Marcelo may give off the impression of being laid back but he has revealed how driven he is to constantly improve himself at Real Madrid.
The Brazilian explained that he looks after himself well so that he can continue his football career as long as possible.
“It is the same if you have a very good season, you always need to improve, this is my challenge, win more balls, cross more, defend more, cover more space, score…always improve,” said Marcelo.
“What we have won is fine but it has happened, history doesn’t enter onto the pitch we have to play ourselves.
“I continue to do my work as I have said, all season I show what I am, I enjoy playing here and the dressing room. I give my all on the pitch and I do what I can to please the fans. Everyone gets older but you have to look after yourself and to get to 40 is very difficult.
“I want to play for many years at Real Madrid and I will look after myself than I did when I was 18. I am calm, I want to keep playing and I am not so old.
“I watch all my games again to see my mistakes and not repeat them.”
Marcelo also revealed how he is not affected by negative opinions.
“Criticism doesn’t go into my head, when you do something well then people put you up high and for me nothing enters into my head,” he continued.
“When I am playing badly I know that I have to improve and when I do well I also have to.
“Each season when it starts I want to win something. This desire is my motivation to give my best. I am very happy at Real Madrid, it is my home and I am playing for the best club in the world.”
He described how it has not been an easy path for him to the top.
“I am not thinking of the future, I arrived here as a promising player and then I was a doubt,” he stated.
“I had to battle and it has all worked out fantastically. Thanks to Madrid I am a footballer, the club has given me everything and continues to do so. In my life nothing has been easy, my granddad used to take me along as my parents worked. They always gave everything so that I could be a footballer. I don’t know what would have happened without my grandpa Pedro and if I would have been a footballer.
“Here represenats a lot, during holidays you see how people look at you as a Madrid player and it is incredible. (Cibeles) and see all the fans celebrating with you, it is something special, I am grateful to Sergio (Ramos) because he always calls me to climb up and it is an honour to share these moments with him.”
In particular he has special memories of Madrid winning the tenth European crown.
“It gives me goose pimples to think about it,” he said.
“I started the game on the bench and I was angry. You have to have this feeling if you cannot help, me and Isco went on and we gave our all. Goals come as a result of hard work but what is most important is what you feel at that moment.
“I don’t know what it is like for the strikers but for me it is great feeling and very difficult, to score for Madrid in a final. You can’t buy it.”
