Daniel Carvajal says Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez can rely on him to fill in for injured defender Danilo.
Carvajal had made the right-back slot his own in the second half of last season before Los Blancos splashed out 32 million euros to bring in the Brazilian from Porto in the summer.
But Danilo picked up an injury on international duty last week and will be out for around a month, meaning Carvajal will get an extended run in the side.
That run starts with the Champions League game against Shakhtar Donesk at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, ahead of which the defender spoke to reporters at a press conference.
He told journalists he is ready to earn his place in the team, and added the players are happy with the defensive solidity they have shown so far this campaign.
Carvajal stated: “I enter due to an injury to a teammate unfortunately. I wish Danilo a speedy recovery. The manager knows he can rely on all his players. We enter this game against Shakhtar with desire to improve more. The UCL is the most important competition. We’re defensively more united now. The training is not that different than before.”
He was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-goal haul at the weekend and whether it was possible that he managed it because it was against a weak team.
And he responded: “It is not easy to score five in a game. Easy rivals? This is the best League in the world. CR7 is also the best in the world. Cristiano showed why he is the best in the world.”
” Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the WORLD”