Category Archives: Spain Football News

Video: Sevilla 2 – 6 Real Madrid

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Sevilla 2 – Real Madrid 6 (La Liga, May 7, 2011)

First half goals from Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka ensured the match was already won in the first 45 minutes.

Alvaro Negredo pulled one back just after the hour mark but five minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo made it 4-1 after some more poor defending.
On 70 Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick when he was given oceans of room to run into.

A further five minutes later it was four for Cristiano Ronaldo and six for Real Madrid from a low Karim Benzema cross, Alvaro Negredo grabbed a second late consolation.

Mourinho gets five match ban – Club and Player reactions

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Mourinho at Inter

Image via Wikipedia

Real Madrid Jose Mourinho is set to contest a five match ban imposed by UEFA after his outburst against Barcelona claiming that UEFA supports Barcelona.

An official statement released by Uefa reads:

“Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed from the bench in the first leg and made an inappropriate statement at the post-match interview, has been suspended for the next five UEFA club competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. The suspension includes the one-match ban for the match following the coach’s dismissal, which was served for the return leg in Barcelona on Tuesday. The fifth match is suspended for a probationary period of three years. Mourinho has also been fined €50,000.”

Confirming their position in regards the ban, the Spanish club’s official statement reads:

“Real Madrid CF believes this resolution still suffers from the same defects found at the start of the disciplinary case, which made it impossible for our coach to use his right to defend himself, since the exact statements for which the disciplinary case was opened are still unknown.

“Real Madrid CF will appeal this decision before the UEFA Appeals Body.”

Meanwhile Real Madrid assistant coach Karanka said that Jose Mourinho is no longer interested in attending press conferences.

“He has not received it well. They [Uefa] never explained why. The club has released a statement saying it will appeal,” Karanka is quoted as saying by Marca.com.

“Mourinho will defend himself until this comes to the end. Mou will not talk now because he will go through justice. He’s been through everything. But, for now we have to focus on the league and we want to concentrate on that.

“The idea is until they [Uefa] specify a reason then he [Mourinho] will not speak at the press conferences. Uefa have not communicated the reason why the coach has been suspended.”

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has refuted reports claiming that he has any problem with coach Jose Mourinho’s approach toward matches.

Zidane dismissed any such problems between him and Mourinho. Speak to Real Madrid’s official website: “My relationship with him and his staff is very good.

“I follow their work and collaborate with them in everything related to the first team. I have total respect for Jose Mourinho’s work on the Real Madrid bench. I only share comments or ideas on the first team with him.”

Champions League countdown latest updates -Road to Wembley

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Barcelona and Manchester United will confront each other in the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the second time in three years at Wembley on May 28.

Here is some latest updates coming from both camps.

Barcelona Legend Johan Cruyff view on the upcoming final match

“It is a one-off match, so anything can happen,” the Dutchman told Catalan daily Sport.
Cruyff, a legend at Barcelona both as a player and as a coach, was at the helm when the Catalan giants won the tournament in 1991-92 and believes that just like his team, Pep Guardiola’s side are “perfect.”

“They are doing pretty well,” he said.

“The aim is to always try to assemble the best team possible, to play good football and to ensure that young people are proud to be associated with the Blaugrana. Comparing these things isn’t really the best approach.

“When we won it, we were perfect. When [Frank] Rijkaard took over, they were perfect again. Now under Guardiola’s system, it also seems perfect for Barcelona. The most important thing is that Barcelona are proud and happy with what happens on the field.”

 

Barcelona Midfielder Xavi thinks Manchester United are the favorites

Manchester United are the favourites,” said the Spain international, according to ESPNSoccernet. “They’re a great team that also likes to play football, and perhaps that’s good for us.”

Team-mate Pedro echoed his words and said: “I hope we can win but Manchester are also a great team.”

 

Manchester United keeper Van Der Sar wants to finish on top before retiring and on Sunday’s match against Chelsea

“If we win it will be a nice way to finish, otherwise I will have to keep on going,” he laughed to reporters.

“You have to work hard in life to get to things and that is what we have done as a team this season.”

The 40-year-old looks set to become the oldest player to ever play in a final later this month, but until then the keeper has his sights set on winning the Premier League and insists Sir Alex Ferguson’s team choice in the 4-1 second leg victory over Schalke on Wednesday was justified.

“It was good that we brought some fresher players in,” he added.

“Hopefully some freshness and that extra bit of rest will help us on Sunday.”

Van der Sar also admitted he is not suprised by the way United’s domestic season has turned out and admits the title all hangs on Sunday’s match with Chelsea.

“I am not shocked,” he said. “There are certain games in any season you can lose. Chelsea and Liverpool away for instance.
“It’s the others that are harder to take.

“Probably, all three teams at the top have games where they look back and think how did we lose that, or why did we draw there or what happened then.

“It doesn’t really matter now. It is all up for grabs on Sunday.”

 

Inter legend and captain Javier Zanetti thinks Manchester United has got to take a revenge

“I think the Manchester we saw yesterday [against Schalke] can have revenge this year for the final they lost in Rome,”

Zanetti told the press.

“It will not be an easy feat as Barcelona are the team who play the best football in the world.”

On Inter’s season, he added: “We are the world champions and we won the Supercoppa Italiana. So the season is not to be thrown away.”

“Barcelona get help from outside” : Post-match reaction

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Post match reactions were rather straight direct from Real Madrid players as to why they felt Barcelona gets unfair advantage over Real Madrid.
Real Madrid lost the first leg 2 – 0 with scores 0 – 0 until the controversial sending off defender Pepe.
At today’s game Gonzalo Higuain goal was controversially disallowed in the 2nd half and that could have been the changing point of the game.
Soon after a beautiful ball from Iniesta fell into the path of Pedro and he converted to make the score 1 – 0 and 3 – 0 on aggregate but minutes later Marcelo leveled the match.
Madrid pushed for more goals but the match finished draw and Barcelona go on Wembley to play against probably Manchester United in the finals.
This is what Ronaldo had to say about the match.
‘Barcelona is a difficult team to beat because they get outside help. Next year they should give the cup directly to them.’
Xabi Alonso’ view
‘When we scored the first goal it would have been totally different and we feel so many bad decisions have been made against us and we are not happy about that,’ he said.
‘We think we did a good job but decisions went against us, we really feel that way.’
The former Liverpool midfielder claimed that Higuain disallowed goal would have altered the nature of the tie in Madrid’s favor as the game was still deadlocked at 0-0 at the time.
‘It would have changed everything, our position would have been much stronger and after that it was much more difficult,’ he said.

Barcelona’s coach Guardiola view on the match

On response to Alonso claim that Barcelona got help from the referee by not allowing Higuain goal.
‘I don’t have time for that, it has been a tough 20 days and we have played the richest team in the world many times, the referee may have had an influence but we were very good in the second match,
‘Football is coming home so it an honor to play at Wembley,’ he said.
‘We won our first Champions League in 1992 at the old Wembley and we are ever so proud for our club and players.’
The 40-year-old Barca manager thinks Manchester United will progress against Schalke to set up a repeat of the 2009 final which his side won 2-0, but he believes that would have no bearing on any potential rematch.
‘I suppose it will be Manchester [in the final], it was two years ago and I think Sir Alex Ferguson will always be there so for us it is an honor and for me as a young coach it is an honor to arrive at the final and play them,’ he said.

Barcelona book wembley final after drawing with Real Madrid

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Barcelona 1 – Real Madrid 1 (Agg. 3-1) (Champions League semi-final second leg, May 3, 2011)

Sergio Busquets had the first real opportunity with a header that Casillas caught. Towards the end of the first half Barcelona ramped up the pressure and David Villa saw his shot saved by Casillas after a great run by Messi.

On 54 Barcelona made the breakthrough, Andres Iniesta fed through a glorious ball into Pedro who finished past Casillas. Ten minutes later Real Madrid equalised on the night Marcelo firing home after Angel Di Maria had hit the post and then squared for the Brazilian.

Match Highlights:


szólj hozzá: Barcelona v Real Madrid 1-1

Video: Real Madrid 0 – 2 Barcelona

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In third of four El-Classico – Real Madrid lost to Barcelona by 2 goals infront of their own crowd at Santiago Bernabeau.

Real Madrid were reduced to ten  men after a red card was shown to Pepe and Mourinho was sent to stands for protesting.

Messi scored two goals and finished off the game.

Meanwhile Sergio Ramos will be suspended for the return of 2nd leg along with Pepe and the coach himself Jose Mourinho.

The highlights are for everyone to watch.

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Barcelona are not the best team in the world: Mourinho

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Jose Mourinho has said that Barcelona are not the best team in the world, but he is expecting a hard
slog when his Real Madrid side welcome them to the Bernabeu for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final clash.

The Portuguese coach, who won the trophy with Inter last year, eliminating Barcelona in the semi-finals, said there are no favourites, but he is optimistic.

Heading into the first leg of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal, Jose Mourinho discussed matters including the team’s morale, a possible outcome at the Bernabeu and the role of the referee.

“It will be an evenly fought tie. There are no favorites. We played great at the Bernabeu and in the Copa final, but we are up against a top-class coach and team. We know that each competition is different and that each match has its own history. We always look for balance and find it. The team is relaxed ahead of the Champions League semifinal, but we have to put forth our maximum effort and avoid being influenced by what has already taken place.”

“I don’t know how Barcelona are morale-wise. Ours is the same had we not won the Copa final. Winning the Copa was great, but we began preparing for Valencia once the final was over and subsequently for this match. Both teams are just as excited and last year Barcelona’s obsession stemmed from the fact that they could win the Champions League in the Bernabeu. Not this time. The final is at Wembley, where they already won a Champions League.”

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“There are no favorites for this tie. The two teams know each other well
and both have players that have played in important matches and who know how to produce victories. Looking at the Shalke-Manchester semifinal and I don’t see a favorite either.”

“You never head to the Camp Nou with a secure lead. We beat Tottenham 4-0 and then had difficulty against them. They are a very good team but they are not Barcelona. Sometimes tendecies are broken, but it would be normal for everything to be up in the air for the return leg. A draw would be bad if we play better and have scoring chances. If it’s the opponent that plays better, I would be happy going there.”

“More imporant than who is refereeing is that we start a new cycle- There have been two groups of managers up until now: a quiet one who doesn’t talk about referees and a louder one, such as myself, that criticizes the referees when they make significant mistakes. We have entered a new era following the statements made by Guardiola and there is now a third group. He is the only one in it as he criticizes the right calls made by referees. I had never seen anything like it before. We will see if his supporters follow him into the group.”

“I am a natural motivator. First I have to motivate myself and then I motivate my players. Before the Cup final all I told them was a statement made by Einstein: “There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy… the will.” Not long ago I was speaking to
a television channel and I told them that I am the same coach that lost 5-0 against Barcelona two months ago. I am a hard worker and I put in a lot of hours to help those around me. But I was the coach of this team two months ago, which is why I don’t accept the notion that I have a magic potion.”

 

Champions League roundups- “Would relish meeting Real Madrid” – Ferguson

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Champions league round about

It’s time for another set of el classic and Schalke Manchesterd United games around.

We have some snippet of what is expected from the champions league semi-final games.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s view

Speaking to press about the champions league clash with Schalke.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he would relish facing Real Madrid in the Champions League final but is staying focussed on the game against Schalke first.

“From the moment the draw was made, I thought Real had a big chance, I really did”.

“I think that 5-0 defeat Real suffered against Barcelona would have hurt Mourinho deeply and he won’t be getting beaten like that again, that’s for sure.

“Since then, Real have played Barcelona twice, drawing one and winning the other. For that match, the Copa del Rey final, he put Pepe, normally a centre-back, in midfield and they really got wired in to Barcelona.

“Ronaldo’s header to win the game was fantastic but I have seen him do that before. It was a little similar to the one he scored for us against Roma in Italy.

“I thought maybe the goalkeeper could have done better, but the spring and the power he got – it came from the spine, not the neck.

“He was a threat all night, running behind them. I’m not sure it’s a case of relishing playing against him in the final but the best way to look at it is that I hope we are there.

“Then we can look at it and decide how we feel. I don’t want to be complacent, we want to get to the final first.”

Victor Valdes – victory depends on the type of referee

“We are a team with players who are winners and we want to repeat the triumphs with Barcelona. So, we just have to keep going, and go all out against Real Madrid.

“We know what can happen against Real Madrid. We must take what comes, and it may depend a lot on the referee whether we can play our game or not. But we’re not obsessed about these things.”

Valdes then went on to say that Barcelona should just try and play their own game if they are to be successful.

“We have to do our thing and play the game that suits us. The key will be ball possession, and we have to pass, and pass, until we get a chance on goal.”

Raul’s take on Schalke’s semi-final game against Manchester United

“Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are players for whom I have an enormous admiration. What we have in common is that we love this profession. Football is our lives. They are great professionals who look after themselves and who train properly.

“For Giggs to still be playing at this level at 37 years of age is incredible. I would love to swap shirts with Giggs after the game. It would be
a great honour to have that shirt.”

The former Spain international then went on to explain that his move to Schalke last summer has allowed him to solely focus on playing football again.

“I am more relaxed now. At Real Madrid, I had a lot more responsibilities. Now I don’t have to worry about anything else, I can concentrate on getting on with my team-mates, training and playing.

“My life has always been about playing and all the rest of it did not really interest me. I came to realise that when you don’t do those other
things, you save your energy for what counts and what you really love to do, which is playing. Then your career goes that bit longer.”

Christopher Metzelder

“I think we are underdogs, yes,” Metzelder said, according to The Telegraph.

“United have so much experience in the Champions League, playing quarter-finals or semi-finals every year.

“United will be more confident of going to London than if they had faced Barcelona or Madrid.”

Barcelona are not champions of Europe: Mourinho

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Jose Mourinho speaking to press ahead of Valencia had this to say.

About his future

“I am happy that our work is paying off and that people want to take the same direction that I want to take. I am always calm and I do not want
to lose ambition. We are not just here for one year, but rather a lot more time. I feel better working for Real Madrid each day that goes by.

Any news coming out of Italy is false and I want to continue working peacefully. We will be here this coming preseason to continue working. My teams are always better in the second season and I will work hard to ensure it happens here. I am certain that Real Madrid will be better in the second season.”

Injured players

“Having an injured player is always bad news for a team and a coach. We are upset that Khedira is hurt, but to say that he is done for the season is absurd. He cannot play tomorrow and I can all but guarantee he won’t play on Wednesday either. He will miss both matches, but we hope he can return as quickly as possible.”

“Lass missed Wednesday’s match and Granero played 20 good minutes. Granero always responds well. We are upset that we don’t have Khedira, but that is how our team is built and we will have an answer for his absence.”

On Barcelona

“Barcelona is a fantastic team that has won a lot, but they are not the champions of Europe. They are champions of Spain and they have a good chance to repeat. Just because they lost doesn’t mean they are bad. I am stable in both good times and bad and I know we need to remain calm. We won an historic Cup against a very worthy adversary. What I will remember most, though, is our fantastic road to the title because we beat complicated teams like one of this season’s greats, Levante; the runner-up, Atletico; and the champion, Sevilla.

I will also remember the warm embrace from the president.”