De la Red, Green and Blue
My heart still beats... Real Madrid of course... I am not a ZOMBIE for heaven's sake...
Happy Diwali to all.
Its a Friday and we are now a day closer to El Derbi Madrileño. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will go head to head in our first Madrid derby of the season on Sunday at the Bernabeu at 21:00 CET. The last time we played Atleti at home we won (just like the previous zillion times that we played them) so I am guessing this one would be no different. Yeah, yeah Europa League champions blah blah. They’re still Atletico and we are still Real (As tempted as I was to type FOR real instead of still Real I am trying to refrain myself from sounding corny). I’ll be frank here and admit that I have no team news with me, so when it comes to that my guess is as good as yours.
What I am equipped with tonight is stuff about Ruben De la Red (No, you corrupt buffoons not Ruben De la Red’s stuff). As you all probably know by now Ruben De la Red has officially retired from all forms of football. The Spaniard had been diagnosed with a mysterious heart condition after this incident but still had his contract running with Real Madrid until this week when he decided to call it a day. As depressing as it was, the good news here was that Ruby would still be working with Real Madrid not as a player but as a coach shunting between Alejandro Menendez and Jose Mourinho so as to develop his abilities as a coach giving him a career alternative. This would apparently go on until his contract with Real expired. The former Spanish international then attended a press conference where he made a statement regarding the same along with Director General Jorge Valdano and the other top brass of Real Madrid C.F.
I am starting a very exciting stage in my carreer. I wish to send my support to all those players out there whose careers were also cut short. I am also very grateful to all the people who have supported me since I fainted. I’ve fought against this in vain and doctors advised me to stop. I always dreamt of becoming a football player and to be successful at this club, which is the greatest in the world. Real Madrid has watched me grow since I joined the Under-10 side and now it sees me retire from the game. I want to become a coach now. I may have a problem in my heart, but it still beats for Madridismo.
I am very excited and anxious to start this new stage in my career thanks to the Club. I will be able to continue to work at a place I regard as my home. I will try to learn the skills of a coach and I will give my all to be successful. I am very excited and will be eternally grateful to the Club. I’ve been watching football from a different perspective for quite some time now, while at the same time I’ve been preparing for this new stage. Real Madrid are currently one of the strongest teams in Europe.
He then mentioned about JM and his conversation with the boss. He said:
Jose Mourinho was very aware of my situation since day one and he was very clear when he spoke to me. He told me he counted on me if I was able to play, but if that wasn’t the case, he said he would be delighted to have me in his staff.
Valdano then appraised the press with De la Red’s exact job description:
This day marks a turning point in Ruben’s life. He ends his career as a player to focus all his passion for this sport on training. He is, from today, a part of Real Madrid’s Coaching Staff snd will start learning about what we do and how we come about it. He will also be part of Mourinho’s ‘lab’, in which every game is rigorously prepared. The objective is for Ruben to learn skills in order to apply them to whatever team he ends up being assigned to. He’s gone through all of the different teams the Club has and he will use that experience to continue to be a part of the world of football.
Javier Pastore and Gareth Bale are creating ripples in Europe. While Pastore is more of a Batman limiting himself to his Gotham City viz. Palermo, Bale seems to be like He-Man creating ripples around the universe as the next Lionel Messi/the next Ryan Giggs/Gareth Bale v2.0 and what-frikkin’-not. I am confident that we don’t need either of them and would do much better without them at least at this moment. One dude we could possibly do with is Romelu Lukaku. Recently CRon spoke about the Belgian Drogba to the press and seemed quite impressed by the Anderlecht man. We do need a number 9 and he is young. JM likes it young and fresh. Bah! Just fit the pieces and you’ll see the story.
Lass is being linked away for the umpteenth time this season. Ergo I choose to ignore.
And finally for those who are interested, Manuel Pellegrini has found himself another job. No guys, not as a miner in Chile. He will be managing Malaga. He replaced pornstar Jesulado who will be returning to Dickville to fulfill his dream of directing a porn film. Good luck Manu. We still love you. It wasn’t you it was just me.
Right then. We will soon be hearing about the Squad List for tomorrow from the club and probably even have a presser to talk about. But I’ll give that a raincheck as I am heading out to have a nice and filling dinner with my mates…
Ah, like you guys even care…
Later then.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Hercules CF 1-3 Real Madrid
Karim Benzema (#9) produced a stellar performance in the 13 minutes that he was given.
Real Madrid remain at the top of the table and will remain there until next week at least as a late brace from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Los Merengues stage a marvelous comeback after going a goal down just three minutes into the game. Trezeguet’s header in the second minute was neutralized eight minutes into the second half when Calatayud spilled Ronaldo’s shot from range only for Angel Di Maria to tuck in the rebound. Real had to wait till the eighty second minute to take the lead through Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese was assisted by Karim Benzema who played a pivotal role after coming on late in the second half. Ronaldo sealed the victory with another goal through yet another assist from Benzema three minutes later making sure that Jose Mourinho’s men left the Jose Rico Perez with all three points in the bag.
Jose Mourinho made seven changes to the side that started against Murcia midweek in the Copa Del Rey with Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria and Higuain replacing Albiol, Arbeloa, Diarra, Granero, Canales, Pedro Leon and Benzema respectively. Real stuck to the usual 4-2-3-1 formation with the trio of Ronaldo, Ozil and Di Maria playing behind Higuain. Hercules deployed a similar formation which saw Trezeguet play the central role up front just ahead of Valdez, Tiago and Thomert.
Hercules dominated the first couple of minutes and were given a dream start when Cortes’ cross from the right was met by a waiting David Trezeguet. The former Juventus man’s looping header defeated Saint Iker raising questions as to why there wasn’t a single white shirt challenging for the ball inside our own box. And as a result Real Madrid went down by a goal for the first time this season. A comeback was mandatory if three points had to be taken.
The fan support for the Alicante club was tremendous as the crowd tried their best to make sure that Real never really got into the groove. Credit, though, must be given to Hercules for not trying to sit on their lead and for making it a compelling contest. I felt that Real were losing the ball quite easily unlike the previous games. Hercules though didn’t capitalize on it and continued to give the ball back. Real slowly started looking like the side that beat Santander 6-1 and started making use of the superior possession as the game progressed. Hercules were happy to have little possession of the ball and it looked as though their plan was to counter attack Real on the break. But the tiring legs of Trezeguet and the Valdez’s agility was well matched by the Portuguese central defenders.
With a little over twenty minutes gone Real had their first real chance on goal. Cristiano’s shot from distance was parried by Calatayud and his save fell right into the feet of Higuain whose low curling shot went straight to the keeper. And almost instantly Hercules almost had their second goal. Cortes released Tiago Gomes on the right hand side of midfield and Gomes’ searching cross fell to Thomert on the other side of the box. Thomert somehow managed to cross the ball over to Trezeguet to the center of the six yard box and thankfully his header was directed straight at Saint Iker. Close call and yet again Trezeguet was left unmarked. JM clearly was upset.
Trezeguet seemed to provide Hercules with what Real currently lack. Aerial Prowess. Throughout the game one can see several crosses from the likes of Di Maria, Alonso and Marcelo fall into no man’s land as only Ronaldo has the ability in our front four to meet such crosses. Higuain as we all know cannot head to save his life. Either Real should stop wasting possession by crossing or go out there and get a real #9.
Half an hour had gone by and some good passing by Real led to Higuain crossing for Ronaldo to shoot into an open goal only to be blocked Cortes in a last ditch effort. It wasn’t the best of chances but that was all that we had. Hercules’ wide players and especially Thomert was posing a serious threat to the Real defense. Sergio Ramos unlike Arbeloa was concentrating more on attacking duty that defensive ones. Real on the other hand had failed to make any use of the possession that they had and the game was nearing the halfway mark. It looked as though Hercules were playing to Esteban Vigo’s script. A minute was added on to the first half and Real’s last attack would be Marcelo’s low shot which went wide. It was half time and the Alicante crowd went frantic.
The second half started with no changes made by either side but that wouldn’t last long as Olivier Thomert was stretchered off after the Frenchman had pulled a muscle or so it seemed. Sendoa replaced him and in the meantime Di Maria had tested Calatayud twice within a span of 60 seconds. A minute later the Argentine got the better of the custodian as Cristiano’s shot from range was too hot for the keeper to hold. But the spill would be costlier. Di Maria tucked in the rebound and Real were level with a little more than 40 minutes to play. Real should have rightfully gone ahead when Xabi Alonso’s beautiful long ball left Ronaldo one on one with the keeper but the number 7 was adjudged to be offside when in fact he wasn’t.
The match was sixty five minutes old when Xabi Alonso was booked for stretchering off Abel Aguilar. The player was hurt but was fit enough to continue and Vigo then decided to make his second change of the game. One veteran for another and Francisco Rufete, the former Valencia and Espanyol winger was brought in for the goal scorer Trezeguet. Real continued to dominate possession and had several half chances but it looked like one of those days when you dominate a game but still end up with nothing. A few minutes later an Ozil corner was headed straight at Calatayud (I just love typing that name) by Sergio Ramos and that was as close as we could get. Hercules then brought on former Madridista Javier Portillo on for Nelson Valdez who was injured by the ball and had to be stretchered off.
A change was on the cards as Karim Benzema suited up on the sidelines. He was brought in for Pepe (when everybody thought it would be Higuain who would be taken off) showing how intent Real were on bagging three points. But why Benzema I am sure many Madridistas wondered. The French striker was coming under immense criticism for underperforming and was coming out of a poor show against Murcia in the King’s Cup game. And just then the number 9 played a quick exchange with little Marcel inside the Hercules box and took a shot which Calatayud spilled straight to the waiting Cristiano Ronaldo who was happy to slot home his 11th goal in 8 games this month alone. Benzema had made an immediate impact against a team at a ground in which he scored a brace only a couple of months back and his team mates clearly showed how happy they really were with him.
JM immediately brought in Arbeloa and Albiol for Ozil and Higuain with Marcelo moving to midfield and Sergio Ramos was playing right back again. The clock struck eighty five minutes and a Sergio Ramos stole the ball from Hercules and released Di Maria who set Benzema free into their box. Ronaldo was waiting inside the box and Benzema made the right pass for the Portuguese to score his 12th goal of the season making October 2010 the best ever month in his illustrious career. Benzema’s second assist in ten minutes of coming on. Game, set and match Real Madrid. Ronaldo should have and could have scored his third of the night when a combined effort from Di Maria and Benzema put Ronaldo through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat which he did but shot high over the bar. It wouldn’t matter as Real completed a well fought victory over a very good side which fought right till the end.
Mourinho had this to say about the match:
The first half was very complicated because our opponent was aggressive. I didn’t like Hercules’ goal because I talked to my players about efforts such as the one it came from. We were practically alone playing football during the second half. We increased our defensive efforts. The most important thing is we took three points that keep us at the top of the table for another week.
Hercules are having a good run in the championship and they have players who are very good at playing this sort of game. Their fans were very supportive of them, adding intensity to their game, which relied on fast ventures in attack. We took risks and everything tastes better when you risk and also win. We had to win this game.
He was quick to appreciate Benzema’s performance and also commented on the fact that Mano Menenzes did not call up Marcelo for Brazil’s upcoming friendly against Argentina in Doha.
Benzema didn’t score, but he created three goals: the first, the third and a possible fourth Cristiano could have netted. He was an extra help in attack and became a new problem for Hercules to solve. He completely changed the game’s dynamics. He may not have scored, but his influence on our game was enormous. This performance will be good for his morale. I am very happy for him.
Marcelo has been playing fantastically well since the start of the season. He has more time to recover because he hasn’t been called-up by Brazil. This is better for us but worse for Brazil, who miss out on having a full back of his quality. This may help him play the whole season at this level.
Director General Jorge Valdano shared his satisfaction with the victory.
We played a tough match tonight. Hercules defended well and had strong counter-attacks during the first half. We controlled the game better in the second part and won thanks to our insistence. This is the first time we’ve had to turn the score around this season and it will be useful to boost our confidence and to carry on working the way we do.
Hercules scored early in the game and we grew anxious. We controlled the game better after we scored our first strike. We pulled through thanks to our insistent attitude.
The players then commented on their performance with Ronaldo heaping praise on Benzema as well as talking about his current rich vein of form. He revealed that it was Mourinho’s half time talk that changed things around. Di Maria too was delighted with the win and said that the team will shift its focus to Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
I’m in great form and having a phenomenal run. I scored goals and I’m happy because we are still leaders. The team played well after half-time, doing the never-easy task of scoring three goals. I am also very happy for Benzema. He played a decisive role and assisted me in our third goal.
Mourinho gave perfect and correct orders during half-time that changed the team. Everything has to work on the pitch, it isn’t enough to attack well. Everything we did in the second half was perfect and that’s why we won.
Di Maria:
I am very happy. Winning was what really mattered. We deserved it because we changed in the second half and did our best to win. These are the games that help you win titles. We had to win whatever the cost. I’m happy because the fans support me. I always try to do my best. I play to help the team do well. I’m happy for the victory and we will start to think about Milan tomorrow.
Along with Xabi and Iker, Benzema too spoke to the media post-game. While the captain was appreciative about the roles of Mourinho and Benzema, Xabi insisted that the team should now try and seal their passage to the next round of the Champions League with a win over Milan midweek.
Benzema:
Whenever we speak, Mourinho always tells me I can do much for the team on the pitch. People will realise I am a good player, I just need to play. Before the game, I told the coach I was going to work to play more.
Casillas:
The important thing is we continue to win and to be at the top. Real Madrid were different in the second half from the team they were in the first. Our mentality changed. Our reaction to losing against a difficult opponent was also important. We played at a small and complicated venue.
We are all very happy for Benzema. He deserved to play this well after having to listen to endless comments about him during the past week.
Mourinho is a phenomenon because he controls each half very well and always knows how to say the right thing at the right time. Our reaction in the second half was due in part to what he said in the dressing room and to the successful substitutions he made.
Alonso:
We know every point dropped could eventually be decisive. That’s why these three are so important. We will also try to seal our pass to the next round in the Champions League in Milan this week.
In all it was a good win. A new kind of victory somewhat so to speak as this was our first comeback win of the season. The rarer the better I’d say. I am very happy with Benzema’s performance in particular. He came on and worked hard for the ball and almost whatever he did was productive. I hope he continues to work the same way and give Pipita a good run for his money. Its time to focus on Milan now as Real heads to the San Siro on Tuesday. A win there would take us through. A draw should also do. But I am looking at revenge and hence I would love for Real to get all three points when they get back home.
Match Stats:
Hércules: Calatayud, Cortés, Pamarot, Rodríguez, Peña, Abel Aguilar, Fritzler, Tiago Gomes, Valdez (Portillo 82′), Thomert (Sendoa 51′), Trezeguet (Rufete 70′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe (Benzema 77′), Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil (Arbeloa 85′), Di Maria, Higuain (Albiol 85′);
Goals:
1-0, 3′: Trezeguet
1-1, 53′: Di Maria;
1-2, 82′: Ronaldo;
1-3, 85′: Ronaldo;
Notes: La Liga, Matchday 9.
Venue: Jose Rico Perez
Referee: Mr. Clos Gomez
Booked: Carvalho, Marcelo, Alonso;
Man of the match: Karim Benzema
Real Murcia vs Real Madrid | Preview
Be Quick or Be Dead
Real Madrid kick start yet another campaign of the Copa Del Rey, this time against Real Murcia. This isn’t just another Real Murcia side. This is a team which is at par with Real in at least one front if not all. Murcia along with us is the only other side in professional Spanish football that is yet to taste defeat. Murcia currently lie in Group IV of the Segunda Division B and is the team with the longest history in the Segunda Division.
But this tie is not about the league. This game is about the King’s cup. A trophy that has eluded us for ages now which has caused Mourinho to call up almost all of his best players for the game tonight. Only the likes of Xabi Alonso, Ozil, Carvalho and Marcelo have been left out. The rest of the starters have been called up. To emphasize on our intent a little more, even the almighty Iker Casillas will take part in a cup game after four years of exile. Cristiano Ronaldo will also be starting and infact will be making his Cup debut. Pepe and Arbeloa too have been confirmed as starters. Also, Sergio Ramos has been passed fit to play the game tonight.
Usually the domestic cup games are not taken seriously by the senior players at least in Spain but this time JM has signaled his intent of winning the competition. But does that mean the likes of Granero and Pedro Leon won’t be getting a chance here as well? No. That is not the case. Our manager has said that this will be the chance for Granero, Pedro and Benzema to prove their worth to him and tell him why he needs to make them a starter. Fair play isn’t it?
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Adan, Jesus.
Defenders: Albiol, Arbeloa, Pepe, Mateos, Sergio Ramos.
Midfielders: Khedira, Granero, Diarra, Canales, Pedro Leon, Di Maria, Juanfran.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema.
Tuesday’s match will be significant for both Pedro Leon and Raul Albiol. The midfielder returns to his place of birth and the city that saw him make his professional debut, while the defender will come face-to-face with his brother Miguel, a midfielder for Murcia.
Jorge Valdano managed to discuss Tuesday’s Copa del Rey opener ahead of the game at an event in Madrid. The Director General said that the team is heading down to Murcia with every intention of winning the competition. What interested me though was what he had to say about Karim Benzema:
Benzema is very young. Not everyone takes the same time to get going. Some like Ozil and Di Maria adjust in months, but others take longer whether it’s because of language or personality barriers. There is no doubt Benzema is talented and he will soon show us what he is capable of.
Is that the case? Hasn’t Benzema spent enough time in Spain already for him start paying back the club that spent so many millions on him? I am not questioning his talent, but I am unsure as to whether it is the language/personality barriers that prevent him from performing. I just feel that he is not working hard enough. I might be wrong but this is what I feel.
Someone who is at his peak though is little Marcelo. Marcelo recently hit the century mark in matches played for Real Madrid against Racing Santander and had kind words about the current state of affairs at the club:
I am very happy here and want to continue improving. I need to work hard if I want to play in many more matches. I am very comfortable in Madrid. I have been working just how Mourinho has asked me to. A few weeks ago I said that every training session with Mourinho is like a battle. All I need to do is put everything he tells me into play on the pitch.
And that is exactly what I feel Benzema, Granero and others wanting to start should do. Currently Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo and Higuain are performing at their best. The competition for a place in the side does not seem to be there. The bench strength we have compared to several other sides is brilliant. But that’s only on paper one has to admit. These players need to pick themselves up and get ready to battle.
Anyhoo, a cup game and a win is a must. It cannot be stressed further as to how crucial a win tomorrow will be as this is one trophy that has been eluding us for decades now. The players have a point to prove and the coach is intent on winning the trophy. The mood just can’t get better. Mourinho yesterday said that:
If last year’s situation [at Alcorcon] repeats itself, I will cross those who play off my list because they will be dead to me.
And I am pretty sure he means it.
Let’s hope that the cup misery ends tomorrow.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Speculation about Jose Mourinho looms
Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will compete to determine the Champions of Europe at the Santiago Bernabeu on 22nd May in the UEFA Champions League final. This will crown the return of several former Madridistas currently representing the two sides and also a clash between two of the most entertaining managers in club football history – Inter’s Jose Mourinho and Bayern’s Louis van Gaal.
Madrid is talking more about the former though as speculation looms regarding Mourinho’s future with the Nerazzurri especially considering the growing rumors touting him as the man to replace Manuel Pellegrini as Real Madrid’s new manager. With players like Kaka commenting on Jose Mourinho to the press in the past week or so it does seem inevitable that Manuel Pellegrini will be shown the exit door by the ever fickle-minded Florentino Perez despite a much improved but trophy-less season. The Brazilian though offered support for Pellegrini as well – insisting 56-year-old Pellegrini had done well. He is not the only player to have voiced a public support for the Chilean. But when has that ever been taken into account?
The man in the spotlight, Manuel Pellegrini himself admitted that it his future with the club is uncertain. Pellegrini accepts that the decision will rest with club bosses but he believes they should consider the fact that Real still collected a staggering 96 league points even though they finished second. The Chilean tactician nevertheless accepts that his first campaign at the helm cannot be considered a success as Real did not claim any silverware.
We can’t say it’s been a good season if we haven’t won a title. It is not easy making a team with a new coach and players but I can not evaluate my own work. I have one more year left on my contract and that’s all there is to say.
If they ask me I will say the bases are there for next year and the results prove that. At best, in the future people will recognise what we have achieved, and they’ll see it isn’t easy to get the figures we have in the face of a great Barcelona side, though we still have work to do to cut out errors, and to close the gap on them.
He sounded frustrated more than anything else with what has been going on revealing that he never totally knew whether or not he was going stay for another season or not. He was very right to say that if the person replacing him had to better his record at the club then that particular replacement had to earn more than 100 points in the league. Pellegrini’s men earned 96 points, three shy of the 99 tallied by champions Barcelona.
All year, and especially in recent weeks, perhaps there hasn’t been a clear reply (from the club on my continuity). Amidst the uncertainty I have always had the support of the players.
I don’t think Real speak behind the back of their coach, this isn’t their style. But I am not so innocent to believe that all the rumours are simply speculation by journalists.
If, for whatever reason, the project doesn’t continue the person who comes in will have a difficult job. He will have to win more than 100 points in the league to do better than me. I know failing to win a title isn’t good but I don’t think the final decision will change much whether we win the league or not.
Jorge Valdano was one among those in the club’s management who were behind the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the manager of Real Madrid. He had always been behind the manager even in times of crisis during the course of the season but this time even he couldn’t assure us fans that we will have the same man in the dugout for next season. He told Spanish television:
The club will sit down and discuss what course we are going to take for next season. Today isn’t the right moment to be taking decisions. We have a lot of time in front of us and we’ll see what course we take.
Valdano said when asked about the Portuguese coach:
I won’t get involved in this. Mourinho has his battles to fight and we have to continue independent of opinions and other people’s comments.
But this is how all the big moves start. Both parties remain to say nothing about it and boom! All of a sudden all the negotiations are done and the move is complete. The other party here is Jose himself and he has been somewhat coy about his future – the Jose Mourinho style.
It’s not a problem of contract or money and that makes me slightly embarrassed because of what I earn considering the (world economic) crisis there is. It’s a problem of personal satisfaction, to feel respected or not in a football nation where I have had so many problems. It’s not true that I’m the Real coach. After the final, I want to think about my future.
Obviously, Inter cannot do anything more to make me feel happy and feel important. The players are fantastic, so are the fans and everyone at the club. The result of Saturday’s game means nothing. It will not change the fact that I have given everything possible. Inter doesn’t owe me anything and I owe nothing to Inter, because I’ve given everything.
The future does look bleak for Manuel Pellegrini. I am deeply sad for Mourinho and angered by our team management (not for the first time) but at the same time I cannot lie by saying that I am not excited by the fact that Jose Mourinho might be our next manager.
Para Siempre Blanco!
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:
We are Real Madrid. History has shown we always know how to win or lose. Two teams had a great run this season, breaking several records along the way.
As Barcelona scored their goals the tension of our match decreased, but not for Malaga. Their life was at stake. You could tell by their players and the crowd.
Barcelona had the advantage and made good use of it. We should congratulate them for being worthy champions.
We are as excited as we were at the start of the year because this is a long-term project. We knew how great the challenge was. We stood firm in the race for the title.
We have a lot of time ahead of us to decide which way we should go for next year. There won’t be as many changes as there were last year, but we will have to make some adjustments to reach the highest quality and get over this season.
Pellegrini:
We knew it was going to be difficult for Barcelona to lose the title, but our intention here was to win and hope they earned a complicated result.
We had an extraordinary run in La Liga and the numbers we earned prove this. It’s never a good year when you don’t win a title, but the team’s work in the league may be positively valued later on.
It’s logical for there to be great assessments after a season at a great club like Real Madrid, but it is not my place to publically defend my job.
We have to work much more to correct certain aspects of our game and to surpass a team that plays excellent football and has been doing so for a long time. People may realise in the future just how difficult it is to take so many points and to earn the numbers we have.
We knew Malaga were tough as locals and they were fighting to avoid relegation. We could have won the match in the second half, but our morale was influenced by what Barcelona were doing. I am glad Malaga remain in the First Division.
I wish to thank my men for the season they had. They are hard workers and they set a great example both on and off the pitch. They had a brilliant run in la Liga, but their work hasn’t been properly valued because we didn’t win the title and we fought against a great Barcelona. I am very grateful to them. We can’t conform ourselves with being runners-up in the future. We have to continue cutting distances shorter with Barcelona.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano transmitted a message of hope following Real Madrid’s 5-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao. Manuel Pellegrini was very pleased with his team’s victory on Saturday, but he didn’t shy away from commenting on his displeasure with the score in Seville. The message is loud and clear. Members of Real Madrid’s first team still believe they have a shot at the league title and 98 points after beating Athletic Bilbao 5-1 on Saturday.
"We will fight until the end."
Valdano:
We are still hopeful. We have fewer chances percentage-wise, but we will fight until the very end. A lot can happen in this sport including things that seem impossible.
We took care of business in the second half after suffering from a lot of anxiety in the first. The best news was the five goals we scored for our fans. Their support was a deciding factor.
We are setting records for wins and are close to the all-time scoring recod, which proves that this is a great team that has only improved over the course of the season. We will not be discouraged. We will defend Real Madrid’s pride in Malaga and will fight until the very end.
Ronaldo and Higuain have a great partnership, but we also have other talented players like Benzema and Kaka. Ramos’ goal was evidence of his grit and pride. He has had an exceptional season and will one day go down in the history of Real Madrid.
Pellegrini:
The team felt anxious and discouraged for a while. We have one more match and although we had a lot of hope riding on the game in Seville, Valladolid have a lot at stake when they visit Barcelona next week. We will maintain our pressure until the end.
We knew that Barcelona’s match against Sevilla would be more complicated than next week’s against Valladolid, but you never know what may happen. We need to maintain this spirit and fight until the very end. Hope is the last thing we can lose.
We closed out a great season at the Bernabeu. We won 18 of 19 matches and scored 60 goals here, which is more than three per match. We have now scored more than 100 goals. The numbers are there. We are the top scoring team.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano praised his team for earning a crucial victory in Mallorca tonight. Manuel Pellegrini was very satisfied with his team’s victory. The coach pointed out his men performed better in the second half. Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano declared that the difference between Real Madrid, Barcelona and the rest of the Primera Liga is “astronomical.” Afterwards, Manzano acknowledged the superiority of Los Merengues and in particular Cristiano Ronaldo. Delighted with the victory and his hat-trick, Ronaldo shared his thoughts on the match with the media. The Real Madrid squad was delighted with the victory.
"We improved considerably in the second half and won a difficult game"
Valdano:
We were somewhat uneven in the first half, but we showcased our dominating skills in the last 45 minutes. We concentrate on the job at hand and we always show our professional character and excitement to win this title.
Cristiano Ronaldo showcases the Club’s trademark winning spirit. He is an extraordinary player, but I don’t think it’s fair to say the team depends on him.
We will have to win our match this weekend regardless of what happens between Barcelona and Sevilla. We must play a serious game, like we did during tonight’s second half, and wait for our chance.
Pellegrini:
I think there was a considerable difference between our performances in the first and second halves. We suffered a lot in the first against Mallorca’s counterattacks. We were better organised in the second part and managed to tip the scales towards us.
We knew we were going to have a rough time. We all know what Mallorca are capable of, especially as locals. We luckily managed to win the match and to do so decisively.
We all know Cristiano is an extremely important player. This team plays in regard to the quality of its men and Cristiano is one of them. He plays a crucial role. Nevertheless, the team responded well when he missed two months because of an injury.
We need to defeat Athletic Bilbao and Malaga to reach the 98-point mark. There’s much at stake for both sides. We feel strong and confident both on and off the pitch, but we still don’t depend on ourselves, so we have to avoid mistakes and wait for Barcelona to make some.
Manzano:
For 60 minutes we played a very good game. We kept the order, nullified Madrid and we created chances but the second goal affected us in terms of mindset. Then, we opened up looking for an equalizer and Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in individual actions. He is very dangerous with the ball at his feet.
It is very difficult to take the ball off Madrid, despite the enormous physical effort we made. The difference between Madrid and Barcelona with the rest of the teams is astronomical.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano was very happy with the team’s victory over Osasuna, admitting the game had been “strange” because the team gave an “uneven” performance at times. Manuel Pellegrini admitted the team “suffered to win,” but was overall happy with the victory. Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho was pleased with the effort of his players despite going down. Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Marcelo scored for the Whites this evening. The squad expressed its satisfaction with the victory over Osasuna.
"That mental strength, combined with the crowd's support, is vital in the final stage of the competition"
Valdano:
My heart is pounding. It was a strange game because we were uneven, managing to sentence the match only at the end. Real Madrid never give up the fight and the crowd has been there for us. We hope to write a new chapter in this fight, which everyone used to think we had already lost.
The title would have been practically unreachable had we drawn the match, but the team would have kept on fighting to the end. This victory will help us keep Barcelona on edge. It’s never the same to face a game knowing that another team is also putting pressure on you.
Cristiano Ronaldo is very much like Real Madrid and the crowd notices. We have players with great character and Cristiano is one of them. He brings life to the team. It always seems something is about to happen whenever he gets the ball.
Juanfran seemed quite at ease in his debut. He was fast and confident with the ball. He read the game intelligently, knowing when to up the pace of the match and when to slow it down.
Our next three games will be tremendous. Barcelona must be going through the same as us. It will be a clash of titans. We hope to win the title in the end.
Pellegrini:
I think tonight we saw the worst defending we’ve done all year. We were weak at the back.
It is impossible to deny Cristiano Ronaldo makes a difference. We are lucky to have him.
I think the team is very strong, especially on a psychological level. This is vital in the final stage of the season. The crowd’s support is always great. They know as well as us that it is very important to take three points in Mallorca.
We can’t draw early conclusions now. We must stay strong to force Barcelona to take 99 points if they want the title.
Camacho:
We can take something positive from this defeat. The players are hurting but we must continue fighting.
If we play in Wednesday’s game with this level of intensity, then we must get a result.
The goal that Masoud has failed to score, I thought it was so easy that I have looked away and I saw that there hadn’t been a goal. Fate was not with us on this occasion.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano sung the team’s praises after their gritty 1-2 win against Zaragoza. Real Madrid head coach Manuel Pellegrini stressed his team’s ability to not let their nerves get the best of them. Raul had missed ten days and Kaka had been sidelined for 45, but the duo came off the bench on Saturday to lead Real Madrid to victory. Sergio Ramos and Fernando Gago offered their opinions on the victory shortly after the match concluded.
"The team showed just how mature it is"
Valdano:
Zaragoza were a solid team tonight who really put us in a bind. We were very determined throughout the entire match. Our lives were at stake and Zaragoza were trying to steer clear of the relegation zone.
The referee is there to calm the game down. Zaragoza played their cards and we were prepared to maintain order and discipline.
Raul is a club icon and very important both on and off the pitch. I congratulate him for his effort. We hope we can enjoy watching him play for a long time.
Kaka worked very hard to recover from injury. He is a noble person and an incredible professional. He will prove just that in the many years he has left on his contract. It’s the team that wins matches and we have managed just fine depsite the absence of such a significant player like the former Ballon d’Or winner.
We need players who are extremely focused if we are to remain in the title hunt. We are obligated to remain astute and to take on each match like we did tonight. You never know what weekend might bring some surprises.
Pellegrini:
We have two or three great chances that we didn’t finish in the first half, but we were prepared to play hard until the final whistle. I don’t think we would have deserved the 1-1 draw.
I am always worried when I see the team play anxiously and nervous, but we managed to calm down and earn the win.
Zaragoza were too aggressive and fouled too much.
Kaka has always been an important player for us and he proved it again tonight.
We don’t control our own destiny. Our goal is to reach the 98-point mark and hope that Barcelona slip up.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano had nothing but words of praise for Real Madrid following their victory against Almeria. Manuel Pellegrini was pleased with several facets of his team’s performance, but especially their mental preparation. Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael van der Vaart, Gonzalo Higuain and Raul Albiol expressed their thoughts on their important win on Thursday night.
Valdano:
We did a great job and had a lot of scoring chances. We deserved this win and we earned it in a very difficult place to play.
Winning was a must and the team responded magnificently. We got over any jitters and the players put on a great display of professionalism. Our fans really value the fact that we don’t ever give up.
We have champion-worthy numbers. We need to maintain this rhythm to make things as difficult as possible for Barcelona. We don’t control our own destiny, but we know exactly where we stand and will resist losing in every way possible.
Pellegrini:
We played well in many aspects. We managed to recover psychologically, which was very hard after the last match. Tonight we also were more elaborate in creating plays, as we had been in previous matches. We had six or seven clear chances, but Alves had a great night.
The final outcome gives me the impression that the team was wary about Almeria’s chances of equalizing, but we had plenty of chances to increase the lead over the ninety minutes in order not to be so mindful of conceding another goal.
The team will continue fighting every Sunday to be as far on top as possible. We can only wait for Barcelona to slip stumble. Tonight we beat a tough opponent that played very well. There are plenty of points still in play and both we and Barcelona have complicated matches coming up.
Ronaldo:
We managed to win which was all that counted. These were three crucial points. The team played well. We had to win and now we cannot give up. We are Real Madrid and we cannot stop fighting.
MRIs Galore – Almeria pre-preview
UNLEASH THE KRAZEN!
The worst hangover a Madridista can have is the post-(title-hopes-deciding-Clásico-loss) one. And what makes you feel even worse is to see a host of players on the injured list just when you think that the whole team is finally recovering from injuries and suspensions. This week is one such and I am still recovering from the hangover. And before I could recover we seem to have yet another game to play, this time against Almería at the Estadio del Mediterráneo.
The week started in a lousy fashion as usual. Sunday was given off to the players and they returned to training on Monday when the news came out that an MRI performed on Raúl González at Sanitas La Moraleja revealed that the player has post-traumatic inflammation of his right meniscus; an injury that is expected to keep him sidelined between two and three weeks. El Siete along with Rafael van der Vaart, Kaká and Pepe worked out in the gym while the sole consolation was that Royston Drenthe seemed to have recovered from his injury. The wing-back was seen jogging at a normal pace along with his team mates.
The same day Valdano went on air with Cadena Ser and reassured us fans that the team is committed to winning the last seven games. He emphasised the fact that should that happen the 98 points we finish with will be historic. But what he didn’t mention would be the fact that if Barça too go undefeated they will end up with 101. But that isn’t how a Madridista thinks is it?
He then spoke about his hopes about our €56 million summer signing Ricardo Kaká coming back and making a big impact in the remaining seven games of which he might play only four or five probably.
Once Kaka returns we hope he can provide some answers… big answers. He has improved quite a bit. Let’s see if he is able to help us down the final stretch.
What he then said was the best part of the whole interview. While Marca had gone on and on about replacing him at the helm, Valdano simply killed all the nonsense talk, saying:
We are not looking for a new coach. Despite last weekend’s disappointment he always stays calm and has the strength to continue. Every Monday is the same for him whether the team wins or loses. He always confronts each week with peace of mind, which is quite a blessing when coaching a team like Real Madrid.
And that restored some peace in my head. It didn’t hurt as much as it did earlier in the day.
Then came Tuesday and yet another MRI was performed. This time it was on Christoph Metzelder after he abandoned Tuesday’s training sesssion. It was confirmed that the player is suffering from acute tendinitis in his right patelar tendon ergo is expected to miss two to three, during which he will undergo medical treatment and physiotherapy. Rafael van der Vaart returned to train with the rest of the group as did fellow Dutchman Royston Drenthe whereas Kaká and Raúl continued to train indoors. While Van der Vaart was expected to make the cut for tonight’s game the other three weren’t.
Wednesday was the usual closed door session and the focus had officially shifted to Almería. Juanma Lillo took over from Hugo Sanchez in Week 16 and the team now sits in the middle of the league table. With 37 points, Almería are nine clear of the danger zone with seven matches left to play. This year they have lost only two times at home, where they earned an important victory against Atlético Madrid and drew against Barcelona.
Though we won 4-2 in the home game against them since changing their name to UD Almeria they have not lost at home to Real Madrid. One victory and one draw against the Whites in the last two years show how tough the ground really has been for us. Almeria though are without a win in their last three league matches making predicting this game’s outcome a bitch.
Lillo has a full-strength squad to choose from aside from the injured Chico.
Real Madrid are coming out of their first loss at home this season. Los Merengues lost 2-0 to Barcelona in what might turn out to be the turning point in this season’s title race. It was the first time this season that we dropped points at home and the tide now favors Barcelona as far as La Liga is concerned. Sergio Ramos pointed out perfectly in his preview for the game in bwin.com that it would be a mistake to dwell on our last match because the league is still in play. Mathematically we are still in it and the last seven games will show us the real difference between the likes of Juande Ramos, Schuster etc. and Manuel Pellegrini. Last season we lost several consecutive games on the trot after the loss to Barcelona in the Clásico even though we were still in the race. This time we are in a similar situation and are now six points behind with a game in hand. The title race in England, Germany, Italy and France have shown us that anything is possible in football and we must be ready to take it when they come by. Ramos concurs:
We need to capitalize on the opportunities we are given. Almeria haven’t spent many years in Primera Division, but they always show up to play and we have a lot of respect for them. They aren’t by any means a pushover, but we have our weapons and hope to earn the win.
And that is what we must do. Respect but demolish Almería.
Manuel Pellegrini announced the names of the 18 men who will travel to Almeria later this evening for tomorrow’s match. Real Madrid Castilla’s Mateos and Juanfran made the final cut, while Garay was left out due to suspension and Raul, Metzelder, Kaka, Drenthe and Pepe remain unavailable due to injury.
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek.
Defenders: Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo, Mateos.
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Gago, Lass, Diarra, Guti, Van der Vaart, Granero.
Forwards: Benzema, Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Juanfran.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo, Gago, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Van der Vaart, Higuaín, Ronaldo.
Prediction: Almería 1-3 Real Madrid
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano refused to concede defeat to Barcelona in the Liga despite the Blaugrana’s win. Joan Laporta was in high spirits. Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed with his team’s defeat, but believes the league is far from over as there are still 21 points in play. Pep Guardiola admitted that it was not a dazzling victory, but one that needed a lot of courage and heart. The Real Madrid squad is “frustrated and hurt” for losing to Barcelona at the Bernabeu, but all the players believe the title can still be won. Messi said that beating Real was the first step to win the title. Andres Iniesta has issued a message of caution to his colleagues after Barcelona defeated Real Madrid, insisting that there are seven vital fixtures to go before the title is theirs. Goalscorer Pedro also discussed his satisfaction at the win, and his joy at netting the decisive second goal that extinguished Real Madrid’s hopes of victory, but was equally as cautious as his teammate, Iniesta.
Valdano:
We need to keep calm. We have to deal with the seven remaining games, and fight until the end. Seven games ago, Barcelona were five points ahead of us and we were able to cut that down. Now we hope to have a second chance.
The support are upset. Once again they got behind the team and I must thank them. I can’t speak ill of the team either, because they battled right until the end.
Laporta:
The important thing was to play the match as we did and take all three points. It was a very tough game but the team worked hard. We dedicate this to all the Barcelonistas throughout the world as we know that this is now a global game. We can’t think about the League Title now. We must be cautious and respectful, as we have been.
Pellegrini:
We lost the ball many times and were defeated by a team that is currently better than us. There are still 21 points in play and Real Madrid is not about to give up. We will keep trying to the very end.
I think my men were anxious to win. Barcelona hardly had any chances on our goal during the first half, but their first strike played a key role. We should have been calmer and had more moments to pause and think.
This is an important defeat, but there are still 21 points at stake. We could have done more things tonight. Barcelona didn’t play at their usual level, but their first goal strengthened their game. I think we could have hurt them much more.
Tiri, Nando and Sebastien
What better way to start the week in which Marcos Alonso made his long awaited first team debut than by hearing the news about the club trying to bolster Castilla. Last week Real Madrid confirmed the signing of John Neeskens from some random club in a random country somewhere North of Europe and now its Tiri, Nando and Sebastien who are being targeted. Goal.com reports that Real have apparently made an offer to Cadiz for three of their youngsters in their youth system viz. left-back Jose Luis Espinosa “Tiri”, midfielder Nando, and forward Sebastien.
The latter two youngsters play in Cadiz B in the Tercera Division, while Tiri has signed with the Cadiz first team. It is to be noted that Castilla got Javier Acuña from the Andalusian club in 2008. Brilliant isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to see a strong Castilla side that is capable of producing top quality players who are capable of replacing the stars in the first team whenever necessary irrespective of whether its injuries or form. I am well aware of the fact that its not our kind of football as we usually prefer to buy the stuff we need rather than sow and grow our own food. But what the hell this is also one form of buying only and thus we are not breaking tradition. We make home grown players instead of spotting them. Fair enough. Real have their own way of doing stuff. I mean no disrespect to the current players in Castilla, but I sincerely feel that the quality there just isn’t in proportion with what we have in the first team. I don’t mean stars but in general. A mid-table position is no good whatever the reason maybe.
In an interview to AS, Jorge Valdano, and I must say rightfully so, has said that irrespective of what the result of Saturday’s Clásico is at the Bernabéu La Liga race is still wide open. Valdano said:
I do not know if this match will decide La Liga as there will still be seven matches to play. It is true that it is a very important match, but La Liga does not end on Saturday. It could be a determining factor though.
Valdano agreed that the match against Barça has more value than a normal match because of the potential morale boost it could give hoped to come out the victors. The comments are in concurrence with what Pep Guardiola had to say earlier regarding this game.
And here’s the reason behind their theory. If Barça nick another win on Saturday, that will not put them ahead on points but they will also be ahead on the head-to-head record. After El Clásico, Barcelona face Deportivo (H), Espanyol (A) , host Xerez, visit Villarreal, host Tenerife, visit Sevilla, and finish against Valladolid at home. Considering the current form of the clubs and the quality of the league over all the only places where they might drop points, except all those games would be the ones against Sevilla, Deportivo, Espanyol and Villareal. Apart from those games they have a fairly easy run in.
Whereas if Real win they will go ahead on points and depending upon the scoreline will be either ahead or equal with them on head-to-head. Real immediately after the Clásico make the trip to Almeria, then play Valencia at the Bernabéu the following week, travel to Zaragoza, host Osasuna, travel to the Ono Estadi to face Mallorca followed by Athletic Bilbao at home, and finally travel to Malaga. And out of these the games against Valencia, Mallorca, Zaragoza and the generally freaky games that we have against Bilbao at home pose a threat.
Ergo its Even Steven. They might lose all their games and we will win all of ours.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano expressed his pleasure with the team’s performance following the 3-2 derby win. Manuel Pellegrini offered his impression of the derby victory during the post-match press conference. Atletico Madrid coach Quique Flores was left to rue injuries to Juan Valera and Jose Antonio Reyes as they lost the city derby to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso scored Real Madrid’s first goal of the evening and provided the precision pass that Arbeloa fired home to give the Whites the lead. Higuin later added the third, which proved to be the game-winner. Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Gago, Sergio Ramos and Esteban Granero appeared in the mixed zone following Real Madrid’s victory on Sunday to discuss the significance of the match.
Valdano:
Derbies are always unique. We were a little antsy at first, but in the last ten minutes of the first half and the entire second half we were a whirlwind of energy. The final score doesn’t reflect all the chances we had. We scored three goals again. This team’s scoring streak is quite impressive.
We need to continue winning. We need to go to Santander with the same attitude and our players need to maintain their rhythm. Real Madrid have had an admirable season. We have scored 84 goals and have notched 74 points with nine games to play.
I am very pleased for Arbeloa. He scored a beautiful goal that gave us the lead at a very tough stage in the match.
Pellegrini:
It was important to play well after the restart. We scored three goals and had chances to score more. We had a clear idea of what we wanted and I think the penalty allowed Atletico to gain confidence.
We were somewhat static during the first half, but we controlled every action after the restart. Perhaps we didn’t have clear opportunities during the first twenty minutes, but we they were intense opportunities. The football we played was enough to beat Atletico, which is all that counts.
Atletico are a good team that are competing in three competitions. We had to work hard. What interests me more than the point difference is the way we played and earned a fair victory.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is so aware of the shots that could have been scored is just part of his game. I believe in him and Higuain. They don’t think about being the top scorers, although I hope they finish like that.
We had to beat Atletico and now Racing and Barcelona await. I have complete faith in the squad and in whoever is on the pitch.
Quique Flores:
We have been affected by the departure of Valera and Reyes and especially by the fact they scored so early in the second half. From there, the game has been different.
The start of the second half has been the key. Time would have been our friend had we managed to maintain our concentration and our handling of the situation. But all the goals could have been averted. A stationary ball, an error and a cross. We made a decent effort and we were quite close to achieving something positive.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano offered his impression of Real Madrid’s win againnst Valladolid and insisted that the team will do everything it can to hold on to the top spot in the championship. Manuel Pellegrini positively assessed his team’s performance after their 1-4 win against Valladolid to remain top in La Liga. Following their win against Valladolid, several Real Madrid players discussed how the match unfolded and its consquences on La Liga.
Valdano:
We were obligated to put in a good effort because we had to shake off all the tension that had accumulated in the dressing room.
Cristiano’s goal helped loosen us up and we later played more consistent football and pulled off an impressive win. We’re going to hold onto this lead as tight as we can.
Higuain is a very talented and professional player. We aren’t just interested in renewing his contract. We also want him to end his career as a Madridista.
Pellegrini:
I am very happy with the way we played. Every match is like a final and today we needed to win to stay positive. We need to compete for the title. The players know what is at stake and don’t want everything done so to date to be in vain. The team proved it’s on the right track.
We were expecting an aggressive Valladolid and we knew that some statements made earlier this week could affect them, but we never provoked them and knew how to handle the situation.
Higuain was quite upset on Wednesday, but he has a lot of personality. I am very happy for him. He immediately found his footing and scored goals, which he has been doing all season long.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are playing at the same level, so whoever makes the fewest mistakes will end up winning La Liga. All that counts now is that we continue seeking wins no matter where we play. We have won eight straight matches and are averaging three or more goals per match.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano offered his thoughts following the match and explained how the team needs to overcome the situation. Manuel Pellegrini expressed his disappointment following the match and analyzed his team’s performance. Claude Puel was basking in a “great achievement” as Miralem Pjanić’s late goal took Olympique Lyonnais into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Casillas, Guti, Granero, Arbeloa and Ramos expressed their thoughts after being knocked out of the Champions League.
Valdano:
We are very sad, but it is time for restraint and to cheer the players up. They are great professionals and we have complete faith in them.
Lyon stuck to its plan and played a tough game. In the second half, Real Madrid mixed fatigue with ambition, which led to the defeat and elimination.
Real Madrid didn’t play with drive, but rather with the natural innate ambition of many talented players who wanted to win the tie. Only a matter of days ago we gave a schooling on what being a team means and we lost that in 48 hours.
This project is barely under way and tonight was a sad night because we had placed a lot of hope in this competition. We need to be as united as ever now, to cheer the players up and to prove who we really are in order to get over this situation and take on the criticism that lies ahead.
Pellegrini:
The first responsibility is mine, but we have to overcome this blow and keep fighting for the Liga title.
It is a very big setback. We played well in the first half but had two chances and failed to convert them. After the break the team were growing anxious until the Lyon goal came. It was a dream for all of us to play the final at the Bernabéu. The players are hurt by a painful elimination, but we have to lift our mood and keep working. That’s all I can do; keep working. It’s a big blow but we must look ahead.
We had a great first half and could have scored a second. That would have opened Lyon’s defence and made things easier. In the second half we tried more individual actions but that was because we were concerned about it only being 1-0, and then we began to feel the effort of the first half. The chances we missed in the first half are really to blame. It’s a very strong setback suffered by Madrid for the sixth consecutive season but we have to keep fighting.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano expressed his thoughts on Real Madrid’s solid performance against Tenerife. Manuel Pellegrini leaves Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium a very happy coach after Real Madrid earned their sixth straight game in La Liga. Several Real Madrid squad members offered their thoughts on their 5-1 win against Tenerife.
Valdano:
We played a very serious game that allows us to continue dreaming large. We worked the open spaces really well in the first half. The three forwards moved around a lot which made midfielders’ job easier and wore Tenerife out. The second half paid dividends.
Higuain is having a brilliant season and played another excellent match.
Raul is such a role model. He plays for 14 or 15 minutes and everything he does has a sense of teamwork. It is so nice to see such an emblematic player perform well. He had a solid outing and the goal was the perfect pay off for such hard work.
Pellegrini:
Seeing the way other teams struggled here served us well. We knew Tenerife were a tough team to beat so we came out strong on the offensive front. Seeing the way this team works collectively is very satisfying, but among that teamwork those players who can really tip the scales in our favor need to show up, too.
The fact that we are the highest scoring team in the league is the result of the work we have been doing since day one. Our conviction gives us the opportunity to be where we are. We are a team of many variants.
The proof that Tenerife is a good team is that once we had the lead and didn’t mark their men as closely, they showed up and scored. They played a very complete match.
There is always room for improvement. We still aren’t the perfect team. We need to contain the ball better on defense, but we will get it taken off.
I found out about the earthquake in Chile early this morning and my heart goes out to all those affected. I hope the country comes together and overcomes this tragedy.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano was delighted with Real Madrid’s 6-2 victory over Villarreal at the Bernabeu. Manuel Pellegrini was very happy with his team’s victory over Villarreal. Sergio Ramos played his 200th game with Real Madrid tonight and was proud of being part of the Club’s history. Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the media after the team’s victory over Villarreal and had words of support for his countrymen in Madeira. Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals against Villarreal and gave a splendid performance.
Valdano:
Real Madrid were patient when Villarreal defended fiercely, and when their defence opened up, they had an overwhelming number of chances on goal. We scored six strikes, but we could have netted more.
This victory speaks for the style of the team and its coach. Our job is to win games because this league will be resolved with very few points between the top two teams. The players’ ambition was obvious when they kept trying to score goals when the team’s lead was already large.
Pellegrini managed many situations tonight very well. I think bringing Diarra on was an intelligent decision. Kaka played a great game. Higuain is tremendously fast. He is also helped by the good crosses he gets from players like Cristiano Ronaldo.
I hope this score ends all debate. We should just focus on training every day and taking each game as if it was our last.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano analysed the team’s defeat against Olympique Lyonnais after the match was over. Manuel Pellegrini analysed his team’s defeat for the media in a press conference. Ronaldo and Kaka are optimistic with the team’s chances of reaching the next round. Alonso and Ramos keep their hopes up of turning the score around in the return leg at the Bernabeu. Arbeloa and Albiol believe concentration is the key to winning at the Bernabeu.
Valdano:
It’s been a bad night overall, especially given the final score. We had ups and downs during the match, but we weren’t ourselves.
The score forces us to really concentrate during the return leg at the Bernabeu. The absences of Marcelo and Alonso will be very important because they help our game flow better. This squad is nevertheless large and capable of winning the match.
Olympique rarely stepped out of their half of the pitch in the final minutes, but they made things very difficult for us for a long time, especially in midfield.
Pellegrini:
This isn’t a good result for us because we lost and failed to score an important goal. I nevertheless think it is possible for us to make a comeback if we play in an orderly fashion at home.
Hope and excitement musn’t be lost just because of a deafeat. We always knew the game would be difficult. The important thing is not to despair, find balance and try to net a strike to the very end.
We played well, especially in the final minutes, during which we were superior. I think we responded well.
Olympique had a strong start to the match and played a very physical game. We weren’t very effective. Lyonnais have a solid aerial game and used it as much as they could throughout the clash. Diarra was a starter because he is very tall and helped us in aerial plays.
Post-match comments
Real Madrid cut the gap at the top to two points with a win over Xerez, and Jorge Valdano is pleased with their progress. Manuel Pellegrini pointed out the hard work and discipline displayed by his players. Saturday’s star of the show, Cristiano Ronaldo, turned all the attention to the team’s effort rather than his individual performance. Sergio Ramos and Marcelo discussed the victory against Xerez upon its conclusion. Casillas, Granero and Drenthe discussed the difficulties they faced against Xerez and turned their attention to Tuesday’s champions League match against Lyon.
Valdano:
We are right up next to Barcelona. We are in good form, with a full set of players to choose from. Ronaldo contained himself today, even when he was fouled and the referee played on. He is starting to understant the style of refereeing in Spain. He has become more intelligent as a player.
Pellegrini:
Xerez felt our pressure and luckily we had more room to work with and close out the match following the first goal.
Scoring is tough no matter who the opponent is. We were up against a good Xerez team in the first half. The field of play wasn’t in the best of shape, but we maintained our discipline. This team is mature and ready to battle for 90 minutes. We know we can’t demolish every opponent.
Cristiano Ronaldo attracts a lot of defenders. Scoring upon his return from suspension was the best that could happen to him.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
What matters most is that the team won and that we put the pressure on Barcelona. I am very pleased with my return. We need to pay attention to ourselves and continue on the path we are on.
In your face Barça!
Barça, Barça, Barça… How weird does that sound?
Today’s post is dedicated to FC Barcelona and all the defenders it has in the infirmary.NOT. Who gives a crap about them anyways?
Today’s post is totally dedicated solely FC Barcelona and the monotonous football that it plays. NOT. I don’t give a crap about it either.
OK. Before you get ready to beat me up let me get started. Today’s post is just like anyother day. We start with a joke. We go on to serious affairs where I’d just loot a few lines from here and there and decorate it using a few quotes etc before finally I tell you who has and who has not been training.
Before you ask me I assure you that this post is totally not about Giovanni Trapattoni and the vacant Nigeria post.
First part of the post will be a game of True or False.
Statement 1. Cristiano Ronaldo rejected a move to Barcelona in order to join Real Madrid.
False. Barça can’t afford him. That is why they went for Ibracunt – the poor man’s Ronaldo.
Statement 2. Real would have been pipped to the post for Ronaldo’s signature had the player not had such a strong desire to move to the Bernabeu.
False. He wouldn’t have gone anywhere.
Statement 3. Both the club and player accepted a clause which would have ensured a €30 million fine had either of them pulled out of the deal.
False again. This rumor had been denied several million times by every party involved.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano described Real Madrid’s performance against Espanyol as “solid and serious.” Manuel Pellegrini was happy with the victory against Espanyol. Kaka scored the team’s second strike against Espanyol. The Brazilian was happy with the victory and said he feels better on the pitch. Higuain, Granero and Marcelo were very satisfied with the team’s performance against Espanyol. Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol gave excellent performances in defence, helping Real Madrid to concede no goals against Espanyol. The former even scored the opening goal.
Valdano:
We dominated from start to finish and played a solid and serious game, especially during the first half. We made brilliant and not so brilliant passes, but we were always better.
We did well both in defence and in attack. We also performed well in aerial plays, as evidenced by Sergio Ramos’ goal. The strike sealed a brilliant performance by the defender.
Kaka enhances the team’s presence in the attacking front. It’s obvious he feels more comfortable now that he’s recovered. I’m sure he will help us a lot during the rest of the season.
Higuain scored following a great effort and a brilliant control of the ball. He dribbled past the keeper with ease. It is very important for a striker to score again.
The team waits for Ronaldo’s return with victories, which proves just how solid it is. Nevertheless, we seem to be even more powerful when he plays.
Barcelona don’t fail. They are playing at a very high level, but the season is far from over. We’ve improved a lot since all this started and we must wait for them to drop points.
Pellegrini:
We played very well in the first half and we had many chances to score, but Kameni did three or four saves. Espanyol never give up or fall apart. We generated less ball movement in the second half, but we still had a couple of chances on goal and we managed to score.
Higuain has never left the starting lineup. He left it only because of an injury and he’s made his comeback this week. Guti has had some physical problems and we decided he shouldn’t play the entire match.
The team has responded well to everything we’ve tried since the season started. We won 6-0 against Zaragoza with a different midfield. Lass also played well and so did Granero, who is having a good run. We want as many players as possible to be in top form in the crucial months of March and April.
This is my sixth season in Spain and I have never complained about referees. Neither has Real Madrid. We’ve all said Barcelona are leaders because they deserve to be. We just concentrate on playing.
Kaka had a difficult month and a half and tonight he made important passes and assists. He will gradually reach optimum form again. He is still a very important player. I’m sure we’ll soon see him at his best.
We don’t look at what Barcelona do. The only thing that matters to us is what we do and that we keep up the good work.
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano discussed the importance of Saturday’s win at the Riazor following the match. Manuel Pellegrini underscored the team’s eagerness to win in statements made following the victory against Deportivo. Unquestionably one of the keys to Real Madrid’s victory against Deportivo, Guti commented on the historic win. Esteban Granero scored the first goal of the night and proved once again just how talented he his. Alvaro Arbeloa showed just how versatile he can be by covering the right back position with Marcelo back in the lineup. The defender also assisted on the third and final goal of the night.
Valdano:
Fortunately we won and ended an historic streak, but we also had a little trouble in the last twenty minutes of the match. We are calm and we know the team is making progress. Cristiano Ronaldo is an excpetional player and we are happy to have him, but behind him there is a tremendous team.
Pellegrini:
The team came out in similar fashion as the victory against Espanyol. The players were very motivated as they entered a was had tended to be a very hostile environment for Real Madrid.
The league is up for grabs until mathematically impossible. It is matches like these that are so important to win.
We sought the win from the very start. We were the superior team throughout the match. Our game plan as visitors is to always take the initiative; a facet of the game I believe is extremely important.
Guti:
We hadn’t won here in many years. We played great in the first half and had many scoring chances.
I saw Benzema out of the corner of my eye and as the goalkeeper rushed towards me I flicked it back to my teammate.
This was the fair outcome. We proved that we are a great team and we are still in the fight. Real Madrid’s pride rests on winning titles.
Just another Madridista
Hala Madrid 
Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Carvalho carried the team on this shoulders for most of the game. Here he is seen carrying Di Maria.
Real Madrid remain at the top of the Primera Division table after securing yet another regulation derby victory over Los Rojiblancos. Ricardo Carvalho scored his second goal in White and Mesut Ozil added to the scoreline from a clever free-kick with both goals coming within the first 20 minutes of the game. But as many suggest the game was marred by the lack of competition offered by the men in red and white stripes which is just another way of saying Real were at their dominating best and gave Atleti no chance of getting back into the game.
So said Quique Sanchez Flores prior to the game. As ambitious as it might sound to you it is clear that Atleti are clearly not bothered about the league title. All that they are playing for is a top 4 finish which they probably will get even if they drop all points against the top sides in Spain. But then again the gulf in quality between the two sides seemed so large that even if Atleti had wanted to stay in the game they couldn’t have. Having said that this was probably one of the toughest games we have had to play season considering the fact that Atletico breached our defense on several occasions and St.Iker had to make more saves than he had had to make in any other game of this season.
Real kicked off the game in usual fashion with Di Maria on the right and Ronaldo on the left and looking dangerous right from the first minute of the game. Forlan as expected returned to the line up and several eyes were on De Gea as many expect him to succeed Iker as the Spanish National Team’s custodian. And he would be tested as early as in the third when Xabi Alonso swung in a corner from the left for Pepe to hand our neighbors the first warning with a header which somewhat went straight at De Gea. The 80, 000 fans were at their hostile best and so was Real as in a few minutes later Ronaldo showed quick feet to find Di Maria in the box whose darting shot could only be scuppered by De Gea with the rebound falling straight to an offside Sami Khedira.
The first goal then came. In the thirteenth minute, former Madridista Jose Antonio Reyes was dispossessed by Xabi Alonso in midfield and the ball fell straight to Ricardo Carvalho who kick started yet another Real Madrid attack by passing to Higuain and continued his darting run into the box. The Argentine while trying to get past a couple of Atleti players lost the ball only to fellow Argentine Di Maria whose slightly deflected pass to Carvalho was met by the Portuguese center half. Carvalho made no mistake and expertly finished the move to net his second goal for Real Madrid and clearly hammered the all important first nail in Atletico’s coffin. And within a couple of minutes Real should have doubled the lead through Pipita when Ronaldo sent him through. But he could only find De Gea’s long legs with his shot. Carvalho was on hand post-game to comment on the game, saying:
And we didn’t. The final nail in the coffin would come a few minutes later, six to be precise. Sergio Ramos lofted a ball over Atleti’s defense for Cristiano who was marked by Dominguez. The defender fouled CR just outside the edge of their box on the right for the referee to award a free kick in favor of the Whites. Even though at first glance it just didn’t seem like a foul I have to say that Ronaldo is quick and even the slightest obstacle can bring him down pretty easily. And to everyone’s surprise the Portuguese did not line up for the free-kick. It was between Xabi and Ozil and it would be the German who would take it. Ozil’s low and curling drive defeated the Atletico custodian comprehensively going in at the far post. There were three important things to be noted with respect to this goal. Firstly, it was Reyes’ mistake again as he was Atleti’s first line of defense behind the wall and he failed to clear the low shot. To put it in a nutshell Reyes was clearly outsmarted by Ozil. Secondly, Florentino Perez’s reaction to the goal. It was clearly a “Suck on that, Gil!” kind of reaction something that you rarely see our President do. Our First Lady too seemed delighted with Ozil’s masterclass. And finally, the man himself, Mesut Ozil kissing Real Madrid’s crest. And that is what concerns me. I am a very, what you could call, conservative fan. I really do believe that kissing the crest is something that you should do only when you are Hierro-esque or Maldini-istic or Raul-ish kind of a player. Seeing Ozil do that did bring tears in my eyes as I see him as the future of this club. But if he does leave the club he would then become a cunt which I hope doesn’t happen. I hope you get my point here.
Anyhoo, moving on with the game (which was virtually over by then), Reyes the root cause for both the goals shifted the blame on to the team as a whole in what I feel was a clever move. Real’s hero of the 31st League title said during the post match presser that:
Yeah, yeah. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.
Even though we did not have that many problems defensively there was one thing which I noticed. Almost all of their chances were created from the wings, more from their right than the left. I know that Marcelo is far better than what he was last season, defensively that is. But then again is that enough? If he is going to struggle to keep Reyes and Simao quiet I doubt what would be the case when he faces the likes of Messi, Muller and so on. Patrice Evra apparently is interested in the job, but then again he is a cunt and we need no cunts. Little Marcel is learning a lot though, which he admits:
As the match neared the half an hour mark Atletico were piling the pressure on Real with several half chances. And then they almost had a penalty. Simao’s corner from the left eventually fell to Aguero on the half volley. Maradona’s son-in-law’s shot struck Xabi Alonso on the hand in what was a completely involuntary incident. Xabi clearly had no intention of blocking the shot with his hand and it did seem like a clear accident. And thankfully the referee either didn’t see it or didn’t give two hooping hoots about it. But since that was their only real chance of getting back into the game all that Reyes could do was blame it all on that single incident.
Different, my ass.
Reyes’ effort from the edge of our box was saved well by Casillas while we ourselves should have had a penalty for Simao’s 50:50 challenge on Di Maria inside their box. And that’s just about it. The chances just stopped coming towards the last fifteen minutes of the first half for both sides.
The second half started and Real immediately signaled their intent to score as many as they possibly can. Ozil cross from the left fell perfectly for Higuain to volley it against the post from just inside the box. The ball fell harmlessly for a goal kick. That was probably the only good chance that Higuain had throughout the game. It’d be harsh to say that Pipita had a poor game as the supply just was not there. Ozil was excellent throughout the game mesmerizing their defense from time to time. But he too couldn’t provide much to our offense. Di Maria had an average game considering the standards that he has set himself. But Ronaldo, I felt, was pathetic. He wasted possession by taking lame ass shots almost every time he had the ball in attack and all his crosses fell to no one. But the manager was happy with his performance or at least that is what he told the world.
Well, even though it is sort of a round about way of saying “he works hard but just isn’t able to do anything” I should say that I unequivocally agree with JM. Ronaldo is indeed a difference maker. You can somehow feel it when he isn’t there in the game. His mere presence somehow seems to boost the rest of the players. The same applies to Kaka as well. I guess that’s what makes them superstars.
Before I start jizzing over them let me finish off what I started. On the hour mark, Atletico came closest to scoring a goal. Yet another corner from the left was cleared by our defense but only as far as Forlan who was outside the box. His Mendieta/Scholes like volley was low and hard and struck the post. A few inches to the right and it probably would have beaten St.Iker. A few minutes later Marcelo released Mesut Ozil with a superb pass from our own half. The German, tracked by former Madridista Filipe Luis, had his shot blocked resulting in a corner. A half-chance as it may be, it should have been finished off.
Atleti made the first change of the game bringing in Raul Garcia on for Tiago Mendes. And a few minutes later Real made theirs as Karim Benzema came on for Gonzalo Higuain. The game was starting to get a little boring so to speak and I started dozing off. Flores brought on Diego Costa for Sabrosa Simao to liven things up but hell it only got worse. Carvalho, who by far was probably our best player on the pitch, had to be taken off as he sustained a jagged left lower eyelid bruise with mild concussion. He was replaced by Albiol and things were no different. Momo Diarra too came on and for Di Maria indicating that the match would only get slower and might even come to a standstill.
Mourinho, speaking post-game, said that he wanted to make things slower and for us to get a hold of the game. He justified his move by admitting that Atletico were by far the team that gave us maximum trouble at home. Hell, this guy is always right and no wonder the game put me to sleep.
We could have scored five though, through Marcelo, Khedira, Benzema and Ronaldo respectively. But all the shots were saved by De Gea. Sergio Ramos had the best chance to extend our lead. Xabi’s cross came on perfectly for Ramos, who was completely unmarked in Atleti’s box, but he couldn’t hit the target with his header from close range.
And that was that. Real Madrid have not lost to Atletico Madrid in 18 games now over a 11 year time period. My man of the match choice was easy and pretty much universal. Ricardo Carvalho had a fantastic evening and surely he is on of our best signings of recent times. Valdano summed up pretty much whatever I want to say:
Match Stats:
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Ricardo Carvalho (Albiol 83′), Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Özil, Di María (Mahamadou Diarra 83′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Benzema 74′);
Atletico Madrid: De Gea, Valera, Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Filipe Luis, M. Suárez, Reyes, Tiago (Raúl García 69′), Simao (Diego Costa 76′), Forlán, Agüero;
Goals:
1-0, 13’: Carvalho;
2-0, 19’: Ozil
Notes: Week 10 of La Liga
Played at: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Mr. Mateu Lahoz
Booked: Tiago (66), Mario Suárez (61), Sami Khedira (72), Ricardo Carvalho (76)
Man of the match: Ricardo Carvalho
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November 8, 2010 | Categories: Match Reports, Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Atlético Madrid, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Jorge Valdano, José Antonio Reyes, José Mourinho, Marcelo Vieira, Mesut Özil, Quique Sánchez Flores, Ricardo Carvalho | Leave a comment