Pepe calls on Real to lift

Real Madrid defender Pepe has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates after they lost 1-0 to Sevilla on Saturday.

The Portugal international vowed to ‘fight until the end’, with the club now eight points behind arch-rivals Barcelona just four games into the new Liga season.

The 29-year-old rued the lack of defensive concentration which led to Piotr Trochowski’s second-minute strike, but insisted attention will now turn to the Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday.

“We will fight until the end, (it) is the motto of Real Madrid,” he told Canal+.

“Eight points is difficult, but the most important thing is to know that the group has worked hard. Trochowski’s goal made things difficult.

“We have to fight to the end, now we have to think of City. I think we were always in control. Again, we suffered from goal-kicks, which hampered our work later. We had a lot of ball possession, but they defended well and (conceded) no clear chances.”