Michel Salgado believes that even though he has a contract for life with Real Madrid, he still has to prove that he is worth a place in the squad on a daily basis.
The veteran defender enjoys the comfort of having a long-term deal with Los Merengues but thinks that it would count for nothing if he took his foot off the pedal in training.
As he still enjoys the challenge of proving himself to the club, Salgado has not plans to retire just yet and does not know when he will eventually hang up his boots.
"I think that thing about life contracts is very good for the club. I am delighted that some of my teammates have that calmness, but I think that even so all the players that are here have to prove that they have the right to be here on a daily basis," he explained.
"Being here means that you have to be at your limit every day. You have to work hard every day because only the best are here and the only thing I am concerned about is tomorrow," he continued.
"That is when the next training session is and I want to show the coach that he can count on me and if not that then for him to know I can help the team in other ways."
Looking ahead to the day that he eventually retires, Salgado admits that he knows that he will stop playing when he no longer enjoys the game.
"I have a lifelong deal, until I am 34 or 35 . I do not have a date when I will retire, but the day that I do not have the urge or the desire then that is when I will leave," he continued.
"My aim is to go in the same manner as I came, with humility. But also, above all, with the respect of the Madrid fans.
"I have two years left at the moment. Now, the truth is that I have a life contract with the club. But I do not know if I will comply with that or whether the club will want me too. Things change every day."
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Post time 21-3-2008 12:35 PM
