It’s an honour to captain Real Madrid, says Ramos

I think the team has grown as the season has gone on. Things are harder at the start of the season but with time you get up to where you need to be not only physically but also emotionally. We’re here to fight until the end, we really want to win the LaLiga title this season. We’re on the right track, we just have to keep working and maintain our work ethic. From there we’ll see how the results pan out, but we have to give as much of ourselves as we can. We’ve worked hard to find the right balance, both in defence and attack. That’s what we’ve got to maintain.

Zidane is a fantastic coach. Not just because of the statistics and all the trophies we’ve won with him, but also because he was here for many years as a player. He knows the dressing room well. He’s privileged in that sense; he lived it as a player, and now he manages it as a coach. Not everyone can do it as naturally as he does, in my opinion. He gets on well with everyone in the squad, regardless of whether they’re playing regularly or not. He keeps everyone motivated. That’s one of Zizou’s greatest strengths.

For me, representing and captaining this club is a privilege. It makes me very, very proud.Being here so many years is a growing process. You grow with experience; with all the games you play over the years. Good and bad experiences. It’s an honour to wear the Real Madrid’s captain’s armband and to know that you’re an example to thousands of children, to your teammates.