I Want To Win Trophies At Madrid - James Rodriguez

 

Newly recruited Real Madrid star, James Rodriguez, has revealed how he “dreamt” of signing for the Spanish club his whole life; and stated that he is now anxious to start winning trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu.

James, who scooped the 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, joined Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco for €80 million earlier this week.

Speaking to the media, James says he is planning a lengthy and trophy-laden career at the Spanish capital.

Barcelona have come to the end of an era - Mendieta

Former Spain International Gaizka  Mendieta believes Barcelona have come to the end of an era and may have started the rebuilding process too late.

The Catalans handed over their La Liga title to Atletico Madrid after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nou Camp - and manager Gerardo Tata Martino deemed it right to retire after a rather fruitless season.
And Mendieta said: “For Barca to change they need to get some new players. The cycle is coming to an end.

“I think they should have been trying to sort this a few seasons ago with [new] full-backs and a goalkeeper, knowing that Victor Valdes was not keen to renew his
contract.

“Xavi and Busquets seem to be irreplaceable. Maybe they should have looked at the key positions. Football runs in cycles – AC Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United – the biggest teams in Europe have their moments.

Bella Guttman's curse on Benfica F.C.

“Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup” - this is believed to be the words of Bella Guttman some 52 years ago

Bela Guttman was the coach of Benfica football club during 1961 and 1962. Born  in 1900, Guttman was a   legendary Hungarian coach who led Portuguese power Benfica to two European Cup titles in the early 1960s.

After winning the old European Cup consecutively in 1961 and 1962, Guttmann approached the Benfica board of directors and asked for a pay rise, but, despite the success he had brought the club, he was turned down. On leaving Benfica he allegedly cursed the club, declaring “Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup”.

MIND GAMES: Mourinho and Simeone Exchange Good Remarks

Ahead of the Champion's League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has praised the attacking prowess of Diego Simeone's men.

Atletico are comfortably sat at the top of the Spanish League table -  needing just two wins to lift the trophy, they've also shown a good spirit in Europe by eliminating both AC Milan and Barcelona; hence, the 51-year-old Portuguese boss is not quick to writing them off.

"They are a good side. They are not a counterattacking side. They are a good side. They defend well. They score goals. They win matches! They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and need two victories to be Spanish champions.

"Atlético were my direct rivals for three seasons but I always felt a relationship of respect with the club. I have respect for what they are doing because to be in a Champions League semi-final is not for every club, and to have the possibility of winning the league against Barcelona and
Real Madrid is something that deserves my respect."

Mourinho also demanded the best form from his players - who cruised past Liverpool with 2-0 in the Barclay's League last weekend.

"It is a knockout game, a game of details, a game where maybe one goal is the difference. It is a game where everybody needs to be at the top level. For the 90 minutes the players are more important
than the manager, I trust them a lot and that helps me to be calm," the Special One added.

"Against Paris we were in a position where we had nothing to lose and no one really expecting us to turn the result around. At
the moment, it is a 'clean' result, it is 0-0 and the chances are equal. We are at home but a score draw is good for them and not for us; you cannot say who has the advantage."

On the other hand, visiting manager, Simeone, had this to say:

"The confidence is always there, especially in a semi-final of the Champions League. That's already a massive statement. My players are excited and keen. We know
we'll have to work hard tomorrow in a very difficult game, and we'll have to put in an enormous effort to get a positive result.

"I'm not focusing on where we are at the moment. I just want us to keep moving forward, not on what we've achieved. I usually let you guys talk about the progress we've undertaken in the last three years of success, but I'm not comparing Atlético Madrid with Chelsea, a team who won the Champions League two years ago. In the end the best team will win. With our hard work and our enthusiasm, we can do well and maybe et a positive result.

"I'm a football man. I respect different ways of setting out your team. It's about what's the best way for a specific game or a specific opposition. To defend well is not easy, so I congratulate teams who do that well. To attack well isn't easy, either. So you have to congratulate managers
who get their sides doing that. Football evolves. There is no 'best way'. It depends on the manager spending time with his players, talking different set-ups and tactics, different approaches and styles.

"But, in the end, it's important the team, the club, the institution wins, regardless of how it is achieved. There is no 'one
way' to play football. If we all played the same way, it would be very boring. You can play ten at the back or ten up front. What matters is the result."

The emergent winner faces Real Madrid in the UEFA Final in Lisbon on May 24.

Barcelona Will Seek Cup Solace Against Real

 

After a rather frustrating campaign for the Catalans, Barcelona will seek Cup solace - as they face arch rivals Real Madrid in the Kings Cup final, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 16.

The Copa del Rey seem to be the surest source of a trophy for the Blaugrana - after they were eliminated from the Champions League by fellow Spanish contenders, Atletico Madrid - and deprived a three-point in the La-Liga by Granada last weekend.

"It's clear that the Cup is fundamental for us," sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, who has been widely criticised for not bringing in sufficient squad reinforcements, said on Spanish radio on Sunday.

Talismanic Argentina captain Lionel Messi has gone off the boil just when Barca needed his sublime skills the most, while Brazil forward Neymar has blown hot and cold since his high-profile move from Santos in the close season, but Zubizarreta has defended Messi.

"There is nothing wrong with him (Messi)," Zubizarreta said.

"He is fine with the club and with his team mates. His problem is that he has set the bar so high for himself," added the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper.

"He is happy, training well, in good physical shape. But he knows that football throws up challenges every week."

Wednesday night's clash features two teams whose focus is on attack and it should be an open, entertaining spectacle between the world's two richest clubs by income.

Champions League: What To Expect In The Semi Finals

With the success of the UEFA Champions League draw which took place at Nyon, Switzerland, a wonderful set of matches is set to come.

Former Madrid star Luis Figo was in the house to carry out what he was paid to do. Here is the fixture list following the draw:

Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be playing the first leg as the home team, at the Bernabeu and the Vicente Calderon respectively.

What is the problem with Real Madrid?

 
After a shocking defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday, the world's big round eye is fixed on Real Madrid - as people inquire to know what the actual problem is, with the Spanish super club.

Cristiano Ronaldo felt so disappointed with the result of the concluded game. He had earlier boasted, after losing to Barcelona last week, that his side would emerge Champions of the La Liga at all cost.

Nonetheless, the outcome of the game yesterday undoubtedly left the Portuguese captain worried; as they now face a stiff competition with table leaders Atletico Madrid and second placed Barcelona.

Lionel Messi breaks and sets records

Barcelona's all time leading goal scorer, Lionel Messi, makes history and set a new record as the Blaugrana cruise past Real Madrid in an El-Classico clash on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Argentine netted a hat-trick in Barca's 4-3 win over Los Blancos on Sunday night; and his display in the Spanish capital sums up his goals to 335 in 404 appearances, according to reports.

El-Classico: Facts and Stats

As Real Madrid FC host Spanish Champions Barcelona in a clash which is globally referred to as El-Classico, Visuals! Blog has deemed it necessary to hint on the stats - ahead of the battle scheduled to hold on Sunday, March 23.

The prestigious El-Classico, which is regarded as the biggest rivalry in the football world, actually started on May 13, 1902; and the total number of 726 goals have been shared amongst these two great Spanish teams since inception.

The Los Blancos seem to have the largest part of the victory since the contest began, as they have won 90 of the clashes - with Barcelona winning 87.  Madrid's greatest Classico win was on June 13, 1943 - when they demolished the Blaugrana by 11-1. Meanwhile, Barca  have had a good number of 5-0 wins over the Galaticos, but the latest was the one we recently witnessed on November 29, 2010.
However, our concern with the El-Classico does not lie in history but in the present time - when the two greatest footballers in recent age, have made it soundly interesting.

Madrid Star Hits Back at Mourinho for Mirror Jibe

Real Madrid defender Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, popularly known as Pepe, has hit back at Jose Mourinho - after the Chelsea manager tacitly claimed that the Galaticos were addicted to the mirror.

Mourinho, 51, who managed the Spanish club for three years - predominantly dominating Barcelona, left the Santiago controversially during last summer. 

And recently, the Portuguese boss stated that the los Blancos players were more interested in looking at the mirror before a match, than winning the match. Continue...

Jose Mourinho hits out at Madrid players

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Real Madrid players were addicted to the mirror - as they cared more about their public appearance than about winning trophies.

The 51-year-old coach controversially left Santiago Bernabeu last Summer; and shortly after his departure, lots of criticisms were heaped on the Portuguese boss - prominent among his critics were Andres Iniesta, Hernandez Xavi, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo. Continue...