Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos denied reports he gave teammates Isco and Alvaro Morata a telling off during a team meeting this week, while also refuting that he said Cristiano Ronaldo was not required to work hard off the ball.
Madrid's squad reportedly had a clear-the-air talk before training on Friday morning, following a rough week in which the team had lost 2-1 at Valencia and drawn 3-3 at home to Las Palmas, allowing Barcelona to overtake them at the top of the table in La Liga.
Spanish TV show "Jugones" claimed that Ramos had told the entire squad that Ronaldo's usual contribution of around 60 goals a season meant he did not have to press opposition defenders as much, while Isco and Morata were told not to let doubts over their futures affect their focus at this vital stage of the season.
Speaking after Madrid's 4-1 La Liga win at Eibar on Saturday afternoon eased some of the pressure around the Bernabeu, the Spain defender said in the Ipurua mixed zone that a meeting had taken place but the details reported were entirely wrong.
"It is totally false, this report," Ramos said. "I want people to tell the truth. We had a meeting after what happened against Las Palmas.
"This happens in the best families -- when there are problems, we take the bull by horns, and face up to what is happening. But these things stay in the dressing room. We talked as we have often talked.
"I never said that Cris did not have to run. At this club we all must run, from the first to the last. We are all the same. That is the key to everything, competition within the group. Everyone has to run and press, that is what brings you trophies."
¡EXCLUSIVA #JUGONES! Los PESOS PESADOS del Real Madrid TOMAN LA PALABRA en la CUMBRE del VESTUARIO. pic.twitter.com/mj1s5U0Vf4
- El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) March 3, 2017
Asked whether he could reveal what had been talked about in the meeting, Ramos declined to give details but said the claims that Isco and Morata had been told off were false.
"I am not going to tell you what I said, but we are annoyed [at the reports]," he said. "[Luka] Modric usually talks and the other day he didn't. But instead people said there was a [verbal] clip around the ear for Isco and Morata. I understand that papers need to be sold, but credibility should come before everything."
Ramos said that the win at Eibar, achieved without the rested Ronaldo and suspended pair Gareth Bale and Morata, had been important to remain up with title challengers Barca and Sevilla.
"It was a very important victory, a tough away game, after some difficult days following all the criticism saying that Barca were leaders and we needed to win here today," he said.
"The team started very clear in their ideas, went for the game, pressed in their half, and won the second balls which were fundamental. We are very happy with very good work done, picking up points to battle with our challengers."