Özil press conference
Mesut Ozil gave his first press conference as a Real Madrid player accompanied by Director General Jorge Valdano.
Mesut Ozil: "I am proud to be here"
Feeling:
Nothing had been decided before yesterday and I can honestly say I am glad this has had a happy ending.
Goals:
I only aspire to make progress at Real Madrid. This is a great challenge for me. I’ve always concentrated hard and I like to work hard. I stepped on fifth gear and reached the club for which I wanted to play.
Why Real Madrid:
Real Madrid is the best club in the world. I discussed several options with my advisors, but I wanted to come here because I wanted to work with Mourinho, the best coach in the world. I spoke with him and he convinced me to come. What we said will remain between us, but he is the greatest reason for which I’m here today.
Standard Liege 1-1 Real Madrid
Still undefeated in the preseason
Real Madrid remain undefeated in their 2010/11 preseason after drawing 1-1 against Standard Liege. Van der Vaart scored the opener, but Benteke netted the equaliser for the locals when 15 minutes were left in the game.
Mourinho’s Real Madrid played a serious and solid game in defence, elaborated their game intelligently in midfield and were dangerous when close to their opponent’s goal.
Higuain was tackled on the edge of the box in the 12th minute following a long pass from Lass, and Van der Vaart served the free-kick, sending the ball to the back of the net after hitting the near post. The Whites continued to dominate as they took the lead and came close to scoring again through the Dutch midfielder before half-time had he not run into a Belgian defender as he attempted to finish off a phenomenal pass from Benzema near the goal-line (28′).
The locals only put Casillas to the test from set pieces in the first half, but Defour’s attempts were all in vain. His first free-kick failed to find someone to finish it off and went past the box (2′) and the second ended in a disallowed offside goal by Mangala (26’).
Arbeloa, Lass, Van der Vaart, Gago and Ramos were the only players who stayed on for Real Madrid after half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo took centre stage in the team’s first venture in attack during the second half, but the local keeper managed to clear his shot on target (54’). Carvalho had another chance two minutes later with a powerful shot that was again cleared by Blazic.
Benteke netted he equaliser for Liege on the 76-minute mark. Mourinho’s men had more chances on goal till the end of the match, but they were unsuccessful. Di Maria nearly scored following a hasty move by the goalkeeper, but a defender cleared his shot (88’). Overall, the Madridistas gave a solid performance and continue to make great progress with ten days to go to the start of La Liga.
Lineups:
Standard Liege: Van Hout (Blazic 48′), Víctor Ramosm, Felipe, Opare (Angeli 93′), Pocognoli (Pamic 92′), Mangala, Witsel, Defour (Goreux 62′), Bokanga (Carcela-González 82′), Grozav (Danilo 48′), Pieroni (Benteke 48′);
Real Madrid: Casillas (Dudek 48′), Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Albiol (Ricardo Carvalho 48′), Drenthe (Marcelo 48′), Lass (Canales 64′), Gago (Xabi Alonso 63′), Granero (Cristiano Ronaldo 48′), Van der Vaart (Pedro León 64′), Higuaín (Khedira 48′), Benzema (Di María 48′);
Goals:
0-1, min. 13: Van der Vaart
1-1, min. 79: Benteke
Venue: Stade de Sclessin
Just another Madridista
Standard Liege 1-1 Real Madrid | Post-match comments
Mourinho: "We couldn't afford not to sign a player like Ozil"
Jose Mourinho addressed the media after the match in Liege and said he is happy with the signing of Ozil.
Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos and goal scorer Rafael van der Vaart shared their views on the game and the signing of Ozil with the media.
Albiol:
Ramos:
Van der Vaart:
Share this:
August 18, 2010 | Categories: Friendlies, Post-match Comments | Tags: José Mourinho, R. Standard de Liège, Raúl Albiol, Rafael van der Vaart, Sergio Ramos, Stade de Sclessin | Leave A Comment »