Mourinho to Realmadrid.com
Jose Mourinho offered his first official interview to RealmadridTV and Realmadrid.com on Monday, during which he admitted that coaching Real Madrid is a huge motivational factor based on it’s history, tradition and the current project in place.
"This is a challenge I could not let escape"
What are your first thoughts as the new head coach of Real Madrid?
I am quite relaxed and motivated, which is all one can be when proud to join Real Madrid. This is as good as it gets for a football professional. I need some vacation time, but I would love to be able to start training my new players tomorrow if I could.
You once said that a coach will always feel an absence if they never make it to coach Real Madrid. Is that what drove you to reach this point?
I knew that sooner or later I would coach Real Madrid. I was successful coaching past teams. Real Madrid’s history, tradition and this project are tremendous motivational factors after winning the Champions League with Inter Milan. When one cycle ends another begins, and Real Madrid is a challenge that no coach can let escape.
You have been successful in Portugal, England and Italy. You have won practically everything. Is coaching in La Liga another incentive?
I am familiar with Spain because I worked here for four years but under different circumstances. The possibility of winning La Liga is tremendous incentive for me because no coach has won the Champions League or the league in three different countries. I am a club and group man. I have empathy for the employees, the players and the fans. I want to be the same Mourinho that has worked for other teams. The magnitude of this club doesn’t frighten me. It won’t be an easy challenge, but I am anxious to take it on. I am very excited to begin working here.
Pepe’s return will also be important.
If the doctors of Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team say he is fit, then he must be. It’s great that he can play for Portugal because he will come back with the confidence of having played important World Cup matches. It’s important that our injured players begin preseason training with the desire to work hard. It is incredible that in the middle of the preseason in August some of our players will have to leave to play a match with the national team. It happened to me a lot at Chelsea and Inter Milan. I would only have four or five players to coach, but if you have the best players out there then…
Which of Casillas’ skills stand out for you?
It’s easy to defend well when you have many defensive players. It’s difficult to do when you have many attackers. With many defenders you are bound to defend well, but you don’t attack. If you play with many attackers and you are well organized as a team you can make a difference. My teams all have team players. They do a good job in defense, but they also play the game, score goals and win matches and titles. They are balanced and ambitious teams. Casillas is a fantastic goalkeeper. My goalkeeper coach is also great. He made Victor Baia the best goalkeeper in Europe. He did the same for Cech. I hope he’s done the same for Julio Cesar this season and that he does so for Casillas next year. I don’t know Casillas personally, but I like him very much.
What’s more important for you to work on first, physicality or psychology?
It’s a global process in which the psychological aspect of training is important. It isn’t easy for a coach to work when his players arrive little by little throughout the preseason. My goal is to reach the first match of the championship in decent form.
Mourinho press conference
Surrounded by press from around the world, Jose Mourinho was introduced as the new head coach of Real Madrid on Monday.
"The nicest thing of all isn’t playing or coaching Real Madrid, but winning with Real Madrid"
Valdano introduction:
It is an honor to have one of the most prestigious coaches in the world join us. We are very happy to have him sign for Real Madrid. My job is to look for what is best for the club and at this moment the best is Jose Mourinho, which is why he is here. Welcome and good luck.
Mourinho:
I don’t know if I was born to coach Real Madrid, but I was definitely born to coach football. I am a coach and I like the most difficult of challenges.
I am attracted to Real Madrid’s history, their frustrations of recent years and the expectation to win. This is a one-of-a-kind club. I am very proud to coach Real Madrid. I would like to think that my players think the same as I do. The nicest thing of all this isn’t playing or coaching Real Madrid, but winning with Real Madrid. This is what motivates me.
I think four years are enough to win, build a team with an identity and in football terms prepare for the present and future of Real Madrid. I am very excited and confident. I have a lot of faith in my new players and I hope they do in their new coach.
I want to thank the President, the Board and Jorge Valdano for thinking about Jose Mourinho as the head coach for their project.
My goal is to build the present in order to build the future. The second year will be key. It is when the balance between the growth of the team and the job the coach has done is reached. We do not need much time to build a team with its own identity and future.
I can promise that I am Jose Mourinho and that Jose Mourinho works hard and well, perhaps too much. What drives me the most is always the next challenge and that is now Real Madrid. My level of motivation or dedication never changes. I always do my best, and I will give everything I have to Real Madrid. I have worked hard to deserve to be here today.
I’ve arrived here after winning all the titles a coach can win at club level, but I never relax. I always want more. It’s important to be humble enough to learn something new every day. I want what Real Madrid wants. From this day, Real Madrid and I are the same and want the same things.
Playing in an organised fashion is different from playing a defensive game. When a lie is repeated constantly intelligent people will always regard it as a lie; non intelligent people, however, will transform it into truth. Luckily, there are more intelligent than non-intelligent people in football and that’s why I coach teams like Porto, Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Balance comes from playing well with and without the ball, from defending and attacking, and from being psychologically strong to win decisive games. It is impossible to win important games or titles without psychological strength. Football is played by a group of men. They are all different, but they work together and form a family that can sometimes become even more important to them than their own families. The club is a second family to players. You can only achieve this through great levels of empathy. This is the only way to earn unexpected results. Once that moment comes, footballers remain my players forever.
Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible and important player, but team-work is more important to me than individual efforts. Raul has made history at Real Madrid and I can’t treat him like any other player. Overall, the team does not need drastic changes. It may need two or three new players to increase the squad’s chances to adapt to a specific style.
I don’t want my squad to be afraid of any opponent. Fear is not a word you can find in my dictionary of football and I don’t want it to be in that of my players. You need to play twelve games before reaching the Champions League final. All the good and bad things from previous years no longer counts. We will start from scratch. We will work on each game at a time without obsessing about the tournament. We will dream about reaching the Wembley final, but we won’t be obsessed by the idea. Pressure is a motivational factor for me; it isn’t something that affects my job negatively.
Lads and Lasses, Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is officially the head coach of Real Madrid after signing a deal through June 2014 on Monday.
Mourinho inks deal with Real Madrid
After meeting with Florentino Perez, Jorge Valdano, Miguel Pardeza and several members of the Board, Jose Mourinho signed a four-year deal with Real Madrid. Mourinho subsequently held a short conversation with President of Honor Alfredo di Stefano and was later presented with the pen used to ink his contract, a replica of the Santiago Bernabeu, a gold watch and a shirt with his name and the number 1 on the back like the tradition is at Real Madrid.
So its finally on paper. Jose is here to stay. How long? Only he knows that.
Real Madrid Veterans 4-3 Milan Glorie
The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium held the Corazon Classic Match 2010 between veterans of Real Madrid and AC Milan. The match was of a charitable nature, aiming to get funds for research of sudden death syndrome.
Seven goals for a worthy cause
The crowd at the Bernabeu was thrilled by legendary football stars such as Ballon d’Or winners Zidane, Figo, Weah and Papin as well as other great former players like Sanchis, McManaman, Karembeu, Maldini and Baresi.
Four goals were netted during the first half and three in the last 45 minutes. Milan’s Simoni opened the scoreboard with a powerful shot that proved unstoppable for Paco Buyo (4’). Rui Costa scored the second two minutes later following a clearance in the small area.
Real Madrid soon reacted, but Milan keeper Rossi’s sharp reflexes thwarted many of their chances. Butragueño scored the Whites’ first by finishing off a great play by Zidane and Figo with a header (11′). A few minutes later, Luis Figo brilliantly assisted Amavisca for the equalizer (37’).
The game was very intense after half-time. Both teams had several chances on goal. Real Madrid’s Alfonso netted a powerful shot from outsde the box, finishing off a great counterattack started by Figo (52’), but Milan fought back again with a counterattack of their own; Rui Costa ran 30 metres and scored the equalizer.
A penalty was awarded to Real Madrid following a tackle on Ivan and his brother Alfonso converted it. The locals won the day in the end, but the true victor was scientific research focusing on sudden death syndrome.
Spain 3-2 Saudi Arabia
Substitute Fernando Llorente rescued Spain with an injury-time winner in a 3-2 friendly victory over Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck, Austria.
Xabi Alonso got himself on the scoresheet
Osama Hawsawi gave Saudi Arabia a shock lead and although David Villa and Xabi Alonso scored to turn things around, Mohammed Al-Sahlawi’s 74th-minute goal appeared to have denied the European champions. However, Athletic Bilbao striker Llorente netted a minute into time added on to save the blushes of Vicente Del Bosque and his team – tipped by many to challenge strongly for glory in South Africa.
Villa had the first chance of the game in the eighth minute – but his 20-yard shot was well off target. Saudi Arabia responded almost immediately, with Naif Hazazi’s effort from the right side of the penalty area going wide of Iker Casillas’ goal. Spain defender Sergio Ramos came close in the 13th minute, when he headed Xavi’s corner just wide from 12 yards.
However, the Saudis went straight up the other end and were given an opportunity to take the lead when defender Gerard Pique fouled Mishal Al Saeed. Abdoh Autef took the free-kick, but his curling left-foot effort from around 18 yards out hit the Spain wall. In the 17th minute though, Saudi Arabia did make Spain pay as they took a surprise lead.
Spain conceded a corner and Autef’s delivery was perfect for Hawsawi to head low past Casillas from 12 yards. Del Bosque’s side responded to the setback positively, with Villa bringing an excellent save out of goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah. However, Villa was not to be denied as he brought Spain level just past the half hour mark.
Andres Iniesta’s cross from the left was perfect for Villa – and the Barcelona striker clinically headed past Abdullah. Pique could have got on the scoresheet himself two minutes later, but his connection with Xavi’s cross was poor and Abdullah saved easily. Xavi was the provider soon after, as Ramos hit the post from 12 yards. Then in the 38th minute Villa was off target from 18 yards.
The Saudis held on until half-time – but the pattern of play did not change when the contest resumed, with Spain looking the most likely to take the lead. The breakthrough came in the 59th minute, when Alonso’s well-struck low effort from 25 yards was precise enough to beat Abdullah. A glut of substitutions followed, with Jesus Navas, Pedro Rodriguez, Carlos Marchena and Joan Capdevila coming on at the expense of Iniesta, Ramos, David Silva and Carles Puyol.
Saudi Arabia replaced goalscorer Hawsawi and Naif Hazazi with Yahia Al-Shehri and Al-Sahlawi as they sought an equaliser. And Al Nassr striker Al-Sahlawi did not take long to make an impact, picking the ball up from his fellow substitute and beating Casillas with a crisp low shot from 18 yards in the 74th minute.
The lively 23-year-old tried his luck again five minutes later after Alonso had fouled Al-Shehri, but his dead-ball effort went over the bar. Llorente, a 70th-minute replacement for Villa, shot wide from 18 yards in the 83rd minute as Spain pressed for the winner. They looked set to be frustrated by some determined Saudi defending, until Llorente headed in Alonso’s corner.
Jose Mourinho becomes a Madridista
He is Special.
After several weeks of speculation and a few days of waiting the announcement has finally been made. Jose Mourinho has been appointed as the new coach of Real Madrid. The club statement read as follows:
Real Madrid C.F. and F.C. Internazionale Milan have reached an agreement for Jose Mourinho to become the Spanish club’s coach. The agreement took place following a meeting between Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez in Milan. The meeting was friendly and cordial, as befits the relationship between both clubs.
Mourinho, who is away on a holiday, will be presented to the World on Monday in the Press Room of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Special One as he is known arrives at Real Madrid a week after winning the Champions League with Inter Milan at the Bernabeu. The Nerazzurri hadn’t won the title in 45 years. The Portuguese coach also won the Italian Scudetto and the Coppa Italia during the 2009/10 season, achieving Inter’s first-ever treble. Mourinho also won the Scudetto in his first season at Inter, as well as the Italian Super Cup.
He won six titles in three years at Chelsea, whom he coached before Inter. During his first year at Stamford Bridge, he won the Premiership and the Carling Cup. Chelsea won the Premiership again the following year after a tight race with Manchester United throughout the season, which the Blues opened by winning the Community Shield. Mourinho led Chelsea to victory in the FA Cup and the Carling Cup during the 2006/07 campaign.
Before leaving for England, Mourinho won the Champions League title with Porto in 2004 as well as the Portuguese league title (the first for Porto in four years). With the Portuguese side he has also won the UEFA Cup, the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup.
His coming to Real Madrid was not a big surprise at all and it was somewhat inevitable. In an interview immediately after is Champions League victory over Bayern, he told Sky Sports:
Inter is my house, the same way Chelsea
is my house. It was difficult to leave Chelsea – if I leave Inter it is difficult to leave. But that’s life, that’s football. After Chelsea I thought it would be impossible to have the same kind of relationship with supporters. I have two houses – Stamford Bride and San Siro and a third house, probably Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid is the only club that wants me.
No, I don’t have a choice (of clubs). But Real Madrid is Real Madrid. Everyone knows English football is my passion and I go back to England once.
But I think a big player, a big coach – if you don’t go to Real Madrid, or if you don’t play for Real Madrid – you have always a little space on your career. So if I decide to come to Real Madrid I will be a very proud man.
I believe my target now is to win a championship I have not won yet and a Champions League with a third club. And one day I come back to England.
Mourinho’s teams have built a reputation of being hard to break down, and questions have been raised as to whether his style of attrition would match the demands of the silky Spanish game. But he defended his choice of tactics, insisting it was important for a team to play to their strengths. He added:
When a team is a slow team – because we are a team of not very fast players – you have to play as a block, you have to be compact. You must play in a certain way. I think a great team is a team that plays with the real qualities that it has.
With these qualities we beat the champions of Europe, we beat the champions of England, we beat the champions of Germany, we won the Champions League and we won the Treble.
Jorge Valdano when asked on national radio about the dismissal of Manuel Pellegrini said that even though Pellegrini created a very good working environment, avoiding dressing room conflicts and had an impeccable record in the league he was not able to succeed in the most important games of the season and that is why the management decided to dismiss him. It is true. Pellegrini didn’t win a single big game throughout the season. He lost the very first knockout game in each competition that we were in. He lost both legs of the Clasico. And with the team that we have we didn’t manage to deal with the expectations. So will Jose succeed in doing so? He definitely thinks so. The Special One said:
I think Madrid have signed me because they know that they can demand aims in the short term but that I am also capable of leaving a base for the future.
It’s clear that I work for myself but also for clubs. At Chelsea you can see scouts and physical trainers that I left there. The same goes for Inter.
I want to leave a mark at this club, not only with titles but with other things. I promise from my first day that I will bring out the best in the players, that I will take care of them.
If this had come from any other manager I would still have been tentative about the validity. But since it is Jose whom we are talking about I must say that he is a truly remarkable coach. No doubts about it. I believe in every word that he said above. He takes care of his players and moving the spotlight on to himself. Our players need that more than any team. And about leaving a base for the future, we all know where Castilla stands right now. Jose Mourinho is the right coach for Real Madrid. But that does not justify the sacking of Pellegrini. At least not until we see Mourinho emulate Pellegrini’s achievements. Let us hope that he does so and not become yet another mistake of Senor Florentino Perez.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Florentino Perez on ‘El Larguero’
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez was a guest on Cadena SER‘s programme El Larguero, where he talked about current affairs at the Club.
Mourinho’s arrival:
I still don’t know when Mourinho will come, but he will coach Real Madrid. We don’t have an exact date for his arrival, but that doesn’t worry us. We are calm and in no hurry.
Pellegrini:
I wish to thank Manuel Pellegrini for what he did this season. I wish him luck. He did a great job, but I think we need to take another step in order to put Real Madrid back in its rightful place in Europe and the rest of the world. Mourinho is a No.1 coach and he will give us the chance to a chieve this. These are hard decisions to make and they are the result of this club’s high demands.
Job as president:
Football needs organising and it is always surrounded by passion and feelings. I am experienced and try to avoid all that. My job is to manage the Club and the other professionals at Real Madrid have their own jobs to do. There are things I shouldn’t get involved in because other people better prepared than myself are there to take care of them.
Academy:
I believe a look at Real Madrid City shows just how important we believe our academy is. Mourinho trained there with Inter Milan before the Champions league final and he said he had never seen anything like it.
So what is good enough for Florentino Perez?
To be fair to him Jose Mourinho is the World’s best coach. His style of coaching, the way he carries himself, the way he protects his players, the way he strives to win is something that no one else in this World is capable of doing. He has won wherever he has been. He is The Special One. No doubts about it. But all I want to ask is whether he is good enough for Real.
It is a fact that Vicente Del Bosque wasn’t good enough even though he won us the League Title and managed the Galacticos like no one else possibly could have. Fabio Capello wasn’t good enough even though he won us the title in one of the greatest sporting comebacks. Bernd Schuster wasn’t good enough even though his team breezed past the rest of Spain to win us our 31st title. Juande Ramos wasn’t good enough even though he took the worst ever Real Madrid team in a decade up to second place in the league. And now even Manuel Pellegrini is not considered to be good enough to manage this team despite the 102 goals that the team scored and the fact that they challenged the best Barcelona side in Catalan history right up till Match day 38. The above five managers are the only prominent ones amongst the rest who came and went just like summer and winter every year who too weren’t good enough. So is Jose Mourinho good enough? Clearly good enough does not mean winning titles. Except Manuel Pellegrini and barring the temp in Juande Ramos the others mentioned above won titles for us.
So what is good enough for Florentino Perez? Going by what the above mentioned managers it is the following. A manager good enough to remain at Real for more than one season must satisfy the following conditions:
- Win La Liga and the Champions League. Either won’t do. A double is the minimum requirement.
- A treble will be amazing. But winning Copa del Rey alone will help no one as the trophy which Real haven’t won in ages isn’t really appealing.
- Win both legs of the Clasico.
- Play the team which Florentino wants you to play.
- Sign the players he wants to see and sell the players he doesn’t want to see even if that means playing a one man defense with no goal keepers.
- Concede 1789654 goals in 90 minutes of football but score 1789655 goals at least in which case the last goal comes in the 93rd minute.
- Do not buy players who are black and cannot dress up for an Nike commercial to be aired in Hong Kong.
- Do not buy players for whom young ladies with big boobs carry signs saying “Marry me XYZ!”
- Buy defenders who offer something more than playing in defense alone – something like improving the number of Spaniards in your squad.
- Sell or at least try to sell else don’t pay them enough for all the players who were brought in under a different regime.
Has Jose really agreed to do all of these? Can anyone do all these in the same season? Is the Bernabeu the right stage for Mourinho style football? There are so many more unanswered questions that only time can answer.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Florentino Perez press conference
Following this evening’s Board meeting, President Floentino Perez read a statement to the media in the Press Room of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium announcing a change of coach on the first football team. The Real Madrid Premier then answered several questions.
The Club's President announced the end of the Manuel Pellegrini era and the entity's decision to "sign Jose Mourinho as the new coach as soon as his contractual relationship with Inter Milan is resolved"
Statement
We have spent a lot of time during the past few weeks analysing everything that happened during the season. Following this process, the Board of Directors has today decided to end Manuel Pellegrini’s era as coach of Real Madrid. We wish to thank him for the work he and his staff did. His professional character, devotion and conduct were impeccable.
The Board has also decided to sign Jose Mourinho as the team’s new coach as soon as his contractual relationship with Inter Milan is resolved. Changing coaches is always a hard decision to make, but we are convinced that, after the first year in this new phase, it is now time to give this project a new boost. Last year, we made unprecedented efforts to come up with a squad capable of aspiring to the highest level. We’ve come a long way, but we still have more to go. This club, its Board and its fans permanently strive for excellence, victories and European leadership.
Answers:
No one in the Board has expressed an opinion against the signing of Mourinho. We are all thrilled about getting the chance to have one of the best coaches in the world. Mourinho and Inter still have to resolve an issue regarding their contract. There’s nothing we can do about that. We are convinced of needing a new boost and the idea of having Mourinho lead this squad in the next few years delights us. This club always tries to have the best in every position and job, and we’ve had the chance to see this through. He is one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best, and this Real Madrid, which strives to achieve excellence, couldn’t miss out on such an opportunity. Excellence is our goal. We want to win and be leaders.
Real Madrid wants stability, which we understand as being leaders in Europe and the rest of the world. Real Madrid changed coaches in the years it won its first five European Cup titles. Stability comes from winning and being European leaders. We believe this is the right time for us to take a new step and bet on having one of the best coaches in the world.
Sergio Canales eager to prove himself
Sergio Canales, Real Madrid’s first signing for the 2010-11 campaign spoke to Marca about his hopes and expectations in the coming season.
I've dreamt of playing for this club
Expectations:
I want to enjoy myself and learn as much as I can. Competition is always good and it will help me learn. This team has a quality squad. Competition doesn’t scare me. This is a top level squad and I will fight to win titles with Real Madrid.
Signing for Real Madrid:
It was beautiful to sign for Real Madrid because it means I will play with footballers that make a difference and who people like to watch. I feel better when the ball is at my feet and I believe I’m a spontaneous player.
I am proud to be at the Santiago Bernabeu. I have always been impressed by this stadium. I can’t wait to step onto the pitch and do my best. Real Madrid have many top quality players. I am anxious to take part in the team’s preseason.
Guti and Raul:
Few players achieve what Guti and Raul have. They’ve meant everything for this club and the fans. I still have a long way to go. There is still a lot they can do. I admire them. I dream about being like them some day.
The focus shifts to South Africa
With yet another thrilling season of La Liga completed and having crowned FC Barcelona as Champions yet again the focus now shifts to South Africa where the FIFA World Cup 2010 will take place. Madridistas taking part in this edition of arguably the World’s biggest sporting event will include Iker Casillas, Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain and Rafael van der Vaart. Lass and Benzema will miss out on helping France due to an injury and a strategic decision respectively while Metzelder too has been excluded from the Germany side chosen to represent the country.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11th with Spain being tipped as the favorites to win considering their impeccable run in to the trophy having not dropped a single point during qualification. Like all the other players, Albiol too is excited about the World Cup. Speaking to the press with reference to the same he said:
Spain are favorites, like some of the other teams are. We have to prove this. We must be humble and work hard to win our games. Every Spaniard dreams about winning the World Cup.
Compatriot Xabi Alonso though is keen to avoid the favorites tag. Alonso told GQ:
We have a good opportunity . We don’t think if we’re favourites. What does it mean to be favourite? It doesn’t add anything. The team is in a good way, but we learned at the Confederations Cup that if we had a bad day we were out of the race.
In this sort of competition you have to be really consistent and it’s very important that the players arrive in good shape. This year we have a lot of determination and conviction; there are reasons to believe that we can win the World Cup.
Argentina, Brazil, The Netherlands and Germany go in as the other favorites while Portugal, Italy and France are not as strong as they were in the previous versions of the prestigious trophy.
The road to the World for the various Madridistas can be summarized as follows. The Reds began preparing for the championship on 24 May. Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol and Xabi Alonso joined their Spanish team-mates in Las Rozas. The team’s preparation will follow three stages: Spain, Austria and Spain again. Higuain’s national side started preparing for the World Cup on 20 May in the sports grounds of the Argentinean FA. The team will travel to South Africa on 28 May. Kaka’s team met on 21 May at Atletico Paranaense’s training facilities. They will leave for Johannesburg five days later. Their flight will have a stage in Brasilia, where the team will be received by President Lula da Silva. Cristiano Ronado and Pepe are currently with Portugal, who got together on 14 May. The team will leave for Johannesburg on 5 June. Van der Vaart’s national team will remain in Seefeld, Tyrol (Austria), between 19 and 31 May. They will face Hungary in their last pre-World Cup match on 5 June.
No surprises as far as which team I will be supporting. It will be Spain and Hala Madrid will follow The Reds throughout their campaign right from their pre-World Cup friendly on 29th May against the Saudi Arabians.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Diego Milito 2-0 Bayern Munich
FC Internazionale Milano have been crowned as the Champions of Europe. Diego Milito scored two good goals to wrap the win over the Bavarians at the Bernabeu. One of those goals was provided by Wesley Sneijder, a former Madridista.
A true match winner: This guy scored the match winner in the Champions League, the Coppa Italia and Serie A clinching goal in the weekend. A real big match player. I wonder how much he costs.
And the icing on the cake is that Jose Mourinho is bound to leave his Milanese employers after winning his second champions league crown.
Congratulations Inter Milan.
Villa signs for Barcelona: Where does that leave us?
Barcelona have signed Valencia’s David Villa in the first major transfer of the summer. The Spain striker has cost the Catalan club £34.2 million and will move to the Nou Camp after months of speculation over his future.
David Villa Presentation at FC Barcelona
Text messages after text messages, calls after calls. Barcelona have a number 7. Barcelona no longer depend only on Lionel Messi. Barcelona have brought back the Spanish equivalent of Samuel Eto’o. They will be invincible yet again. But to me all that doesn’t matter. David Villa moving to Camp Nou affects me in no way. He wants to be a cunt he can be a cunt.
The only thing that mattered to me was the fact that La Liga from virtually being a two horse race has literally become a two horse race. It took me a whole two days to digest the fact that Barcelona have just sucked the life out of probably the only other club which probably would have stepped up to fight against the top two clubs in the country if they had just that one other world class player. David Villa was the talisman of Valencia and without him they sucked. It is as simple as that. There are players like Silva, Mata, Pablo, Banega etc. but they all served as auxiliary to Villa. They played second fiddle to him and now it will remain to be a two horse race in Spain until some Saudi tycoon decides to invest in Spain.
And now I hear that David Silva will be snared by Real Madrid.
God save La Liga!
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
The 23 men who will win the World Cup for Spain
Vicente del Bosque confirmed his final selection of the 23 men who will travel to South Africa on Thursday afternoon in which he named the Barcelona duo of Pedro and Victor Valdes who have never won a cap for Spain, along with Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez. All five Madridistas who made the preliminary squad have made the cut.
Valdes joins the squad as third-choice goalkeeper, behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina, having edged in front of Diego Lopez and David De Gea in Del Bosque’s plans. Pedro, 22, is also included after scoring 22 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this season and the forward joins Jesus Navas, Juan Manuel Mata, Fernando Llorente, Fernando Torres and David Villa in Del Bosque’s attacking ranks.
Torres and Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas have both been named in the squad despite nursing injuries that prevented them from featuring at the conclusion of the Premier League season.
The coach was forced to cut seven players and most notable among those was midfielder Marcos Senna, who played a key role in the country’s success at Euro 2008. Fellow Villarreal star Santi Cazorla and Fenerbahce striker Dani Guiza also miss out despite their participation at Austria and Switzerland. Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo make up the remainder of the seven players that have been culled from Del Bosque’s preliminary squad.
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!!
Congratulations FC Barcelona
So Barcelona have pipped us to the title, yet again. We needed a win away at Malaga and for them to lose against Valladolid at home. They just had to win to secure the title. We managed a draw and they thrashed Valladolid. So deserved winners we must admit. We end our season with 96 points and the future of Manuel Pellegrini looks bleak. There will be repercussions. Let us hope it is only for the good.
He did it all for them.
Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will face off in the Champions League final in Madrid at the Bernabeu in a few days time. I am vying for an Inter Milan win.
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.
Malaga 1-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid sealed the league with a draw against Malaga at La Rosaleda. The Whites never gave up against the locals, who manage to remain in the First Division thanks to the score. Goalkeeper Munua was a local hero. Duda and Van der Vaart were the goal-scorers.
- Season ends with draw at La Rosaleda
Real Madrid were focused on winning and had their first chance on goal within the first minute when Ronaldo sent the ball over the crossbar following a killer pass on the goal-line by Marcelo. Malaga responded through Duda, but Casillas saved the striker’s shot. The locals played a rather tough game, especially on Cristiano Ronaldo, who stoically withstood all the kicks and tackles he received. Then, Duda pulled rank and scored the opener following a good collective effort on the 7-minute mark.
Pellegrini’s men were hit hard by this and the match grew a bit messy, but they soon started to get their chances on goal again. Higuain missed the target with a shot from outside the box (16′), Ronaldo forced a save with a header on the 24-minute mark, and Van der Vaart nearly scored from a spectacular bicycle-kick five minutes later. Malaga worked very hard and well to keep the Madridistas in check before half-time. Real Madrid never ceased to look for a goal, but either bad aim or Munua’s skills kept them from scoring.
After half-time, the goalkeeper saved the day yet again when Marcelo came close to netting an equaliser. Three minutes later, Van der Vaart turned 180º and defeated him with a spectacular shot that grazed the inside of the right post (48′).
Real Madrid didn’t relax and kept looking for a winner. Pellegrini replaced Gago with Guti to make the game flow better. The midfielder helped the team get more chances, but Munua stood his ground firmly. The coach then made Benzema come on for Granero, but with 20 minutes left in the game victory still eluded the Whites. The French striker came close to netting winners twice, but his shots were saved by the goalie. The draw served Malaga to avoid relegation and they simply focused on defending. Duda was sent off in injury time right before the game came to an end.
Lineups:
Málaga: Munúa, J. Gámez, Iván González, Hélder Rosario, Mtiliga, Apoño, Benachour (Albert Luque 84′), Duda, Fernando, Javi López (Juanito 80′), Caicedo (Obinna 61′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Gago (Guti H. 61′), Granero (Benzema 73′), Van der Vaart (Drenthe 82′), Higuaín, Cristiano Ronaldo;
Goals:
Referee: Mr. Undiano Mallenco
Booked: J. Gámez, Hélder Rosario, Albert Luque, Obinna, Guti, Van der Vaart, Higuain, Ronaldo;
Sent off: Duda
Notes: La Liga, Matchday 38.
Venue: La Rosaleda.
Malaga vs Real Madrid | Spanish Primera Division | Round 38 | Preview
Real Madrid’s last match of the season takes place this evening at 19:00 in Malaga. The Whites’ main goal is to end the campaign with 98 points to keep their options of winning the title alive in case Barcelona drop points at Camp Nou against Valladolid.
Manuel Pellegrini has called-up his entire squad for the match and will have to cut the 23-man list to 18 by the time the match starts. The clash is sure to be tense and exciting given the Whites need a victory in order to have chances to win the title.
Once again, the Ronaldo-Higuain partnership in attack will have to play a crucial role. Together they’ve both scored 53 of the 101 goals netted by Real Madrid this season.
Malaga risk being relegated to the Second Division. They only have 36 points and need a victory tonight to be safe. They’ve won none of their previous eight games, making tonight’s even more vital. Key players such as Fernando and Helder Rosario are niggled and may miss the fixture, but midfielder Duda and strikers Caicedo and Baha will surely make the starting lineup.
MALAGA SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Arnau, Munua
Defenders: Jesus Gamez, Manu Torres, Ivan Gonzalez, Helder Rosario, Mtiliga
Midfielders: Xavi Torres, Fernando, Apoño, Valdo, Benachour, Duda, Juanito, Portillo, Javi Lopez
Forwards: Luque, Baha, Obinna, Caicedo
Referee: Mr. Undiano Mallenco
Pellegrini press conference
Manuel Pellegrini talked to the media about tomorrow’s crucial game in Malaga.
"Nothing is for certain in football"
Title Race:
I don’t know who might have a feeling of this being over alrerady. When we lost against Barcelona we said we had seven more games to win and, so far, the team has done so.
Barcelona:
Barcelona will be champions if they take 99 points. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Nothing is for certain in football.
Season so far:
This season has been complicated because there were great expectations set on this new project. We’ve fought to the very end in La Liga against whom some consider to be the best team in the world. We’ve broken several records and earned great numbers that are hard to beat. The team has always done its best and has managed to score more than 100 goals.
Casillas press conference
Iker Casillas offered what was the last official post-training press conference of the season on Friday, during which he discussed the past season and what lies ahead for the team.
"We need to take care of our own business"
Title race:
What is great about this league is that it has come down to the last game and anything can happen. Things can change in a matter of seconds, but we have to take care of our own business by beating Malaga. Our focus needs to be on La Rosaleda. Once we finish we will see what Barcelona have done.
98 points:
If we don’t win the league with 98 points it is because another teams deserves it more. But reaching that mark, scoring more than 100 goals and conceded among the fewest goals make for a great season in this competition.
Eliminations:
We are a bit upset about being eliminated early in both the Copa and Champions League. It hurts knowing that we aren’t in either of the two finals that are being played over the next week. These two sour notes eclipse the team’s solid performance in La Liga. We have had an incredible season in this competition while up against what many considered the best team in the world last year. As a Madridista fan I would be proud of our performance in the league. I have had a few ups and downs of my own, but I am pleased with the season.
Sergio Ramos press conference
Sergio Ramos talked about the team’s upcoming match after training this morning.
"We still believe we can win the league title"
Goal:
Our goal is to take 98 points and wait for Barcelona’s result. The number of points both teams have is amazing. It’s incredible no-one has won the title yet. We’ve had a great season and we still believe we can win the title.
Focus:
We must focus on our match against Malaga, but we don’t depend on ourselves and have to wait for Barcelona’s match to end. It would be a mistake for us to think about it while we play. We have to focus on what we do.
Stakes:
There is much at stake for both Valladolid and Malaga. They fight to avoid relegation. Both games will be complicated.
Del Bosque announces the provisional squad
Vicente Del Bosque has named injured trio Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta in his initial 30-man World Cup squad, while uncapped Barcelona forward Pedro and goalkeeper Victor Valdes is also included. Other than that there are no major surprises in the provisional 30.
Torres, Fabregas and Iniesta all played an important role in Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph and impeccable qualifying campaign for this summer’s finals, and Del Bosque appears willing to gamble on their fitness. Iniesta and Barcelona team-mate Xavi have both been injured of late, while Fabregas missed the run-in to Arsenal’s season and Torres has also been on the sidelines for Liverpool.
But Xavi has recently returned to the first-team fold with the Catalans and Fabregas confirmed that he is “on schedule” with his rehabilitation from a cracked fibula. Torres and Iniesta have also expressed their belief that they will be fit and raring to go for the finals.
Sevilla winger Jesus Navas is included after another impressive season, and he has reportedly been receiving treatment to try to overcome the well-documented problems with travel anxiety that had looked likely to hamper his chances of playing at the World Cup.
Del Bosque has selected five goalkeepers in the list, with uncapped duo Victor Valdes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid youngster David De Gea likely to be battling out with Villarreal’s Diego Lopez to see who will be joining Iker Casillas and Jose Reina in the final squad.
Aside from the players who have featured regularly for the European champions in recent times, Del Bosque has also named Barca winger Pedro, Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez in the list, though there is no place for talented youngsters Bojan Krkic and Sergio Canales, or Spain’s record scorer Raul.
Spain provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), David De Gea (Atletico Madrid), Diego Lopez (Villarreal), Jose Reina (Liverpool) Victor Valdes (Barcelona).
Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid) Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergi Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao) Marcos Senna (Villarreal), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona).
Forwards: Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia) Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Dani Guiza (Fenerbache) Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Fernando Torres (Liverpool FC) and David Villa (Valencia).
Just another Madridista
Pellegrini pours out his frustration
In his first interview after being sacked as the coach of Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini spoke to Cadena SER in which he vented out his frustration and anger. Frankly I don’t blame him and I do feel that whatever he has said here below is true. He said:
He like all the other previous coaches of Real said that he wasn’t given the full autonomy of deciding who should stay and who should leave. He even went on to say that the project is not on track.
And clearly his relationship with the President was cold if not anything else. He added:
And finally he spoke about disrespect shown to him by Real as they went about finding his replacement behind his back.
Like I said at the beginning of this post I do not have anything to add. I can like anyone else only pity him and thank him for a splendid season that he gave us. I hope he finds a club that respects and values him more than we did.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
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May 28, 2010 | Categories: Comments | Tags: Florentino Perez, Manuel Pellegrini | Leave A Comment »