Garay press conference
Ezequiel Garay was the second Madridista to take the hot seat at Valdebebas this week. The Argentine defender commented on his motivation heading into the new season and discussed the coaching change that the team underwent earlier this summer.
Garay: "I will do whatever I can to be among the top eleven"
Goals for pre-season:
I have to use the preseason to prove to the coach that I deserve to be in the starting eleven. I will do whatever I can to be among the top eleven.
Mourinho:
Mourinho is very demanding and we have to respond without questioning anything. We work a lot with the ball and both he and the players are very pleased with the way training sessions are going.
Players’ opinion of Mourinho:
We are convinced that Mourinho is the right man for the job. We will stand by him in both good times and bad. Whether we play or not, we must all stand together.
La Liga:
Every team will fight hard to win La Liga. We hope the upcoming season is good for both players and fans.
Garay press conference
Ezequiel Garay said Real Madrid can’t afford to fail any more if they are to win the league title.
"We know we have to win every game come what may"
Title chances:
I think the last five games will be complicated, but we have to take three points in each. We know we have to win them all come what may and wait for Barcelona to make a mistake so that we can take the title. We really want it. We have to win the five finals that remain.
Barcelona:
Barcelona dropped two important points. We can’t afford to fail. We have to be ready to overtake them if they fail again. We just have to focus on what we have to do.
Garay press conference
Ezequiel Garay has become a leading figure on Real Madrid’s defence. The player said the team wants a victory on Sunday to continue to stand strong in La Liga.
Villareal:
The league is very important to us. It will be complicated to defeat Villarreal. We want to take three points against them. A victory would be good to get over our Champions League defeat.
Title hopes:
We must focus on each game at a time. We naturally want to be leaders on the table. We want Barcelona to know we’re following right behind them if they drop points this weekend. We want them to know they may lose the top position.
Defensive stability:
The entire team is responsible for our solid defending. It is important for us not to concede any goals.
Drat! Benzema to miss Lyon trip
LOUSY. That is what I would call this day. Unequivocally lousy. Even if I ignore the fact that both M.Vijay and Badrinath failed to utilise the chance that they had to impress today, it was so bloody lousy. The only good part was the work out. Phew! Am I tired or not? Not. So for today’s post.
Karim Benzema will almost certainly miss out on a return to Lyon, after medical tests revealed he will be sidelined for at least a week. The France international has definitely been ruled out of this weekend’s La Liga action and is unlikely to recover in time for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash next Tuesday.
Remember what I was talking about yesterday? The fact that Granero might be pushed to the bench if Ronaldo and Higuain returned to full fitness? The answer to that question is that it isn’t Granero who will be dropped, rather it is Karim Benzema who is being dropped. The Frenchman had earlier revealed his concern that the return of Cristiano and Higuain could spoil a return to his old stomping ground next week. Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of next week’s round of 16 clash against his former club Lyon, he said:
It’s a shame. I always say that a player who does not want to play should be devoted, as a professional I always am and I’m ready to play against Lyon.
But he also said that he is perfectly fit and that his performances against Deportivo and Espanyol has really helped him a lot.
I ran very well in those games and that benefits me in my game and in my movement.
But it was then that the injury was identified. The official site released the medical report that read:
Following a physical and MRI at Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital on Tuesday, Karim Benzema was diagnosed with an inflammed left thigh muscle. He is expected to miss approximately seven days, but his return depends on the progress made over that time span.
It is a very smart way to drop a star from your team in football. In cricket they call it rest. In football they just fake an injury. I am just being extremely frank here. I am not too sure about this injury of his though I am not a medical student. This is just a gut feeling.
Garay press conference
During the first player press conference of the week, Ezequiel Garay said his hamstring is feeling better and that he hopes to be ready to play on Saturday against Deportivo.
On Recovery:
I still feel a little pain, but I hope to be fit by the weekend. I’m following a treatment and I hope to play against Deportivo because our match against them will be very important.
On title hopes:
I don’t think the title will be at stake for us next weekend. The entire second leg has yet to take place and many points can still be taken. It will be a complicated and difficult game, but we know the season is far from over.
On the 5 point lead:
We can catch up to Barcelona. We cannot fail. We have to wait for them to drop points. They have yet to play at difficult stadiums and at the Bernabeu. We hope to cut their lead short in order for the Clasico to be decisive.
On Cristiano:
Cristiano is fine. I think the struggle he was involved in was unfortunate. He didn’t intend to hurt the player. We hope the suspension is as short as possible because he is a very important player on this team.
Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini is happy with the victory against Malaga but believes the team could have played better. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals against Malaga, but he was sent off later in the game with a red card. Ezequiel Garay could only play 45 minutes against Malaga due to a strain on his left hamstring muscles. Nevertheless, the defender was delighted with the victory. Sergio Ramos showed just how versatile he can be on Sunday after starting at right back and later taking over center back duties for Garay.
Pellegrini:
Cristiano Ronaldo played a great game and scored two goals, but unfortunately, he was mixed up in that play that got him sent off. I couldn’t see it well. We’ll have to see what the referee writes in his report. The Competition Committee will have to decide if it was an agression or not.
I’m not hapy with how we played. We should have started more plays. We faced a good team that knew how to steal the ball from us. We were firm in defence.
We’ve had a perfect home run in the first leg. We know we can improve and in order to do that we must focus on each game at a time.
Guti is an important player. He is coming out of a long injury, but we are all aware of the great talent he has.
Ronaldo:
I always want to play and these things anger me. I’ve spoken to Mtiliga and he said he doesn’t believe I should apologise because he doesn’t think I hurt him intentionally.
Those who understand football will see the tackle wasn’t worthy of a red card. I was unlucky to hit his nose.
I never try to trick referees. I never intended to injure the player. I believe they should be fair with what really happened. I didn’t want to injure anybody. I’m not that kind of person. I’m not a bad person. I just want to shine while I play football. I’ll be angry when I get home because I’m suspended and won’t be able to play in the next match.
Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini believes the match against Osasuna was “even.” Garay, Albiol and Ramos were happy with the team’s performance, but they all added how disappointing it was not to take three points that would have made them leaders tonight. Marcelo and Arbeloa were satisfied with the team’s performance despite the draw.
Pellegrini:
The game was even. We neither won a point nor did we lose two. We always knew this is a tough venue. The match was very intense and Osasuna did a good job, especially in the first half, during which we were less creative. We had clearer chances to score in the second half, but the game was rather balanced and even overall.
We did well in defence because Osasuna practically posed no threat. We could have sentenced the match better in attack if we had made better use of the chances we had.
Garay:
We could have taken three points, but this is a complicated venue and the game was rather of a stop-start nature. We must now focus on taking three points in our next game.
This is a bitter result because a victory would have made us leaders. I think the draw was unfair on us.
I’m happy for being a starter, but I think about the team as a whole and about earning three points against Mallorca.
Garay press conference
Ezequiel Garay took the opportunity to express what he wants most out of 2010 during the final player press conference this year.
What do you want out of 2010?
Health and happiness for my family first of all. I also hope Pepe recovers quickly and that we start the New Year off with a win on Sunday so that we remain two points off Barcelona’s lead.
Do you think the team will wind up playing the Champions League final in the Santiago Bernabeu?
We have to take one step at a time. We haven’t done anything in the Champions League yet, but the good stuff is about to begin. We are capable of making it through this first knockout stage.
How do you feel when you hear all these names being thrown around as possible signings for the defense?
There is a lot of talk, but the center backs have to prove to the coach that we are able to take on this situation and to help the team. It is a vote of confidence so that they don’t sign anyone.
Did Jorge Valdano or Miguel Pardeza say anything in that regard?
No, they just said that whoever is playing needs to continue doing so as we have been up to now. They want us to win in Pamplona and bring home the three points, which is a vote of confidence that makes us more anxious to start the New Year off on the right foot.
The Reyno de Navarra is a very hostile environment.
It is a tough place to play in. It’s a small venue and the fans are right on top of you. I am sure they will try to sidetrack us, but we will do whatever it takes to win.
Ins and Outs | S01E06
#1
Pepe’s injury has caused more turmoil amongst the tabloids and transfer gossip columnist than what it has caused within Real Madrid. The large Portuguese center-back’s season ended last weekend at the Mestalla after he suffered from what Medical Personnel call the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) which meant that the player will remain out of action for 6 whole months. This has diverted the attention of the media who now are looking out for the perfect match to replace Pepe at the Bernabeu temporarily at least. And that I should say dominates this post of Ins and Outs.
The first one sees The Mirror report that Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on Carlos Cuellar, the in-form Aston Villa defender. According to them Florentino Perez is reportedly willing to splash out on the Villans’ versatile stopper in January in order to make amends to what the injury to Pepe has done to the squad.
Goal.com which reported the rumor went on to say that such a move would highlight a remarkable turn in fortunes for Cuellar, whose suitability to the Premier League was seriously questioned after an indifferent debut season. However, according to them, the 28-year-old has answered his critics this term and is now showing to sort of quality that won him the SFWA Footballer of the Year award during his time at Rangers. And as a result, it is claimed, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has had his scouts monitor the former Osasuna man’s progress in recent weeks, and he could be in the frame for the 2010 World Cup.
Not bad. A well framed rumor whatsoever.
Source: Goal.com, The Mirror
Degree of genuineness: 6.0
Now stop talking about Lyon will you? – Zaragoza pre-preview
Real Madrid will face Olympique Lyonnais in the last 16 of the Champions League. The first leg of the tie will be played at Stade de Gerland and the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueño was responsible for drawing the balls out of the pots. Yes, Karim Benzema and Mahamadou Diarra return to Lyon. Qualifying as group leaders has given the Whites the home advantage. The first leg will take place at their opponent’s stadium either on 16, 17, 23 or 24 February. The return leg will be held at the Bernabeu on 9, 10, 16 or 17 April.
Note: Real Madrid and Olympique have met on four previous occasions in Champions League play. L’OL own the upper hand having defeated the Whites twice and earned two draws. The French side has scored eight goals against Real, who have only netted three against OL.
Verdict: This team knocked the stuffing out of Liverpool. Their style of play is brilliant – quick passes involving quick players. In all a tough draw.
Manuel Pellegrini, Jorge Valdano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, Esteban Granero and several other Madridistas offered the team’s first reactions after learning that their next Champions League opponent is Olympique Lyonnais.
Pellegrini:
They are a difficult opponent just like all the other possible teams we could have drawn. All that matters is what kind of shape you are in heading into a match. We hope to be in top form and to qualify for the quarterfinals. Past history is important and you must take it into account, but it is not a decisive factor. Lyon have won the Ligue 1 many teams in recent years and have performed well in the Champions League. Any opponent at this stage would have been tough, so I am fine with the outcome.
We don’t play for another two months so we should be focused only on Zaragoza. We cannot think about the Champions League or our vacation time. Zaragoza won’t be easy because they aren’t doing that well and they have a new coach.
Pepe’s injury has made things interesting
Pepe is out for the rest of the season. This probably might be the hundredth time you are hearing this week alone but still it is something that we might have to hear every week but in different ways. So you better get used to it. And since it is the first week after the horrific injury everyone has been speaking a lot about the lanky center back and the psosible replacements. And this I feel has made things interesting. There will be some transfer window action featuring Real Madrid and it won’t be all about selling.
“Real Madrid will feel Pepe’s absence,” warned former Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos in an interview on Canal+ La Liga. The former Real Madrid coach spoke a lot in favor about Pepe and how important and critical the defender was to his Real Madrid side back when he was the manager. He said:
When I was coaching [Real Madrid], in 17 matches with him [Pepe] we only conceded 5 goals. In the matches after he was suspended against Getafe, our average rose to 3 goals scored against us per match. This is an injury of which Madrid should take note. If another defender were to make an error, Pepe would always be there to correct it.
Which I think is so true. Pepe’s absence will be felt. No doubt about it. But that will only be until we find the apt replacement whether within the club or from the window. Juande Ramos though did not get into the issue of whether Real should sign players in the winter transfer window to cover for the injured Portuguese. He added:
Now, Real Madrid have a spectacular team and it is up to the current coach to decide whether it is necessary to sign or not.
Madrid have been linked to Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho and Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar but reports emanating from Spain insist that Sergio Ramos is being seen as the perfect replacement for Pepe. Juande Ramos also validated Sergio Ramos’ ability to step into the central defensive position should the need arise.
Real Madrid to Pepe
Shortly after hearing the official diagnosis, Pepe received a swarm of “Get well” wishes from his teammates.
Raul:
Pepe, keep your chin up. You have all our support and we wish you a speedy recovery.
Casillas:
Pepe, we love you very much. All are thoughts are with you. You are a great player and person. This team will fight for you. Get well soon.
Guti:
You have our full support so that you get well as quickly as possible. You need to return soon. We miss you, Pepe.
Ramos:
We are here for you, brother. The greats always come back, and you are one of them. We hope to see you soon. Strength and patience.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
Stay strong, Pepe. Come back soon. We love you a lot.
Kaka:
I am sure you will return soon because you are strong and because we your teammates are going to help you.
Xabi Alonso:
Pepe is very important to this team as both a person and player, which is why we hope he returns as soon as possible. We are here for anything he needs.
Ins and Outs | S01P05
#1
Ruud van Nistelrooy seems to be topping our charts every single week including this one. He is the only player to have appeared in all the Ins and Outs posts and is most likely to be the number one departure when the transfer window opens in January, if not the only departure. And today he is linked with again a host of clubs, most of them being from where he came here, England.
It all started when Van Nistelrooy revealed his ambition of being picked for the Dutch National Team – saying that the only way that would happen would be if he got more time on the pitch and less time in the gym. This drew the attraction of several clubs looking for a striker. First it was AS Roma who were interested in the Dutch veteran, looking for a loan move. Liverpool then got into the picture after their injury crisis. Arsenal who then had zero strikers available were seen as potential suitors for Rutegrus until Arsene laughed it off. Tottenham have always been a fan of van Nistelrooy but they find him too expensive. Man City are linked with everyone so he obviously is included. All of a sudden Fenerbahce wanted him in Turkey but then again the wage structure acted as a barrier. And now after Roma realised that £4million fee and £75,000-a-week wages was too much for a 34-year-old, Blackburn and Birmingham have been linked with the former Manchester United star. But Alex McLeish, Birmigham’s manager, insists that Van Nistelrooy is not one of his January targets but some random Slovakian is. So that leaves Blackburn Rovers left on the list. Fat Walrus, Sam Allardyce, is a fan of Ruud apparently and would be willing to give our man a chance at Ewood Park. Bolton, Birmingham, Sunderland and Fulham are also reported to be interested in the Dutchman’s services.
The player’s agent, Barry O’Connor, has remained diplomatic about the transfer rumours, saying that it is a private issue until Real Madrid decide on Van Nistelrooy’s future.
I don’t see him staying. No way!
Source: Several
Degree of genuineness: 8.0
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano expressed how enthused he was after seeing the performance put on by Real Madrid. Manuel Pellegrini was pleased with his team’s performance and pointed out the team work than went into tonight’s victory. Xabi Alonso and Marcelo offered their impressions on Real Madrid’s big win against Valencia once the match concluded. Ezequiel Garay replaced Pepe in defense and scored his first goal since joining Real Madrid, which also served as the winner in Mestalla. Raul Albiol and Sergio Ramos coincided that tonight’s victory was due in large part to the Whites’ solid defense. Gonzalo Higuain stole the show in Mestalla by scoring a brace that helped guide Real Madrid to victory.
Valdano:
The team played a complete match in an orderly fashion and with balance and attitude. We are very happy. This win is dedicated to Pepe and we hope the news isn’t too bad.
We played well in the Camp Nou, but we needed a repeat performace with a positive outcome and we did it here in Mestalla. It was a tough match that saw Valencia score on every chance they had, but we managed to win thanks to the team’s attitude.
Our star players always get the attention, but we have a great team with good players. We are proving that we have a team that is capable of taking care of tough matches like this one was.
Pellegrini:
The team continues adjusting well. I am happy that my players come out to win in every stadium they play in. We played well from start to finish against a great team and in a difficult venue.
There is no player that we cannot live without. No one can know just how important a player is. I have never complained about the absence of a player. We have a 23-player squad, we are off to a good league start and we finished top in the group stage of the Champions League. We rotated players so that everyone felt like part of this project. There are many variables that come into play. Everyone deserves credit because they all participated.
We were clearly better in the first half and had three or four chances on goal. They hardly reached our box. The first fifteen minutes of the second half were tough, but then we improved. They scored two goals off two strange plays. Losing would have been very unfair.
I talk to my players about individual performances. I am interested in how the team plays as a whole, but Karim is a young player who came from a different league and is contributing a lot. He and Higuain played well tonight.
Valencia 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid made a major statement on Saturday with an impressive win against Valencia. Higuain scored a brace and Garay knocked in his first since joining Real Madrid. Even without Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, the Whites proved that teamwork pays off even on pitches as difficult as Mestalla.
The Madridistas game out were the game faces on. After taking care of business in defense with misses by Mathieu and Pablo Hernandez, Real took control of the ball and dictated the pace of the match. Xabi Alonso and Van der Vaart combined well in the midfield and in attack Benzema and Higuain made it clear they were more than ready for big game appearances. The visitors had plenty of chances on goal in the early going but were stymied by the goalkeeper or the post.
Higuain’s three opportunities began on 15’ but his cross never found a finisher. Later Cesar got a hand on two of the Argentine’s shots. Benzema also had numerous chances, all of which took place before Garay replaced Pepe, who abandoned the pitch with a knee injury.
Benzema and Higuain didn’t need much time to put the Whites up once the ball was put back into play. The Frenchman escaped from Mathieu and curled in a cross that Higuan redirected into the back of the net.
Valencia continued pushing forward and managed to equalize six minutes later. Mathieu found Villa in the box and the Spanish international headered past Casillas. The Whites wouldn’t settle for anything less than a win and Marcelo silenced the crowd by blowing by three defenders to find Higuian, who blasted the ball past Cesar.
Raul replaced Van der Vaart and Joaquin came in for David Navarro. Valencia pressed on and Joaquin fired a shot that deflected off Casillas’ knee and into the back of the net. But Real Madrid weren’t finished and Garay scored the winner following a Xabi Alonso free kick. The Whites responded to every Valencia offensive until the final whistle to make a major statement in one of the most challenging La Liga venues.
Garay press conference
Ezequiel Garay believes the team is on the right path. The defender said Real Madrid will be as motivated against Almeria as they were against Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are training aside from the squad. Is their asbence important?
They are training on their own and they are very important players on the team. We hope they recover as soon as possible.
Does the squad feel different after the good performance in Barcelona?
It hurt us to lose, but we also realise that we performed well. We must keep up the good work, focus on our next game and take the three points.
Sergio Ramos said yesterday that the fact that the team drops its performance level in the last 45 minutes is not a physical problem. Do you agree?
I do. We feel physically fit.
It seems you drop your performance level after scoring…
We must strive to continue to attack after scoring a goal in order to net another. We will try to do what the coach asks of us in our next game to take three points.
Will you be as motivated against Almeria as you were against Barcelona?
We have to be equally motivated in every game. We should always try to win. Every game and every point at stake is equally important. We have to prevent Barcelona from increasing their cushion over us.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano was satisfied with the team’s performance, particularly in defence. Manuel Pellegrini was satisfied with his team’s performance. Real Madrid conceded no goals thanks to the excellent work done by their defenders. Two of them, Arbeloa and Garay, were very happy with the victory. Granero and Drenthe were new on the starting lineup. Both men were satisfied with the victory against Racing.
Valdano:
We should have sentenced the match earlier on given the chances we had, but these games measure our efficiency. We hardly made any mistakes, even when the pace of the game dropped. I think that is very important. There were hardly any surprises during the match. It was a typical game following international fixtures; it’s hard to play aggressively after a stoppage. It is essential to win this sort of game. We won with just one goal, but we were solid and remained calm throughout the match.
The math tells us we are having a good run in the championship. We hope to recover our injured men soon and continue to improve.
We could be leaders by the time we play at Camp Nou, but I nevertheless think it’s too soon to start counting the points. We should do that later on. We hope to play a good game at Camp Nou to satisfy Madridistas.
Whenever I arrive at the stadium, many fans say to me that they believe we will score four or five goals. That’s not the real world. Zurich will be a dangerous opponent and we must take the game seriously. We received a lesson in humility against Alcorcon which I hope sticks throughout the entire season.
Cristiano can’t step onto the pitch as soon as he’s left the nursing bed. He hasn’t played for a long time. We must take steps for him to have the best possible comeback. He is much better now and recently rejoined the squad. I hope he can play some minutes on Wednesday.
Pellegrini:
We had chances to score more goals, but we didn’t finish them off. We played a rather good game despite the fact that Racing focused on defending for the most part. We played very well at the start. We’ve played worse in other games and nevertheless scored more goals. It is important to win as many games as we can to grow confident. Our performance tonight was neither good nor bad.
We never gave our opponent the initiative. We played very well for 30 minutes and tried to score a second goal in the second half, but we couldn’t. It is always important to take points. The best aspect of our game was our defensive work. We kept possession. It is always complicated to play after a league stoppage following international games.
Garay to Realmadrid.com
Ezequiel Garay is a Racing Santander expert. The Argentine defender played for Real Madrid’s next opponent for four seasons, and in 2006/07 alone scored ten goals.
This must be a special match for you.
I had a great time in Santander. It will be a special match for me, but if I have the chance to play, I will do my very best for my current team.
How do you think they will play at the Bernabeu?
They have played well on the road. Their coach, Juan Carlos Mandia was sacked a week ago so the players will want to impress the new coach. Whatever the case may be, they are confident having won their last Copa match.
What tactics will they use to be the first team to leave the Bernabeu with points in hand?
I am sure they will want to tighten their lines to try to surprise us by counterattacking. We need to be mindful of their speed and long shots.
Have you spoken to any of your former teammates about the match?
Yes. There will always be those run-ins on and off the pitch, but we all hope to see a nice game and to earn the three points.
What did you learn while playing for Santander?
I matured as a footballer and a person. I will always be grateful to the club and my teammates.
Beating Racing is important because it will put pressure on Barça, who visit Bilbao.
We need to win to continue at the top of the table. We can put a lot of pressure on Barcelona by taking care of business here.
Garay to Realmadrid.com
Ezequiler Garay told Realmadrid.com that the team has already forgotten about the defeat in Seville and that the squad is working hard to defeat Valladolid at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
How was your birthday like?
It was a very special day because I turned 23. I spent the day with my family and had a very nice time.
This is a strange week at Valdebebas because the internationals aren’t on the team. How are the rest of you coping?
It truly is a rather strange week. Few of us remain to train, but I think this helps us work out more on a physical level. It does help.
The team can’t afford to relax because the next game in La Liga is round the corner…
Sure. We lost our previous match against Sevilla and our match on Saturday will also be complicated. We’ll have to do a good job.
You can’t make any concessions, especially at home…
The match against Valladolid will be difficult. We need to take three points. We can’t afford another defeat or to drop more points. We will play at home so we must try hard to earn a good result. We must be strong at the Bernabeu.
Valladolid have had an irregular start to the season, but every team tries to play its best game of the campaign at the Bernabeu…
It’s always been like that. It’s understandable that they all want to defeat us at our stadium, especially with the squad we have this year. Teams are extra motivated when they face us in Madrid and give 100%. We know we have to concentrate equally hard in any game and at any stadium. We will try to take three very important points at home on Saturday.
The team has looked rather calm throughout the week. It seems you have forgotten about the defeat in Seville and that morale is high.
I think so. Morale must always be high and confidence even more so. We are training hard and focusing on winning on Saturday.
Garay to Realmadrid.com
Exequiel Garay turns 23 today. The defender told Realmadrid.com that he is very happy for having his first birthday as a Madridista.
Happy birthday!
Thank you very much. I’m very happy because I always get excited about birthdays and this one is a little bit more special. I turn 23 today and I am gradually becoming a man. Time flies by and we must be happy with what happens every day of our lives. I try to enjoy every instant of life with the people that are with me and I thank God for the good things in my life.
What’s the best thing about this birthday?
The best thing about it is that I can be with my family and that I play for Real Madrid, the greatest club in the world. This is a dream come true and I will never forget this birthday because it is the first I spend at the club for which I wanted to play as a child.
Which would be the best present with which to celebrate these 23 years?
The best present on a personal level is to be healthy and to see my family is well; they are the ones who make me happy. Professionally I’d like to play many games with the Real Madrid shirt and win many titles for the Club.
How are you going to celebrate?
With my parents, my two little brothers and with two friends.
What is your wish?
I want to climb on Cibeles to celebrate as many titles as I can with Real Madrid. My team-mates have already won trophies with this team and they’ve told it is impressive to celebrate a triumph at Cibeles. I can’t wait. We’ll have to work hard and do our best in every competition.
What do you think of Alcorcon, your first opponents in the Copa del Rey?
They are a great rival we must deeply respect because they will face Real Madrid in a beautiful championship. That will motivate them. They come from a nearby town and I’m sure it will be a nice clash for everyone in the city.
We hope you are very happy this year.
Thank you. I hope it is a very happy year both for myself and for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid’s eight new signings
Twenty-four hours before making their Champions League debuts in the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s eight new signings climbed to the top of the Torre Europa in Madrid for an incredible view of the stadium. Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Ezequiel Garay got together to comment on what will be their first Champions League experience at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid players. Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol and Esteban Granero are excited about the start of the Champions League in Madrid.
Kaka
I am proud to be part of this team. We want to win and make Real Madrid history, but we must take things slowly and calmly. It isn’t easy to win the Champions League. People are talking about it as if we had already won it; the team stll has to grow and improve on many things. We dream about playing the final at our stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The fans’ euphoria concerning the new project is normal, but just as Kaka has said, we have to take things slowly and focus on each match at a time. We want to win, but success doesn’t come from one day to the next. We have to remain calm and build a proper team. I think we have chances to win, but we must take things slowly and work hard. That’s what’s most important.
Benzema
I know we can win. Football is full of surprises, but we want this title. The trophy means a lot to us. It will be tough, but we have a great team. We have everything a team needs to win the title. We will do our best to win because this is a very prestigious and important title for this great club.
Garay
It is a great challenge for me to play in this competition with Real Madrid. It is an incentive for me to play for a team with such prestige in Europe. I think we are all motivated because the final will be held at this stadium. We hope to star in the final.
Last bunch of comments before the Internationals return
Xabi Alonso sat down with Goal.com and talked about his new club, his team-mates and the future. After training in solitary while on international duty, Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa insisted he is fit for action after receiving a blow to the inner section of his right foot on Saturday against Belgium. Ezequiel Garay talked to Onda Madrid about his first few months at Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso:
I am starting a new era and I will be eternally grateful to Liverpool because they are a very special institution. Real Madrid have magnetism, and this is a very special moment because, as it was when I joined Liverpool, there are unanswered questions over a new project with endless possibilities.
I have never seen so much quality together and never imagined that a team could gather so much talent. I look ahead of me and see Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, Raul. What luxury!
After so many years in the Premier League it might be difficult to adapt to the pace of La Liga, where people play more to feet. In that sense, the game isn’t as dynamic here, and Cristiano might have to adapt a little. But the talent he has, the power, individual technique and shooting, that will help him play well here.
There’s a long way to go. Having not got past the last 16 in the Champions League for five years, Real Madrid have to play in another final soon. Why not at the Bernabeu?
I don’t know if we are better than Barcelona or not, we’ll find out as the season goes on. We cannot focus on them. We must concentrate on what we are doing day by day, trying to improve step by step and developing a strong sense of togetherness.
Garay to Realmadrid.com
Although Ezequiel Garay recently offered his first interview to the club’s media, the Argentine has been the talk of the town since he made his La Liga debut five seasons ago.
New season, new team. What are your expectations?
I hope to earn a spot on the team. I started off on the right foot as a starter against Deportivo and I hope to continue so that I can win many titles with this team.
First match, first win. It couldn’t have started any better.
It is what we all wanted. We knew we had to start off with a win because we owed it to our fans.
Espanyol is up next; a tough opponent on their home turf.
Every team is hard to beat at home. They all want to defeat Real Madrid, especially after all the new arrivals. I am sure all our opponents will play at 200% against us.
The Pericos need to win after losing their opener against Athletic.
They didn’t start off well and need points, but we want to win as well. That is our goal on every pitch we play on. It will be a nice match.
Real Madrid will be the first official opponent in the new Cornella-El Prat Stadium, which makes for a very special match.
Definitely. There is too much on the line to lose. Expectation will be high and we must go there to win. It will also be special after the loss of Dani Jarque. It is a sad situation that they need to overcome as quickly as possible.
Real Madrid’s main opponent for the top spot in their Champions League group is Milan, but we cannot forget about Olympique de Marseille.
Every team in the competition is good. We will try our very best to finish top, but qualifying for the next round is what matters most.
Just another Madridista
Hala Madrid 
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano shared his thoughts on tonight’s draw and the overall season. Manuel Pellegrini analysed the team’s season following the 1-1 draw in Malaga. The squad was sad for not winning the title, but all the players are aware of the great season they’ve had.
"This was an extraordinary La Liga run"
Valdano:
Pellegrini:
(more…)
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May 17, 2010 | Categories: Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Esteban Granero, Ezequiel Garay, Jorge Valdano, La Rosaleda, Manuel Pellegrini, Málaga CF, Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos | Leave a comment