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…



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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…



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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…



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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…



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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

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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”

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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

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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.

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  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.