Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed that his team's critics are 'envious' of the Spanish giants.

Los Blancos are already eight points off the pace being set by Barcelona in La Liga this season, while they lost 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur in their last Champions League group match.

The Spanish champions have received criticism from a number of quarters this season, but Perez has insisted that Madrid "are doing well", and is refusing to pay too much attention to their doubters.

"Madrid are doing well and that's it. They're criticising us, like always... like always. In the film (recent documentary about Santiago Bernabeu), Bernabeu says 'they criticise us because they envy us.' But it's true, they're criticising us for that reason," Perez told reporters.

Real Madrid will travel to rivals Atletico Madrid in their first match after the international break.