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Schuster urges Drenthe patience

Wed 09 Jan, 12:15 PM


Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has told Royston Drenthe he will need to show patience in his quest to earn a first-team spot at the Bernabeu.Drenthe joined Real from Feyenoord last summer for a reported 14million euros fee but he has made just four starts so far for the Primera Liga champions, with his last appearance for the team coming back in November.

The 20-year-old Dutchman is not the only player who cannot break into the starting XI though, and Schuster insists the left-sided wing-back will need to bide his time for a chance to impress.

"Drenthe is very young and was the best player at the Under-21 European Championships, but he is the replacement for (Arjen) Robben, who is the replacement for Robinho," said Schuster.

"He must have patience and he will have that because the Dutch school is like that, people who enjoy football without despairing."

It is a similar story for Javier Saviola, who has also found opportunities few and far between following his summer switch from Barcelona.

The problem for the Argentina international is that Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul have formed what Schuster believes is the leading strike partnership on the continent.

"What has happened with Saviola is that ahead of him he has Raul and Ruud, who are the best strike pairing in Europe," said Schuster. "The lad's behaviour has been exemplary and he accepts his role in the changing room."

Schuster has enjoyed a fine start to life since replacing Fabio Capello in the Bernabeu hotseat last summer, with Real currently seven points clear at the top of La Liga and also going well in Europe and the Copa del Rey.

Still the club are being linked to a host of leading players though, such as Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Diego, but Schuster has suggested there will be no big-name arrivals in the near future.

"You already know that I like these players, but it is not the moment. The club will move for signings when it is necessary. I am not worried," said Schuster in AS.

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