Real Madrid club captain Sergio Ramos and vice-captain Marcelo have backed Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema amid concerns over the pair having scored just one La Liga goal each so far this season.
Madrid eased to a comfortable 3-0 win against Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening, but both Ronaldo and Benzema missed a number of chances and neither have yet netted at home in the league this season.
Ronaldo is this season's Champions League top scorer with six in four games, but he has scored from just one of 48 shots taken in La Liga. Amid clear frustration with his own performance on Sunday, he did not join in the celebrations when Isco netted Madrid's third, even though he had provided the assist.
Benzema was again whistled by the Bernabeu crowd after he missed a one-on-one with Las Palmas keeper Raul Lizoain after four minutes, and then when he was substituted midway through the second half.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said afterwards that Ronaldo is always happier when he scores, and Ramos added that the 32-year-old gets "annoyed" at not finding the net himself but always comes good in the end.
"The goals will come for Cristiano and Benzema," Ramos told reporters. "Cristiano goes home annoyed when he doesn't score. Over the season he will make the difference."
Marcelo, who was criticised by fans and pundits following Madrid's recent defeats to Girona and Tottenham, told reporters on Sunday that personal frustration would not be as important as collective success for Ronaldo and Benzema.
"They worked hard for the team, I thought they played well," Marcelo said. "You ask this as they did not score. It is normal. For sure they are upset as they have not helped with goals, but they are happy for the victory."
Marcelo did, however, accept that whistles from the demanding Bernabeu crowd suggested Benzema could better his performances.
"I am not going to talk about injustice as everybody has been whistled here," he said. "If they whistle you, then there is something you must improve. It is difficult when they whistle you, but you must train as Benzema does, stand up as he does. Whistles are part of football. If everything was wonderful it would not be so special."
Marco Asensio was again on the score sheet for Madrid, hammering home another long-range effort, and is now the club's joint top scorer in La Liga this term on four along with Isco.
"We are all rowing in the same direction," Asensio told beIN SPORTS. "It should not matter who scores the goals. Today was another good one [for me], I caught it well. The two in the [Spanish] Supercopa were nice also. We know the boss trusts all of us, and you cannot start every game. I have to keep working to get more regular games. With games like today things will improve."