Mourinho : Khedira will play this season

Season not over for Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira despite injury concern

Khedira injury gives Jose Mourinho another headache, but he is unlikely to miss the rest of the season

Copa del Rey: Lioneal Messi (FC Barcelona) Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira is set to return before the end of the season as coach Jose Mourinho has played down concerns after reports suggested he would miss all his club’s remaining fixtures.

German broadcaster ARD and Spain’s AS.com are reporting that the Germany international will play no further part in the season due to the injury he sustained in Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey final win against Barcelona in Valencia.

Real Madrid have not confirmed the news officially, but Mourinho told the press he was stunned to hear talk that his man was out for the rest of term.

Ever eager to avoid mixed messages from the Spanish and German press, the coach clarified the situation.

“The injury to Khedira is important like any other. It’s a limitation for the team and there are players who are hard to replace. It is what it is, bad news, but to say he will not return before the end of the season is absurd,” he said.

“He will not play tomorrow or on Wednesday because there is no miracle in medicine, but we hope he is back soon.”

Madrid are expected to examine the player on Saturday to further diagnose the problem. Their official website said on Friday that Khedira did not take part in the training session ahead of tomorrow’s game at Valencia.

Video: Real Madrid 1 – 0 Barcelona Copa Del Rey Finale

Match report : It takes an extra time goal from Cristiano Ronaldo to score the winning goal for Real Madrid in Copa Del Rey Final against Barcelona.

Watch match highlights

szólj hozzá: Real Madrid 1 X 0 Barcelona

Andres Iniesta could miss against Real Madrid

Andres Iniesta should find out on Wednesday if he is to be punished by UEFA for allegedly getting deliberately booked during his side’s recent Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Barcelona midfielder is in danger of missing next week’s Champions League first leg semi-final showdown against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu if the ban sticks.

Yellow peril: Barcelona have appealed UEFA's ban for Andres Iniesta over an alleged deliberate booking
Yellow peril: Barcelona have appealed UEFA’s ban for Andres Iniesta over an alleged deliberate booking

Officials at the match alleged Iniesta provoked the card so he could serve the standard one-match ban in the second leg and would have a clean slate for the semi-finals

The Spain World Cup winner was cautioned for not retreating the required distance at a free-kick, meaning he missed the return game in Ukraine.

But Barca refute the claims and have decided to appeal UEFA’s proposed ban.

Waiting game: Iniesta could now miss the first leg semi-final showdown against Real Madrid
Waiting game: Iniesta could now miss the first leg semi-final showdown against Real Madrid

‘FC Barcelona believe that the arguments outlined in their appeal, based on the good faith of the player and the disproportionate nature of the proposed sanction will be sufficient to rebut these allegations,’ the club said on their official website.

‘The UEFA disciplinary committee will make a decision on the case on Wednesday.’

Barcelona face La Liga rivals Real Madrid in the last four of Europe’s premier club competition with the first leg away at the Bernabeu on April 27.

Video : Real Madrid 1 – 1 Barcelona

Real Madrid 1 – Barcelona 1

One of the early highlights of the Clasico was Marcelo sweeping the linesman off his feet. Lionel Messi had the first big chance, chipping the ball into the hands of Casillas. The second half started with plenty of action, Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post from a free-kick and on their next attack Barcelona won a penalty for an Albiol foul on Villa with Lionel Messi converting – his first goal against a Jose Mourinho side and the Real defender sent off. Real Madrid drew level with 8 minutes to go, Cristiano Ronaldo converting a penalty for an Alves foul on Marcelo – CR7′s first ever goal against Barcelona.

szólj hozzá: Real Madrid v Barca Highlights

Footballers on twitter today: I am not sure about new hairstyle of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo – Arsenal’s Jack Wikshere

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“CR7 has gone for a new look….the comb over with a load of gel…like it ronnie trying different vibes!”

Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand seems impressed with the new style of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. (http://twitter.com/rioferdy5)

“Not sure about #Ronaldos new hair style….”

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is not impressed, though.

Video: Tottenham 0 – Real Madrid 1 (Agg. 0-5)

Tottenham 0 – Real Madrid 1 (Agg. 0-5) (Champions League, quarter-final second leg, April 13, 2011)

Real Madrid arrived at White Hart Lane with Zinedine Zidane in their associates, and the Frenchman must
have rasie a ironic smile when Roman Pavlyuchenko blasted over a golden opportunity in the first half.

The coffin for Spurs’ Champions League campaign was sealed shut five minutes after the restart when a speculative Cristiano Ronaldo shot on target horrifically slipped through Heurelho Gomes’s fingers and into the net.

We must respect Tottenham Hotspur : Mourinho

José Mourinho
Image via Wikipedia

12th April 2011

Jose Mourinho spoke to the media a day before the 2nd leg of UCL quarterfinals against Tottenham Hotspur.

“I agree with Redknapp. Football always offers surprises. We must respect Tottenham Hotspur. I know the mentality of English teams and, if I were in their situation, I would never throw in the towel. We will play a serious game and we’ll look to score goals. It will be hard for Spurs to make a comeback.”

“Players should be intelligent and know the situation they’re in. I will not reserve players with a double booking. One has
to be aware that opponents will focus on playing their game and nothing else. We must finish the job we started and respect Tottenham Hotspur. Our current aggregate score is very good, but it is not definitive.”

“The main objective in Champions League knockout stages is to reach the next round. You don’t need anything else. I don’t know if we’re the only team that hasn’t lost a game in the championship, but if we’re not, then there are very few sides in our situation. What matters is that we reach the semifinals. It would be even better to do so by winning tomorrow’s game and scoring  goals.”

Real Madrid Team News:

Jose Mourinho welcomes back Benzema after a thigh strain and has almost full squad to select from.

The team members flown to London for the match are as follows -

Goalkeepers :Casillas, Adan, Dudek
Defenders :Carvalho, Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Arbeloa, Garay, Nacho
Midfielders :Kaka, Granero, Alonso, Canales, Di Maria, Ozil, Khedira
Forwards : Adebayor, Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema

Atletic Bilbao 0 – Real Madrid 3

Athletic Bilbao 0 -- 3 Real Madrid

Kaka stroked home a 12th minute penalty for Real Madrid after Di Maria had been fouled. Nine minutes into the second half Kaka notched number two, again from the penalty spot after Di Maria had been fouled (this time it looked like a dive). Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo made it 3-0 on 70 minutes with a fine cut in and strike.