Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini addressed the media the day before Real Madrid’s match in Xerez.
Tomorrow’s game:
We’ve talked about how important it is not to think about the Champions League before our match in Xerez. It doesn’t matter that they are last on the table. They’ve improved since Gorosito took over and I’m sure they will be a complicated opponent. We are ready to defeat them and take three points.
Injuries:
Every team sustains many muscle injuries. We are not worried about that. It would be ideal to sustain less, but we have to deal with it. Everything is under control.
Sergio Ramos:
I like Ramos both as a centre back and down the wings because he is very versatile. We played well with him as a right back. All my defenders have been responding well. Ramos has been a starter with Spain as a right back. He can play in both positions.
Garay:
Garay is a starting player and he hasn’t played as much because Pepe and Albiol had a great start to the campaign. Every substitution works well defensively speaking. Everyone helps out; it isn’t just the defenders who try to steal the ball.
Lass to Realmadrid.com
Lassana Diarra talked to RealmadridTV and Realmadrid.com about life in Madrid, the Champions League and La Liga.
How do you feel after your return from injury?
I feel good. Not as well as I would like, so I still have some work to do. I hope I get to where I want to be in the next few days.
There have been lots of changes this season. Last year you were always first choice, but now there are lots of options in the midfield. Do you like this competition?
It has always been like that since I started playing football. Big teams always have that competition. The manager has to make a choice when there are so many good players to choose from. You have to be fit and play at a high level all the time. It’s good for the team. Sometimes the players don’t want this kind of competition, but I think it is good for everyone because you work more and get better, and in the end everyone wins. It is good for everyone.
You have adapted so well to the Primera. Do you think it had to do with the fact that you played in the English Premiership?
Of course. I played for two big teams in England so it helped me a lot. I started to play for big teams when I was young so I learned a lot from good managers and good players. I think I can deal with this kind of situation because I know what can happen in team’s like this one. This is why I have adapted well since coming here.
There has been a lot of talk about referees at the moment here in Spain. What do you think the difference is between English and Spanish refereeing? Spanish referees appear to be more strict.
The mentality between football in England and here is completely different. They don’t like contact here. If I play like I play in England I get shown a lot of yellow cards. I need to be a little calmer here. It is different, but I have to deal with it.
We have seen you getting forward more this season. You have scored a goal, you take more chances… How much has it helped having Xabi Alonso there to allow you to get forward?
Xabi Alonso likes to maintain possession of the ball and change it to the left or right. It is good for the team because we have more possession of the ball because of him. It allows me to move a little more forward and take my chances.
Do you speak to him in English or in Spanish?
In both. I can speak a little Spanish but only on the pitch (laughs).
Just another Madridista
Lets beard them – Xerez pre-preview
Hola,
First of all some team news. I cannot make it tomorrow. I am down with a calf strain. And let me tell you it hurts like a bitch. Moving on, we’ve got a lot to talk about today. Actually its about tomorrow, but since we’re talking today and because we’ve got a lot to talk about we’ve got a lot to talk about today. Haha.. jokes apart, we have got a lot to talk about.
Real Madrid will play the bottom of the league side, Xerez in the 20:00 CET kick off on Saturday. This is a team that defeated the great and mighty Mallorca and is under new head coach Gorosito.
Xerez is one of the most scored upon teams of the league. Hence they played the 4-2-3-1 and still the tradition follows. At the other end though Carlos Calvo, Moreno, Bermejo and Momo have all scored in the last four games, the latter two teaming up to become a force to be reckoned with.
They have only won two of their eleven matches played at home. But still have made the tickets for Real Madrid’s arrival there the costliest so far this season for a home game at the Chapin. The last team to visit them, Mallorca, lost the game 2-1.
Now for some team news. Guti, Benzema, Dudek, Metzelder and Pepe have been ruled out from the squad list. The vice-captain suffered a sprained right ankle and it is yet uncertain whether or not he will miss next week’s Champions League game against OL. Benzema has Enthesitis on the left adductor muscle like mentioned yesterday/day before/the day before that. Jerzy Dudek, who has picked up a contusion in his knee, is bound to miss the game.
Nineteen men have made Manuel Pellegrini’s squad list. Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension is over and he will be able to face the Andalusian side. Garay has recovered from his injury and will travel with the team. Youth teamers Mosquera and Adan have also made the cut.
(more…)
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February 12, 2010 | Categories: Comments, News, Pre-preview, Transfer Rumours | Tags: Chapín, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Fernando Gago, Iker Casillas, José María Gutiérrez 'Guti', Karim Benzema, Marcelo Vieira, Milos Krasic, Patrick Vieira, Raúl González Blanco, Xerez CD, Zinedine Zidane | Leave A Comment »