Asensio: I can’t carry Madrid on my shoulders

Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio has somewhat surprisingly told reporters that ‘it is not up to me to carry this team’.

The 22-year-old has netted just once in 12 La Liga appearances to date this season and has attempted to shake off suggestions over him not stepping up to the mantle following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure this summer.

“In my opinion Real Madrid are not in crisis and I do not believe it is up to me to carry the team,” Asensio told an interview with Vamos, in quotes cited by Diario AS.

“There are players with a lot more experience than me, who have played here for many more years and have a higher status in the dressing room.

“I am now getting fewer minutes in the first team and the new Coach began with more minutes for me and now less.

“It is always the same in football, you are either the best or worst depending on whether the situation is going well or badly.

“I do not pay too much attention to criticism and reports because it is not good to focus on that sort of thing.

“Julen Lopetegui? It was unfair for him, I am not sure if you can call it a lack of luck or not but things just did not work out, it was a shame.

“He managed a very difficult situation with both the club and the national team, but I hope he has a lot of success in the rest of his career.”