. I will not repeat his CV, he just picked up his third Ballon d'Or.
"Everyone has had a drop [in form], due to circumstances, he is working to recover, as always does, and to win the Ballon d'Or again."
Ronaldo was heavily criticised after partying into the small hours after Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Atletico Madrid last month, celebrating his 30th birthday, but Perez dismissed the notion his actions had caused problems.
"If player like Ronaldo invites friends to his 30th birthday, that's his business," he added. "I've not talked to him about it."
Perez believes that media attacks are behind Bale's current problems.
"I signed, we signed, Gareth Bale after a big drama," he explained. "It was first said he had hernia injury, then that he was not a proper footballer, then that the system had to be changed.
"That has been what has damaged him, trying to change the coach's wishes. Gareth Bale is one of best players in the world. The most important teams fight and continue to fight for his services.
"We should not forget that in his first year at Real Madrid, what he was capable to do in the two finals we played -- [score in] the Champions League and Copa del Rey."
Perez also defended goalkeeper Iker Casillas after he came in for criticism after being culpable for some of the goals in the loss to Schalke.
"The keeper of Real Madrid is a symbol of this club, with his CV and history," he added. "If he makes a mistake one day, he needs support and affection of all socios and fans.
"We have enough bad intentions coming from outside, we must be together inside."