Di Maria confident reserves can step up

Real Madrid take on Sevilla on Sunday with a mounting injury list, but Angel di Maria has confidence in the squad players ready to step in.

Real have lost Sergio Canales, Sami Khedira, Gonzalo Higuain and reserve goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek in the space of a month, while suspended defender Sergio Ramos had also picked up a knee problem.

Combined with long-term absentees Kaka and Fernando Gago, Real coach Jose Mourinho will be forced to call upon a number of fringe players in the coming weeks, but Argentine international di Maria is backing the reserves to shine.

“We know that there are lots of injuries, but I think that the players who are there to come in are almost as good as the starters,” Di Maria said.

“They are in the same shape, with desire to play. They show that every time they have an opportunity. I don’t think that the manager is having a hard time picking a team.”

Di Maria has been shunted around the midfield and forward line during the injury crisis, but the 22-year-old insists he is happy anyway in the starting 11.

“I felt very comfortable in the game that we had against Valencia,” he said.

“It’s the same as playing in the middle. I don’t get involved in the subject, as it’s the manager’s decision. It’s a Real Madrid technical decision and the players are paid to play.”

Di Maria has arguably been the most impressive of Real’s close season signings, and has become a virtual ever-present since arriving from Benfica in June.

“I think that when I arrived I hadn’t thought that I would be a starter now,” di Maria said.

“I thought that it would be harder to come to Real Madrid with great players ahead of me, but things have gone well and I’ve been able to show the manager that I deserve to be a starter.”

“It felt easy, and I hope that it continues to be so.”