While on pre-season duty in North America, Marcelo has called for focus from his Real Madrid teammates ahead of the new season – insisting memories of past success should be forgotten.
As Zinedine Zidane heads into his first full season in charge of the first team, Los Blancos are again expecting a big year, with a challenge for the La Liga title against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forthcoming.
Despite a rocky start to the last campaign – which saw Rafa Benitez sacked and replaced by Zidane in January – Los Blancos ended the season as European champions, beating Atleti in the final in Milan. But the Brazilian full-back says they must look ahead, if they want to achieve more in the next year.
Marcelo said: “We must look forward, thinking back to the final last year is pointless. We are heading towards the Super Cup, working to improve.
“But we must forget the Champions League, even if it is an amazing memory.”
As one of the squad’s most experienced players, Marcelo is entering his tenth campaign in the Spanish capital. He also revealed that he hopes to carry on for a long time, despite being asked about the possibility of playing at a club in Major League Soccer.
Marcelo added: “I have defended this shirt to the death every season. The MLS is a growing league, it is impressive, but I hope to stay at Madrid for many years to come.”
Marcelo has played 389 games for Los Blancos in his nine seasons in the Spanish capital so far, topping Cristiano Ronaldo (348), Pepe (316), and another club legend Uli Stielike (308). In fact, Marcelo has played more games for the club than any other foreign player bar one: his Brazilian compatriot Roberto Carlos, who ended his glittering career on a whopping 527 appearances in the famous white shirt.
Real Madrid not serious about signing quality players looking at how Gomez slipped from their hands. Real need a ball winner of top quality