Sergio Ramos pledges support for Real Madrid president Perez

It follows some controversy when Perez backed manager Rafael Benitez last month, describing him as "the solution, not the problem" despite the team languishing in third place in La Liga.

"If that's what the president says then he has his reasons," said Ramos after Madrid's10-2 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano.

"We're just the pawns here, he's the king. We all support the manager. He tries to bring his own ideas and we try to execute them, every player tries to do it in his own way.

"It doesn't always come off, but the least you have to do is give it your all and leave everything on the pitch."