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Guti defends shattered Madrid

Guti has blamed tiredness for Real Madrid CF's failure to win a trophy this season.

By Claire Nash

Midfield player Guti insists that a shortage of first-team players lies at the root of  Real Madrid CF's failure to win a trophy this season.

Too tired
Defeated in the final of the Copa del Rey by Real Zaragoza before bowing out of the UEFA Champions League to AS Monaco FC, Madrid lost their Spanish title to Valencia CF two weekends ago as their league form took a perilous turn for the worse. Now 27-year-old Guti has gone public, claiming that Madrid's first team were too exhausted to battle for honours.

Stretched resources
"We are going through a difficult time both mentally and physically," he told uefa.com last week, before voicing his concern at coach Carlos Queiroz's overuse of his best XI. "We're very tired and it is because we don't have enough players in the team. We needed to have more players and rotate the squad more if we wanted to play well in three competitions."

Terrible results
A 3-2 defeat at home against RCD Mallorca looked to have set a new low in Madrid's Primera División performances before a disastrous 2-1 defeat at relegated Real Murcia CF this weekend in which David Beckham was dismissed. The defeat saw Madrid's arch-rivals FC Barcelona climb above them into second place in the table.

Humiliating failure
Missing out on second place, and especially finishing behind Barça, would be a humiliating failure for Madrid according to Guti. "We can't allow ourselves to lose and finish the competition behind Barcelona," he said. "It would be very bad and the supporters would be very angry with us. We want to be in second place to go directly to the Champions League."

Slim chance
Madrid may have to take a place in the third qualifying round of the tournament to earn a place in the Champions League group stages. They will have to win at home against Real Sociedad de Fútbol in their final game and hope Barça slip up at Zaragoza in order to steal back second place in the table - an unlikely scenario given Frank Rijkaard's side's current form.

Departure rumours
Madrid's dwindling form has sparked rumours about the imminent departure of Beckham, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo. However, Guti is not anticipating any of Madrid's 'Galacticos' leaving. "I don't think they will leave," he said. "Madrid are the best team in the world and they know that. But, if they leave for another club, I will wish them luck."
 
Beckham's role
Some say that Beckham's departure would be a godsend for Guti, as it would free up an extra slot in the first team, but the player disagreed. "I don't think David Beckham coming here has made it more difficult for me," he said. "We all have a chance to shine. David and I played together in many games and everybody could see we did well and that we complement each other."

Morientes magic
One player who Guti would love to see get the chance to shine is Fernando Morientes, the Champions League's top scorer with eleven goals for Monaco. Guti is hoping that his fellow Spanish international will be back in the Madrid squad next season after his phenomenal loan spell in France.

Uncertain future
"I'm happy for Morientes because he had only limited opportunities with Real Madrid last year and now he has proved he's one of the best strikers in Europe with Monaco," said Guti. "He has to come back but I don't know what the club will decide." For the sake of Madrid's 2004/05 season, it would seem crazy to let him go.