I Never Thought About Leaving Real Madrid – James Rodriguez

James Rodriguez insists he has always felt supported by his team-mates and coach Zinedine Zidane after he marked his first LaLiga start of the season with the goal which set Real Madrid on their way to a club-record victory away to Espanyol on Sunday night. James Rodriguez insists he has always felt supported by his team-mates and coach Zinedine Zidane after he marked his first LaLiga start of the season with the goal which set Real Madrid on their way to a club-record victory away to Espanyol on Sunday night. The Colombian’s future at the Estadio Bernabeu was in doubt over the summer and he was strongly linked with a big-money move to Chelsea, but remained in the Spanish capital. He says he is determined to play a part in what has so far been a terrific campaign for Real, who top LaLiga by three points from Barcelona and recorded a 16th consecutive league win at Espanyol, beating the club’s previous best run set in 1960-61 and equalling the all-time best record of top-flight victories set by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010-11. “I never thought about leaving Real Madrid and have always strived to be here,” Rodriguez told the Spanish media after the 2-0 win. “I have felt great support from the team and the coach. I have a good relationship with the coach and it shows.” Rodriguez almost appeared to be over-compensating at times, trying too hard to make an impression, and was replaced by Isco after 62 minutes. But he made a telling contribution in first-half injury time, receiving a pass from Toni Kroos, withstanding challenges from Hernan Perez and Pape Diop before rifling a low left-foot shot into the left-hand corner of Diego Lopez’s goal. Zidane said he was happy with the Colombian’s performance and told Diario Sport: “We know his talent and he has done a great job.” The Frenchman was also pleased to have equalled Barcelona’s record run, adding: “It is an anecdote but it shows the work all of the boys, who are doing great.” Madrid were without the attacking talents of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, missing through illness and injury respectively, and it was the third prong of the ‘BBC’ strike force, Karim Benzema, who sealed the win after 70 minutes when his powerful close-range finish rounded off an excellent team move involving Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. Real looked uncomfortable in the early stages and Zidane said: “Today we had a tough opponent and in the first half we found it difficult. In the second period we won more of the duels, we looked more joined-up in our play and got the second goal.” Sergio Ramos was booked in the fourth minute after a heavy touch led to a late tackle on Leo Baptistao and the Spain defender walked a tightrope thereafter, avoiding further punishment for blocking a shot with his hand by pretending it had struck him in the face. Baptistao had Espanyol’s best chances but failed to beat Real goalkeeper Kiko Casilla after Pepe failed to clear Perez’s header into the box and then headed a Perez cross wide later on in the first period.