Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde dismissed rumours he had refused to return to a right-back role and insisted he will play wherever he’s asked by coach Xabi Alonso.
Valverde may be deployed in a defensive position for the next month with both Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined due to injury, although Raul Asencio is another option.
It was a position he played in several games last season and the Uruguay international insists he’d have no qualms about doing so again against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League tomorrow night as Madrid look to bounce back from the dismal 5-2 thrashing by city rivals Atletico at the weekend.
He said: “I wasn’t born to play as a full-back, I didn’t grow up playing there. It was a moment of emergency [last season]. Being able to do it well filled me with pride. But I always had doubts as to whether those games could be a little lucky, spontaneous nights.
“[But] I’m always available. I will learn the position if necessary. I have done well as a full-back and I am available for whatever the coach needs.”
There have been suggestions Valverde had refused to drop back into defence, but he says that is nonsense, adding: “Ask the coach, I have always said that I am at the disposal of the team. I have never refused to play in any position, I always give my best anywhere with [Carlo] Ancelotti, with [Zinedine] Zidane and with Xabi.
“I always gave my opinion but I never refused, it’s rare for something like that to come out. It’s a privilege to play for Madrid. You can ask my colleagues or the coach. I’m always for the team and I’m going to die for Real Madrid.”
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Valverde admits he’s not playing well for Real Madrid
Valverde, who is likely to wear the captain’s armband in Kazakhstan with Carvajal missing, admits he is not playing well at the minute but is determined to regain top form.
“I’m a little frustrated,” he said. “I’m aware of how I’m playing, I’m the first to know when things don’t work out. The player knows first if he plays a bad game.
“It’s true that I had started well in the new project [under Alonso], in the Club World Cup, I think I played well there.
“I’ll keep working. As captain, I will continue to lead the group and show my face. I’m going to keep sticking my chest out and moving forward.”
Madrid need to answer critics after Atleti hammering
Madrid led 2-1 at the Metropolitano on Saturday but fell apart in the second half with Julian Alvarez’s double helping Atletico to a famous win.
Madrid’s attitude was questioned afterwards and Valverde admitted it had been a disappointing afternoon for his side.
“These are games that you don’t even need to shout in the dressing room to get motivated,” he said. “These are things that cannot happen, neither in Madrid nor elsewhere. You have to motivate yourself with any game, even more so in a derby.
“We can fail in many things, but attitude is not negotiable. It is the first thing to show that we want to win. In the first minutes of the second half we looked as if the draw suited us. We have to change that, from now. We must use this game as an opportunity to grow.”
