MADRID, March 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid full back Roberto Carlos has defended himself and his team mates against criticism about their attitude from out-going president Florentino Perez and his successor Fernando Martin.
'I've been at this club 10 years and they have treated me
very well but I haven't been spoiled,' the 32-year-old Brazilian
international told Antena 3 television on Friday.
Perez said his decision to resign was because some of the
club's big name players, the 'Galacticos', had become spoiled.
Martin has criticised a lack of team spirit and commitment among
some members of the squad.
Martin cracked the whip at his first news conference as
president on Thursday, saying he was setting up an independent
commission to assess the attitude of all squad members. He made
it clear that anyone who did not come up to scratch would be
discarded.
But Roberto Carlos said the new president, who has been
given the backing of the rest of the board, was taking the wrong
approach.
'For the players it would be better if the president did not
speak so strongly,' he said. 'We play in the best club in the
world, we are players who have a high-profile image and we make
a lot of money for the club. I think I deserve what I earn.
'If they (the commission) want to follow me they will get
very tired. I lead a normal life, I'm young and intelligent and
am keen to have a good image. But we have to have our freedom
because we are human beings.'
The main target of criticism from fans and Spanish media has
been Roberto Carlos's Brazilian team mate Ronaldo.
The striker has come under fire for failing to live up to
expectations this season and he has responded by hinting that he
might leave the club.
Ronaldo was left out of the squad for Saturday's city derby
against Atletico Madrid for 'technical reasons', but it was not
clear if this was to spare him the ire of the home crowd, to
rest him before Wednesday's decisive Champions League match
against Arsenal, or as a punishment.
