It´s not all about Barca: Granero

Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero believes his side should not focus solely on its upcoming fixtures with bitter rivals Barcelona.

Real will meet the Catalans in La Liga on April 17 before facing Pep Guardiola’s side again just three days later in the Copa Del Rey final.

However, Granero has stressed the importance of concentrating on one game at a time, with several important fixtures, including their Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham, ahead in the preceding weeks.

“The circumstances of the calendar has made us face them twice already. We have the obligation to beat them twice now. The two meetings will be key to two important titles for us,” Grenero said.

“However it isn’t yet time to talk about Barcelona, because the games are still a while away, and there are other games beforehand which are almost as important.”

“We have to play to win, like always, and it could be an important time for us to turn the situation around.”

“We aren’t thinking about four games, because we have a Champions League tie beforehand and so do they. We are just thinking about the two immediate games.”

Grenero, who has been a peripheral figure from the bench under Real boss Jose Mourinho this season, claimed he was content his role in the team. “The manager decides. I bring my game, I work hard and I am ready to play to the Real Madrid standard when called upon. I don’t have to ask anything,” he said.

“I just have to work and remain ready at the club. It is they who pay me, and they picked me eight years ago. The manager chooses the team, and normally he chooses well. So I have no complaints.”

And he is adamant Jose Mourinho will not be headed for a return to the Premier League at the end of the season despite the Portuguese’s publicly-stated desire to one day return to England as a club manager.

“I am convinced that he will be here next year, and for many years after that, because he will have a lot of success,” Granero said.

“We will go out to win in any case. We have to fight to have the best conditions, as does our manager.”