Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard has defended his form on-loan with Vitesse Arnhem.

Odegaard has been criticised by local pundits this season, though he impressed and scored in the KNVB Cup win against Heracles Almelo on Wednesday.

"So far I've experienced a struggle at Vitesse," he told De Gelderlander. "But I also had a reason, I only joined the club late at the end of August, I stepped in without a rhythm, and in Real Madrid's preseason I hardly had any playing time, but Real's stamp is always there.

"If you are from Real, the expectation is enormous. Then goals are expected everywhere.

"I'm still a teenager, had I made my debut in the Norwegian competition, I would still have been a young talent, I've been known for a long time.

"I was sixteen years old when I went to Real. I have been labeled with this label. But I do not walk through everything. I still have to reach my best years. I need time."