Real Madrid legend Raul compares himself to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez has heaped praise on the two best players in the world, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Raul himself has won three Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles but the Spaniard admitted that he would find himself on the bench if he was competing for a starting spot with Ronaldo and Messi.

"They are simply the greatest," the 38-year-old former Spain international, who retired in November, told the Daily Mail.

"I will have to make do with a place on the substitute's bench."

Raul has made a record 741 appearances for Los Blancos and he knows better than anyone the pressures of being a player or a manager at a club like Real Madrid.

"Look, every club needs stability. I know what you are getting at. It's important - I think you need continuity and people need time to achieve their objectives.

"The demands at Real Madrid are huge. The expectations are enormous. Sometimes, it is good. When you're winning, it's an amazing place and the fans are happy.

"But come on, eh? This is Real Madrid. You have to win titles every year. And if you don't? It's complicated.

"Never mind a year, if you don't win one game, it can become a complicated week. Yes, that’s life at Real Madrid."

Zidane says Clasico is not about revenge for 4-0 thrashing

Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona at the Bernabeu in November, however, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane believes that the Madrid players won't have revenge on their minds when they take on Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Real Madrid were in good form before the international break winning their last five matches but Zidane accepted that facing this Barcelona side will be a new challenge altogether.

"The players know perfectly well what happened [in the previous Clasico]," the Frenchman told his pre-match news conference. "Revenge? No, it's just a game we want to win.

"We're on a good run, playing well lately. We keep doing our work. I want to see my team playing as they have been doing lately.

"I will sleep the same as always tonight. I will enjoy tomorrow – my first Barca-Madrid match as a coach. I want to enjoy it.

"It's a football game. We must remember that and enjoy it – a chance to play against good players and test yourself against Barcelona.

"It is not easy to beat Real Madrid. I want to see a good game of football and my team winning.

"On paper, maybe it's a different game. But we will not change anything. We will prepare well and start the game strongly.”