MADRID: Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said on Thursday that winning La Liga will be difficult but not impossible after the club slipped 16 points behind leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona.

“La Liga has become very difficult but not impossible, we have to carry on with enthusiasm, achieving victories,” he told a news conference after a training session.

“Madrid is obliged as a whole to carry on fighting for every title,” said Ramos, who is suspended from Sunday's clash with Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu after picking up too many cards.

“All the players, from the first to the last, we are on the right track, our attitude has always been good,” said Ramos, who put down recent losses to weaker-than-usual finishing and a “bad streak”.

“I don't think it is a problem with anxiousness. I think in football you get bad streaks, perhaps in some games things have not turned out the way we wanted and especially in front of the goal we have not had the same efficiency we had last year,” Ramos said.

Ramos was referring to Real's 2-2 draw against Espanyol on December 16, after which coach Jose Mourinho said he believed the Liga title was “now impossible”, and a 3-2 loss away to Malaga on December 23 when Mourinho unexpectedly benched captain and keeper Iker Casillas.

Ramos, who reportedly had some tense moments with Mourinho early in the season, played down the omission of Casillas, as have Cristiano Ronaldo and Casillas himself.

“We go through good times, bad times, and above all the coach's decision rules. Where there is a boss, the sailors don't give the commands.”

The Spain midfielder insisted there was no lack of motivation in the club and said he was still playing with the same enthusiasm as when he arrived at Real. “The day I don't have it I will retire,” he said.