'Madrid can pull through this'

'United'
"The truth is, the dressing room and the coach are still united," Spanish international Reyes told uefa.com. "We still trust Capello. We're calm and we think we can pull through this with the coach. When things aren't working, there's nothing better than to have a united team. People are saying a lot of things, but the truth is we're all together on this and that's what counts."

Pressure
Five defeats in the last eight league matches have sent Madrid tumbling to fourth place, with criticism reaching a crescendo following last Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Levante UD. With neighbours Club Atlético de Madrid only two points adrift in fifth, Capello's side have a fight on their hands just to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Beckham back
Capello stamped his mark on the team during the winter break by releasing Ronaldo and turning his back on David Beckham. But Madrid have yet to gel following the arrival of Argentinian pair Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuaín, and the coach today took the unforeseen step of reinstating Beckham to the squad as he seeks a winning formula.

'Improve'
"Everyone knows David is an important player for us," Reyes said. "I understand him perfectly." The one-time Sevilla FC prodigy added: "We have to improve, not just myself but all the team in many aspects. We're not playing good football, not the kind everyone expects to see. But above all, the important thing is to win and get to the top of the table."

Bayern looming
Before Madrid can think of putting pressure on leaders FC Barcelona, they face FC Bayern München in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The German title-holders are also struggling on the domestic front, although confidence might be even lower among Madrid supporters. "That may be good, because it means there's no pressure on us," Reyes said. "When Madrid won their ninth European Cup [in 2002] people also thought they wouldn't do it, so it might help us. Bayern are going through bad times, but that doesn't count when it comes to Champions League games. It'll be an open match and a tough one."

Uncertain future
A pair of strong performances by Reyes against Bayern could go a long way to resolving the 23-year-old's future. His loan spell from Arsenal FC finishes at the end of the season and he admits he is not sure where he will be come the summer. "I'm not thinking about that. Every day I try to play better and I don't know what will happen after that." Reyes, though, thinks a return to London is unlikely. "I didn't feel comfortable over there. But at the moment I can't think about London or Arsenal, only about Spain and Madrid. When the league is over we'll see what happens."