Pires on Raúl-Aragonés relation

Former France international Robert Pires has some soothing words for his Spanish counter-part Raul. Speaking to the Spanish sports daily AS, the Villarreal star said that the relationship between Raul and Spain coach Luis Aragones is somewhat akin to that fostered between him and France coach Raymond Domenech.

Pires, who has have had an exceptional season with Villarreal in La Liga leading them to second in the table, said that he perfectly understands and sympathises with the Real Madrid captain Raul.

Pires and Raul both have beenleft out by their respective coaches out of the Euro 2008 finals. Pires' problem with Domenech is well known and Raul has been consistently ignored by Aragones even though the King of Spain has rediscovered his old touch this season.

Robert Pires told AS:

"I'm not disappointed that I don't get to go to Euro 2008 because I knew it would happen. Everyone knows that I have a problem with the manager, a bit like Raúl and Aragonés.

Still, that's life."

The entire Madrid press including Marca and AS have been waging a war on behalf of Raul for Aragones to include him in the Spain squad that travels to Austria and Switzerland in the summer but the Wise Old Man of Spanish football has been strong enough to discard such media pressure.