Sergio Ramos has acknowledged that Real Madrid are enduring 'one of their worst years' after dropping yet more points away to Levante on Saturday evening.
Los Blancos drew 2-2 at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia, leaving them 19 points adrift of Barcelona - themselves held by Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday afternoon - with a game in hand to play.
Madrid skipper Ramos is aware of the gulf in quality between the two sides so far this season, but is hopeful that the club's search for a third successive Champions League crown keeps the players united until the end of the campaign.
"We will continue fighting to stay as high as possible. The Champions League and the rest of the season should serve to try to recompose the group," he told reporters after his side's latest disappointing result.
"It is not normal to be at this distance. Something we have done wrong, letting out many points in games that were controlled. It has been one of our worst years.
"The team works, nobody is hiding, everyone goes to the front and when there is a complicated situation you have to be protected, be united, and it is the only way to do something worthwhile in the Champions League."
Madrid have now failed to win nine of their 20 La Liga fixtures and were recently eliminated from the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage.
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