Sergio Ramos says anyone who knows anything about football knows that Real Madrid are not just a counter-attacking team, in an apparent riposte to comments made by Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez after Madrid won 3-1 in last Saturday's La Liga clasico.
Madrid were easy winners in the game, and dominated Barca especially during the second half, however their goals did come from a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, Pepe header from a corner and Karim Benzema goal on the break.
Speaking after the game, Xavi told Sport that Madrid "live on the counter-attack," seemingly saying that Madrid were not capable of playing as good a style of football as Barca.
Asked about Xavi's views by reporters at Monday's La Liga 2013-14 awards ceremony, Ramos told Marca that he respected all opinions, but it was "obvious" that Madrid had played "marvellous football" in the game.
"There will be 20,000 opinions about football, you must know how to respect that," Ramos said. "But anyone who knows a little about this profession will know that Real Madrid played with identity, kept the ball well with a high percentage of possession and played marvellous football. You must be realistic about obvious things."
Ramos, who was picking up the official "Defender of the Season" award, went on to suggest that Madrid's players were enjoying clasicos more now than when they took a more reactive approach during Jose Mourinho's time in charge at the Bernabeu.
"To talk about changing of a cycle is a bit much," he said. "These are just three points. But if you are picking up points, closing the gap and winning with this style of play, obviously you enjoy it more."
Madrid dominated the evening's ceremony, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking three awards, and other gongs going to Keylor Navas [Goalkeeper of the Year] and Luka Modric [Best Midfielder.] Andres Iniesta was the only player at Barca last season to be recognised [as Best Attacking Midfielder], although current Blaugrana midfielders Rafinha [then on loan at Celta Vigo, landed the Segunda Player of the Year] and Ivan Rakitic [then at Sevilla, who won a Fair Play award] did win prizes.
Iniesta and Rakitic did not attend the ceremony, while Rafinha told Mundo Deportivo that Saturday's result had not hit his teammates too hard, and he was sure they would bounce back soon.
"The dressing-room is not down," he said. "We do not worry about what is said in Madrid. This team is full of stars and good players, so we are totally relaxed."