Posts Tagged ‘Míchel Salgado’
Let the transfers begin…
Now that we have a new president, presidential adviser, director general, sporting director and a new manager its time to start off with rebuikding the squad. We still have about three months left but rebuilding a squad is no three month process. We need to have settled the squad issues by mid July atleast considering the fact that we have a new manager and a set of new players. Time to adapt is essential.
We all know who all we’ve been linked with. Right from Kaka, Ribery, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic to David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata, Xabi Alonso are supposedly our targets. Hopefully Pellegrini will first keep an eye on our defense before altering any other part of the team. He already has Garay at his disposal. The most likely exits are that of Dudek, Heinze, Saviola, Metzelder, Drenthe (on loan), Van der Vaart ( 
) and some say even Sneijder and Marcelo might be sold. Personally Sneijder has had a poor season but I would never sell him. Lass, Gago and Diarra are fighting for the same position. So one of them should leave if we are planning on getting new midfielders. Thus we will also need one or two left backs. Miguel Torres and Sergio Ramos can play on the right. Both are young and good. A couple of SOLID central defenders. A couple of world class playmakers are needed and thats where the Galacticos policy comes into play, Raul and Ruud are 32 and 33 respectively. Hunter seems to have lost it. Pipita is just too good to be sold. So a world class striker is definitely needed. I am wondering about the roles of Guti and Salgado next season as well. Guti has an attitude problem. Salgado is a useless prick.
With so many problems already we need to decide on our team ASAP. What looks likely is we will have stars again. And along with them we will get more players who are much better than Pavons.
Excellence will return.
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Real Madrid Castilla’s Gary and Tebar were pleased with their first team debuts against Osasuna. Despite losing the final match of the season, Juande Ramos was satisfied with his players’ performance. Michel Salgado and Marcelo offererd their thoughts on Real Madrid’s final match of the season.
Gary:
I wasn’t able to finish the match because all the hype caught up to me and I began cramping up. I am happy that the coach had faith in me and my teammates supported the decision. It’s a shame I coudn’t finish. The team was right there, but the two red cards, especially Michel’s, changed the course of the match. Everything having to do with the first team is different than Castilla. This experience is incredible.
Tebar:
I am somewhat pleased. I am happy that I debut, but I wish we had at least drawn. Osasuna took advantage of our two red cards, but we hung in there. It’s a pity we couldn’t finish off the season with a better result. This was a great opportunity. It was very special. The coach gave me some instructions before I came on. He said it was a tough match and that I should stay calm.
Juande:
Nerves tend to run wild when there is so much at stake. The referee has some tough calls to make. There was a lot of tension, but we tried to put forth our best effort to not affect the outcome of the league.The lack of motivation in football is hard to explain. When the season ended for us we noticed a bit of relaxation.
The red card was a bad call. I think everyone saw it, but the referee believed it was a foul and I have nothing more to say. A player must ask for forgiveness after doing something badly, but they don’t say they are sorry or correct themselves. I don’t decide if I will be playing for Real Madrid next year. It’s up to the new coach. The names of the president and coach have yet to be decided, but they will call the shots. I hope this wasn’t my last match for Real Madrid. It’s hard to comment on the relegation of Betis, but it would have been just as hard had it been Osasuna, Getafe or Valladolid. It’s a sad day for football.
Marcelo:
The fans went crazy for their team. It was already a complicated match before the send-offs, but we played as best we could and had a chance to score the equaliser. The season got off to a rocky start, but the second half was very good other than the last few matches. I am pleased with how I finished the season, but I want to continue working hard.
Salgado press conference
Michel Salgado congratulated the basketball team for their win against Barcelona and commented on the squad’s chances in La Liga and the Champions League during today’s press conference.
What did you think about last night’s basketball game?
I had tickets to go but wasn’t able to. It was a game that anyone would have liked to be at. Beating our rival is always important, which is why I’d like to congratulate all our basketball counterparts.
Will today’s team photo be the last of the season?
I hope so. It’s not nice having to take another photo, but that’s what the situation called for. I hope it’s the last one and that it brings us luck.
Has anyone spoken to Drenthe about the whistling he received the other day at the Bernabeu?
We have tried to cheer him up. He knows he is young and that Real Madrid is a demanding team. We have told him that even the best players have experienced it. He cannot be down. You convince the Bernabeu by working hard, and he is of the age that he can get over it and convince the fans. He’s got our support.
Does Real Madrid’s football have fans convinced?
We’ve had out troubles. We spent some time doing a lot of aggressive physical and tactical work with the new coach. We just need some time. We are working hard and obtaining results. I am sure we will see a much improved Real Madrid in no time.
They say Messi is the best forward in the world. Is Dani Alves the best right-back?
Everyone has a right to their opinion and I am not going to discuss it. There are many ways to be a right-back; you can be offensive or defensive. I think he is a good player, but everyone has a different way of looking at things.
This season is similar to the 1999/00 season when you won the Champions League. Do you see it that way as well?
You always hold onto the good commonalities, but every year is different. We hope it ends the same way. We underwent a coaching change at a difficult time and there is a substantial lead between us and Barcelona, but there are many matches to be played and we must step up to the plate in the Champions League and be the Real Madrid we always have been. We’re almost there.
What are you likelier to win this season, La Liga or the Champions League?
They are different, but both are difficult. The Champions League is won by the team who plays best between March and the final. A lot can happen. We’re improving on all levels. Some teams are only in form until February. I think the Liverpool tie will serve us well. I prefer having to play them than an easier team. We have to show how great we are.
Although Florentino Perez hasn’t said anything, his name is being discussed more than any other for the election. Are you at all surprised?
He was an important president in the history of Real Madrid and I as fortunate to be a part of it. We will see who runs for office once elections are called. But everyone must remain wary and respect the current president and the squad. We have a lot at stake.
The Vistalegre crowd played an important role last night. Does the Bernabeu crowd have a similar effect?
It’s easier in an enclosed arena because it gets louder. Last night’s game was against the arch nemesis in Euroleague action, and under the circumstances it was hard to defeat us. The atmosphere at the Bernabeu is also very important.
Is the team desperate for a winger? Do you find Juande anxoius?
No, I find him focused. He’s been clear on his ideas over the last month and half and he knows what he wants from this team. He doesn’t leave anything up to chance. He takes care of the smallest of details and he is doing a very good job. It’s hard to sign someone quickly during the winter market, but I really don’t find him anxious.
Would the team’s chances of winning a title improve if any of those names being discussed are signed?
You never know, but the team definitely would grow. This team is preparing to make it a successful season, and signing a player with such urgency is complicated.
Official First Team and Castilla Photo 2008/09
Real Madrid had their official 2008/09 photo taken this morning. The first team was accompanied by Honorary President Alfredo di Stefano and Sporting Director Pedja Mijatovic. It is the first team photo with Lass, Huntelaar, Parejo, and Juande Ramos’ coaching staff.
First Team
Real Madrid Castilla had their official team photo taken for the second time this season on Thursday. Alfredo di Stefano Stadium hosted the event, which included Real Castilla President, Francisco Moreno Cariñena; President of Honor, Alfredo di Stefano; and Sporting Director, Pedja Mijatovic.
Castilla
Real Madrid’s academy is the heart and sould of the Club. Many important players in the history of Spanish football came from the youth system. One third of the current squad is made up by academy men -Raul, Guti, Casillas, Torres, Codina, De la Red, Javi Garcia, Parejo and Palanca-. This picture, taken a few minutes after they posed for the official team photo, proves it.
Real Madrid has always had a youth system and it was professionalized in the 1950s with initiatives such as the Social Tournament. De Felipe was the first of 50 academy players to become internationals for Spain. In total, they have all played 1,000 games for their country.
Spanish national coach Vicente del Bosque also came from Real Madrid’s youth system, just as Isidoro San Jose, Ricardo Gallego, Isidro Díaz or Rafael García Cortés, who currently work for the Club’s academy. But the most illustrious group of players to come from the youth system were those from La Quinta del Buitre. These men had the same values as legends like Ramon Moreno Grosso, Mateos, Velazquez, Santisteban, Benito and Camacho.
José Mª Gutiérrez “Guti” and Miguel Torres belong to different generations of players, but their run at the Club has been very similar. They both joined through the Social Tournament and they have played for every team in the Club. Iker Casillas joined with the Under-8 side and has become one of the most important players in the world. On the other hand, captain Raul joined when he was 15 years old, but his hard work and his devotion to the Club is such that it seems he’s been here all his life.
Jordi Codina, Javi Garcia and Ruben de la Red stood out on every team they played for and were promoted to the Second Division with Castilla. Dani Parejo is a quality player that has won an Under-19 European Championship and was briefly loaned out to Queens Park Rangers before Juande Ramos decided to bring him back to join the first team.
Miguel Palanca is a strange and curious case. He arrived at the Club last summer after growing up at Espanyol, but his devotion to Real Madrid is that of a true youth teamer.
Michel Salgado to GuillemBalague.com
In an interview recorded for Sky Sports Revista de la Liga, Real Madrid’s veteran full back Michel Salgado calls upon his wealth of experience in the game to insist that the Spanish title race is anything but over. With FC Barcelona on stunning form and currently enjoying a 12 point lead over their bitter rivals from the Spanish capital, Salgado insists there is still a long way to go and that, under new coach Juande Ramos, it is only a matter of time before a leaner, meaner, Real Madrid starts firing on all cylinders. Michel Salgado is a man you do not argue with… Barcelona, Liverpool – you have been warned!
Michel…It has been a season of ups and downs so far at Real Madrid, and it is always strange when there are as many changes as there has been…
Yes that’s right. We started the season with Schuster as coach and after having won the league. Things did not go as we wanted them to at the beginning of the season, despite the fact that we won the Supercup with a great game against Valencia. But when La Liga got underway we had a series of problems on the pitch that we were unable to rectify; which in turn led to a change in coach.
We are now in a phase of development where the focus is on improving the physical condition of the squad. I think that in the first month the impact of that physical work meant that to begin with we were sluggish at times, but now the benefits are starting to show and I think that February is going to be a key month for us as we are in great shape.
Would it be fair to say that on the pitch and in training things are returning to normal here at Real Madrid? Juande Ramos was the first out onto the training pitch this morning and he put the cones down himself. You don’t see that too often anymore and he talks to you all. There seems to be more communication now.
Yes I think you have got it right there when you say “back to normal”. I think that the kind of training we have now is much more in tune with the Spanish style. We have stopped doing the pre training session in the gym but look, my job is not to discuss the merits of different coaches and especially not when we won the League under the old methods. Now we have a new dynamic based on working on the pitch and like you say we talk things through tactically and communicate more.
As I said earlier the physical side of things takes time but what you will see is a Real Madrid that puts pressure on our opponents, and that plays in their half of the pitch. What that style of play requires is a high level of fitness and physical strength. And over the last four weeks we have been working hard towards this. This last week has been very intense and hopefully we will see the results on Sunday.
It would be a shame if you put in all this work and then Juande leaves after six months. Would you not prefer it to be a long term project rather than a short term one?
Yes I agree with you. I think that in life in general as well as in football I believe in having projects. If you believe in someone for a project you have to give them time.
But I have been at Real Madrid for ten years now and there is something I have learnt here and it is this: At Real Madrid there is no time for anything, and there are no such things as long term projects. There will not be a long term project with this manager or the next. I am totally clear on this and have always said that as a player, coach or president here you have to achieve things now not later.
It is for this reason that Juande’s job is a precarious one but in this case it has been positive for us and for him because he has got six months to show everyone that he can continue in Madrid. I think he is as keen as anyone that things work and I hope that we can help him achieve a long term role here, above all because that would mean winning a title.
I know that you have won two league titles on the bounce but what better time to have a year of transition when Barcelona are on top form.
Yes, but if you remember the season that Capello was in charge, Barcelona were having a great season and I remember the 3-3 draw in the Camp Nou. We had been knocked out of the Champions League and everyone was talking about how many goals they were going to put past us and when the League would be out of reach. It’s worth pointing out that was in March not January.
We scored the equalizer in the last minute and deserved the draw. From that point on we went and won the league so, to be honest, I am not that worried about things at the moment. We are effectively three games behind because we still have to play them here in Madrid so you are talking about four rounds.
We still have more than half a season left, but it’s not like I’m sitting here doing the maths. Now is the time to let our hard work and football do the talking and that is what we are doing. As I said, January is key: we have to win games when there are still things to work on and we are improving physically. We are going to have tough moments in games when our energy is low but then, in February, we are going to really take off.
It seems as though, every time we talk, we come to the same conclusion: that one day you would like to go to play in England, but it is never the right time…
Yes, and I am not sure if that moment has passed me by. That is the question. For me the English league is a great league to be part of as a player. In terms of the level of football and atmosphere it is fantastic. There is a great football culture there and I like the way the players are treated in England. I think that there is a whole list of things that make it an attractive league to any player.
And the Spanish players in England bring something different to the table don’t they.
Yes of course. There was a time when it was very difficult to make the move between the two leagues so there were not many players who went in that direction. But what has happened is that the players have become aware of the fact that there are other leagues that are strong, and let’s not forget that the Spanish League is very strong, but there are other competitive league that players can succeed in and enjoy being part of. It is clear that the English league is a great one and that as a player you can achieve important things there.
