Episode 18 – The Special Guest Edition

TweetOn a very special edition of Merengue Bites, the crew is joined by a very special guest – Phil Kitromiledes of Real Madrid Television of The Spanish Football Podcast Fame in part one where he answers a few of our questions. In part two, the panel takes a look back at an excellent half-season so…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1GKe9pi

via IFTTT

Episode 17 — 20 Wins On The Trot

TweetMark, Rahul and guest panelist Sushil discuss Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Almeria, which saw Los Merengues open up a 4-point lead atop the table while creeping closer to Curitiba’s world record of 24 consecutive wins. The guys also discuss Real Madrid’s possible Champions League Round of 16 match-ups, Gareth Bale’s uninspiring form and Isco’s…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/131FEf9

via IFTTT

Episode 16 — Another Day, Another CR7 Hat-Trick

TweetMark, Kaushik and Rahul discuss Real Madrid’s regulation 3-0 victory over Celta Vigo courtesy of a record-breaking hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo and an encouraging performance from Asier “Batman” Illarramendi. Also on the docket for episode 16 — Real Madrid’s midfield injuries, transfer window targets (or lack thereof) and a discussion on confirmed (Marco Asensio, Mink…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1wjzLYm

via IFTTT

Episode 15 – Despatching Malaga and Debating Balon d’Or

TweetThe Merengue Bites crew is back to analyse the match against Malaga that took the win streak to 16 matches. Does this make this team better than the 2012-13 team? How long will the streak go? In part two the panel discusses the ever so debatable topic of Balon D’Or and other FIFA awards, puts…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1B6oj3h

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites Episode 14 – Sergio Ramos vs. Stadium Camera edition

TweetMark, Rahul, Kaushik & Ryan discuss Real Madrid’s comfortable 4-0 win away to minnows Eibar and major talking points such as Luka Modric’s injury, Isco’s performance in central midfield, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring target for the season and potential winter transfer window activity. The guys also discuss off-the-field matters such as potential transfer window activity, Real…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1ADnIG3

via IFTTT

In the absence of Luka Modric

Tweet FIFA Virus. I never believed that was a thing. After all, they’re football matches just like the weekly La Liga matches. Chances of someone getting injured in international matches are probably the same as doing so in club matches. I’d argue even less, because club games in general are far more intense, but I…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1uI8ht9

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites Episode 13 – The Putting 5 Past Rayo Edition

TweetMerengue Bites is back after a week’s break and Madridista Mac has Ryan and Kaushik with him to discuss the victory against Rayo Vallecano, Ancelotti’s renewal rumours and other topics. The crew also play a trivia game which you, the listener, can play as well. The panel also tries to name the best team out…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1uxsX6J

via IFTTT

El Clasico – A Chat with the other side

Tweet Good news everybody! We have a written article for you after a long time. Its not the run of the mill preview, but a Q&A is still very good. Kevin of Barcelona Football Blog answers some of Bassam’s questions and Bassam in turn returns the favour over at BFB. You can find Bassam’s answers…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/12rUOKL

via IFTTT

Episode 10 – Looking forward to Liverpool and Barcelona

TweetMark, Kaushik and Ryan meet again to take a brief look at the match at Levante and focus on Real Madrid’s big week which features matches against Liverpool in the Champions League, and El Clasico against Barcelona. The crew discusses Bale’s injury, improvement of James and Isco, tactical approach against Barca, and lots more. How…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1uAIqPj

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites Episode 9 – Rounding up Villarreal, Ludogorets and Athletic

TweetMark, Kaushik and Ryan return after nearly two weeks of a break to discuss the three matches that have taken place in the time frame, and how Real Madrid has progressed in that time. The crew also tackles Cristiano’s evolution, Casillas’ interview, Ancelotti’s position in a manager’s power rankings, coolest goal celebrations and much more.…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1wi6QPI

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites Episode 8 – The goals they are a flowin’ edition

TweetIn this week’s Merengue Bites episode, Mark returns after a week out and discusses with Ryan and Kaushik, about the goal fest at the Riazor. The panel discusses the formation the team began with and finally ended with, along with voting for their favourite goal among the eight. In the second part, the crew discuss…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1wSvZnD

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites 2014-15 Episode 7 – Derbi Defeat

TweetKaushik, Rahul and guest podcaster Albert review Real Madrid’s disappointing derby reverse at home to Atletico Madrid. The panel scrutinizes individual player performances, surmises on tactical matters and look forward to Real Madrid’s games against Basel in the Champions League and Villarreal in La Liga. As always, the guys also answer a wide variety of…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/XlChwR

via IFTTT

El Derbi Madrileño – The obstacle between a statement and crisis

Tweet I’ve started to grow fond of international breaks, quite unlike say two years ago, at which time I hated time off from club football. Perhaps it is because there’s a bit of football fatigue, or maybe it was just a subconscious feeling of brushing away some of the doubts created by the loss to…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1lZfKS2

via IFTTT

Guest Post: A comprehensive analysis of Real Madrid’s transfer window

Tweet As we are now on international break for 2 weeks after conceding our first la Liga loss of the season (4-2 to La Real Sociedad) we, at RMFB, decided to take the opportunity to talk and analyze Real Madrid summer transfer window. It’s been a busy summer, both in terms of arrivals and departure…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1xm7q3J

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites 2014-15 Episode 5 – Anoeta Implosion

TweetMark, Kaushik and Ryan discuss Real Madrid’s shocking defeat at the Anoeta after going 2-0 up, which players performed well and which ones disappointed as well as transfer goings-on, with Ryan claiming that Lionel Messi is on his way to the Bernabeu Subscribe to the Merengue Bites weekly podcast at iTunes, or listen to/download the…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1vGLs9P

via IFTTT

The sudden exit of Xabi and the not so sudden exit of Di Maria

Tweet The title of the article says it all. La Decima was fantastic. The euphoria that comes with such a title can last for a long time. Somewhere between then and the World Cup, the realities of next season began to hit us. With the rumours for Kroos building up, everything looked to be heading…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1tZT6s1

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites 2014-15 Episode 4 – Supercopa Disappointment

TweetMark, Bassam, Kaushik and Ryan join forces to review the disappointing Supercopa defeat to Atletico Madrid and discuss the Alonso-Kroos-Modric midfield partership, James Rodriguez’s best position and the Angel Di Maria situation. More importantly, the gang pow-wow over Real Madrid’s reported dragon-watermarked black third kit and which Real Madrid player would likely bake the best…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1mAQX1F

via IFTTT

Supercopa Preview : Glorified friendly or a chance to make a statement?

Tweet The start of the season proper is almost here. Whether you consider the Supercopa that or not is a matter of perspective, but it wouldn’t be a lie to say that both participating teams take the series of matches seriously, year in year out. Atletico de Madrid, champions of La Liga (that sounds weird…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1tgBPdz

via IFTTT

Merengue Bites 2014-15 Episode 3 – La Liga Preview Edition

TweetBassam joins the crew after a long hiatus as him, Mark, Ryan and Kaushik preview the upcoming La Liga season from the view points of Barcelona, Atletico, and of course Real Madrid. The panel also tackles several tough listener questions, about whether Modric and Kroos can handle the midfield on their own, on how Zidane…



from Real Madrid Football Blog http://ift.tt/1kVMDPb

via IFTTT

Preparations for the European Super Cup

Real Madrid completed the second session with the whole squad, except Jesé.

Real Madrid completed their second training session with the whole squad as they continue their preparations for the European Super Cup against Sevilla in Cardiff City Stadium (20:45). While Xabi Alonso, Di María and Coentrão started yesterday’s session off the pitch, today they worked with the group from the start. Only Jesé was missing as his recovery continues. 

Ancelotti was joined on the pitch by 22 players. With Casillas, Diego López and Keylor Navas working on specifics with goalkeeper coach Villiam Vecchi, sit-ups and muscle strengthening exercises were followed by ball work. Ball circulation and pressing were some of the aspects the Italian coach focused on.

Deportivo-Real Madrid will be played on Saturday 20 September at 16:00

Marcelo, Ángel di María, Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira carried out the afternoon session atCiudad Real Madrid. 

The four players, the last men to return to the team after the World Cup in Brazil, carried out exercises without the ball under the instructions of Carlo Ancelotti and Fernando Hierro. After half an hour of work on Pitch 1, the four players, who trained with the rest of their teammates in the morning session, went to the gym to continue their preparations, focusing on the start of the official season, on 12 August in Cardiff, when Real Madrid take on Sevilla in the European Super Cup.

James Rodríguez receives the World Cup Golden Boot

facebooktwitter

SHARE

NEWS | 08/08/2014

“This is a dream and I think I’m at the ideal club to win more”, said the Colombian.

James Rodríguez picked up his Brazilian World Cup Golden Boot at the Ciudad Real Madrid. The Colombian received the award that recognises him as the top goalscorer in the competition with six goals in the five games he played. James beat Thomas Müller, who scored five, and Neymar, Messi and Van Persie, who found the net four times each.

The Real Madrid player spoke of his joy at receiving the award and his first impressions of the club: “I’m proud because it’s a dream and I hope to be able to win more. I think I’m at the ideal club to do that. Everyone on the team is an excellent person. It is a tight group and we hope to win titles, which is what the club wants. I’m happy”.

Best goal at the World Cup

In addition to netting six times, James Rodríguez provided two assists, was chosen as man of the match on three occasions and scored the best goal of the World Cup according to FIFA.com users.

More work four days before the European Super Cup

NEWS | 08/08/2014 | ALBERTO NAVARRO | PHOTOGRAPHER: PEDRO CASTILLO

The Whites, with Jesé the only absentee, completed the fourth session with the wholesquad.

Real Madrid trained at Ciudad Real Madrid, completing their fourth training session with the whole squad as they continue their preparations for the European Supercup against Sevilla in Cardiff City Stadium (20:45). Ancelotti was joined on the pitch by 22 players. Only Jesé was missing as he continues his recovery. 

With Casillas, Diego López and Keylor Navas working on specifics with goalkeeper coach Villiam Vecchi, sit-ups and muscle strengthening exercises led to ball work for the 19 outfield players who joined Ancelotti. Rounds of one and two-touch were used to practice quick ball circulation.

Ancelotti: “The team is more confident after winning the Décima”

facebooktwitter

SHARE

INTERVIEW | 09/08/2014

“Sevilla have changed a bit this year but, as with all finals, the European Super Cup will be very difficult”.

Carlo Ancelotti is about to embark on his second season at the helm of Real Madrid and he does so as a European champion. The chance to win six titles is of great motivation to the squad he coaches. On Tuesday (20:45) he could win the first, the European Super Cup. The manager analysed last season and the one that is about to get underway in an interview with the official UEFA press: “Sevilla have changed a bit this year but, as with all finals, the European Super Cup will be very difficult. The team ismore confident after winning the Décima”.

1. The Super Cup is the first match in Europe this year. How significant is the match in terms of finding out the standard that you can expect during the season?
   It is a very important match because it is the final of an international competition. It is special because it is the first official match after a World Cup that several of my players participated in. It will not be easy to prepare for, but we want to win it.
2. With Milan you won the Super Cup after the three Champions Leagues you won. What would it mean to you to do it again in Cardiff?
   That’s what we’re here for. When you play in a final you prepare to win it and give your all. As with all finals, it will be very difficult, although we may be favourites because we are Real Madrid.
3. What do you think of Sevilla?
   The team had a good season. It won the Europa League with a group of players who worked well as a team and they deserved to win the title. Sevilla has changed a bit this year. In some ways it is an unknown side at the moment because they have lost some important players and others have arrived. We’ll see what happens.
4. What are the challenges a manager has to face in a season that starts with a title like this at stake? Does this match change the way you prepare for the season?
   No. The season only changed because we had to give players who were at the World Cup holidays until the 5^th of August. So we have not had much time to prepare for the match. We will have to give our all in August to try and prepare the players as well as possible for the new season.
5. What are your thoughts on Real Madrid’s success last season, now that you have had time to reflect on it?
   We had a good season because we won the Copa del Rey and our most important objective, for Real Madrid to win the Champions League. As soon as we won it, we started to look forward to the season that is about to get underway and the trophies we aspire to. That is the philosophy of Real Madrid. There is always a desire to continue improving the club’s history.
6. Before the final you told us that the manager’s main jobbefore a match of this type is to make sure there is no pressure on the squad. How did you achieve that in Lisbon?
   The team was well prepared for the match, above all from a psychological point of view. There was the necessary and essential level of pressure to play the game. I was not particularly worried about anything on or off the pitch. The team never lost their heads, not even when we were down.
7. What impressed you most about your team in that match?
   The most important thing was that we maintained our faith in the victory until the last second, with great intensity and concentration. I think it was key to the victory. Morale was high at all times. There were no moments in which the intensity and concentration of the team dropped, even when we were losing.
8. Last season you won your third Champions League as a manager and your fifth in total. How special was that win?
   It was important for me, above all because that season we were determined to win the Décima. I wanted it and the club wanted it. Making history with the Décima is without a doubt the biggest victory anyone can aspire to. It was not an individual success.
9. With the new season about to get underway, what is the team going to do in order to try and successfully defend the Champions League?
   No team has defended the title in history. We know it will be very difficult. Our starting point resides in the fact that the team is more confident in itself. It is more confident now thanks to recent success. I think that gives us something extra for this season’s Champions League.
10. What is the secret to winning as many titles as you have as a coach?
    The secret to winning is that there is no secret. You need ambition, desire and commitment, and none of those are secrets.

Entrevista a Rivers Rivers: "I want to help this huge club continue to win titles"

"I'll provide points and will do what needs to be done in order to win".

Real Madrid's most recent basketball signing, K. C. Rivers, sat down to give his first interview to Realmadrid.com and Realmadrid TV. The American forward spoke candidly about his objectives with the Whites: "I want titles and to help this huge club continue to enjoy success".

1. What will you bring to the team?
   I will provide points. I get involved in all facets of play: in defence and in offering an alternative to taking the ball out of our zone. I'm a player who does everything and I only think about winning. I'll do what needs to be done in order to win. Everything that is required. I'll give it my all in order to win.
2. What is your goal by signing for Real Madrid?
   My personal goal is to continue improving as a player, become part of a massive club and help the team continue to enjoy success. I want titles. All my teammates have won them and until now I haven't been fortunate enough to do the same in Europe yet. My goal is to win titles with my teammates, as they have done already.
3. What do you know about Real Madrid?
   I know the club's history. They have won 31 League Championships, as well as a lot of other titles, and a lot of legendary players have played here. I understand very well what is expected of me. It is a demanding club. A lot of the players that have been at this club speak about the professionalism that there is here and how well the players are treated. They love the city. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to experience this with my family.
4. Do you know your new teammates?
   I've watched Rudy and Sergio Rodríguez play in the NBA. As well as that, I played against Sergio Rodríguez in a tournament in Barcelona when I was in high school and he was playing with Estudiantes. I also know some of my other teammates from my time playing with Khimki a couple of years ago.
5. What message do you have for your new fans?
   I'm here to give it 100% and to win, which is what you guys want. ¡Hala Madrid!

Benzema’s five years at Real Madrid

facebooktwitter

SHARE

NEWS | 06/08/2014 | JAVIER GARCÍA

The Frenchman has played 235 matches and scored 111 goals to win one Champions League, one Liga, two Copa del Reys and one Supercup of Spain with the Whites.

Karim Benzema now has five successful years under his belt at Real Madrid. The Frenchman, who has just extended his contract until 2019, arrived at the club in the summer of 2009. Since then, he has become one of the best forwards in the world. With 235 matches and 111 goals for the team, he has contributed to the conquest of one Champions League, one Liga, two Copa del Reys and one Supercup of Spain.

His debut for Real Madrid came on 29 August 2009 against Deportivo and he scored his first goal for the club on 20 September of that year in the Santiago Bernabéu against Xerez. His stats improved considerably in the first few years until he scored 32 goals in the 2011/12 season, his best haul so far.

Twenty-four goals in the Décima season
Last year, Benzema was key to the conquest of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Together with Cristiano and Bale, he formed the best attacking trio in Europe. The Frenchman played in 52 matches and found the net 24 times; five of them en route to theDécima and two in winning the club’s nineteenth Copa del Rey.

Besides his goals, Benzema is one of the best link-up players. He has exquisite technique and is capable of looking up just at the right moment to find his best-placed teammate. As a result he finishes each season as one of the team’s most prolific providers.

Ancelotti’s team continue to prepare for Tuesday’s match against Sevilla.

• 
  

  Real Madrid completed their fifth session with the whole squad at Ciudad Real Madrid to continue their preparations for the European Super Cup on Tuesday at Cardiff City Stadium (20:45). The only absentee was Jesé, whose recovery continues.
  
  Ancelotti was joined on the pitch by 22 players. While Casillas, Diego López and Keylor Navas working on specifics with goalkeeper coach Villiam Vecchi, warm-up and muscle strengthening exercises led to ball work.