Real Madrid 'more of a team' without Ronaldo, says Dani Alves

Brazillian footballer Dani Alves said that contrary to popular opinion, Real Madrid are "more of a team" without Cristiano Ronaldo.

The comment came ahead of the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid would be eying their fourth consecutive European title.

"It's not going to be so easy against Madrid. I think that, contrary to what everybody else says, Madrid are more of a team without Cristiano, and now it's a little more difficult than it was before - at least because of how I see football and my concept of this game. Though it's obvious that him leaving is a brutal loss, Madrid are Madrid," Marca.com quoted Alves, as saying.

The Paris Saint-Germain defender further suggested that for his side to win the Champions League, they just need to try different things.

"To achieve the goal that this club wants is not so complicated. But you need different things, to do different things, a different spirit, have a different mentality. This year I have a good feeling, things are improving here and they are doing well, there are things that are changing and people are understanding a bit of what this game is about," he added.

In July, Ronaldo had left Spanish club Real Madrid to join Juventus in a deal that cost over 100 million Euros.