Barca have appeared to have one hand on the title for the last few months, with a 10-match winning streak in La Liga helping them establish a 12-point cushion over second-placed Madrid just a few weeks ago.

However, that gap has now been reduced considerably in the last fortnight with Barca slipping up against Real Betis, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid while Los Blancos have powered on relentlessly, fashioning their own 10-match winning run in the league.

But despite the sudden changes in the title race Ramos, who only joined Madrid on December 9, insists the hard work of overtaking the leaders begins now.

"We've reduced the gap to four points and it seems like it's job done, but in reality it has only just begun," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

"Whoever thinks the chase is over is wrong. This will be a long road.

"Our pursuit of Barcelona is not over. There are a lot of games remaining and one day we could suffer a setback and they could gain ground.

"I'm the kind of person who thinks about the short term, game by game. That has done well for us so far."

While Madrid may remain in second place, the way in which Ramos has been able to haul the capital club back into the title race despite them looking dead and buried when he joined is being hailed as miraculous in the Madrid press.

The club were in fifth place when the former Tottenham boss arrived, and fell 12 points off the leaders soon after when Ramos lost his first game in charge - which was against Barcelona.

But Ramos, who has not lost in the league since, insists there is no secret to the turnaround in fortunes.

He said: "(We've done it) by respecting the culture of this club. The mentality in Madrid is to always go out to win, without worrying about injuries, suspensions, the rivals or the odds.

"Here the only thing that matters is winning and both the players and me have quickly got our heads around this idea."