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Real Madrid winger James Rodriguez has told reporters he is happy at the club and is delighted to have won his second trophy already.

The Colombian, who signed in the summer from Monaco after starring at the World Cup in Brazil, returned to the side after injury to help them to a 2-0 win over San Lorenzo in the Club World Cup.

Shortly after his arrival in the Spanish capital, the 22-year-old picked up the European Super Cup in Cardiff after Los Blancos saw off Sevilla. A couple of months later and he has added his second medal to his trophy cabinet already.

Speaking to reporters after the game in Marrakech, Rodriguez said he came to the club to win trophies.

“I’m happy. I came here to win trophies and that’s what I’m doing. We wanted to win the Club World Cup, it’s historic. We’re beating records and we hope to continue doing so because the sky’s the limit for this team,” he told journalists.

He also assured Madridistas that he is back to his best after a two-week injury lay off. “I hope that the fans are happy. I was fine physically. I’ve really been looking after myself over these 13 days and that came through. I hope I can stay here and represent this club for many years,” he said.

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has described his first year at the club as incredible after he secured his fourth winners medal since joining the club.

The 25-year-old forward signed for the Santiago Bernabeu side for 91-million-euros from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013. He had a slow start to life in the Spanish capital, but in 2014 he exploded into life – scoring in the final of the Copa del Rey and Champions League.

He was part of the side that won the European Super Cup in August, and the Welshman netted in yet another final – in the 2-0 win over San Lorenzo in the Club World Cup on Saturday evening.

Looking back on 2014, the forward said the past year had been incredible from him personally and for the club as a whole.

I was really looking forward to playing in this Club World Cup. It has been an incredible year for us, we hope to keep winning titles,” he said.

And he added: “It is impressive to travel and around the world and see the way the fans welcome us. We are very grateful for that. I am happy to be playing for the best team in the world. It is an incredible feeling and I am also proud to represent Wales. I hope that 2015 goes well.”

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Iker Casillas has said he is delighted to have won the Club World Cup as it was the only one missing from his personal medal haul.

The Real Madrid captain made his 700th appearance for the club in the 2-0 over San Lorenzo in Marrakech on Saturday. Club president Florentino Perez marked the occasion by presenting the 33-year-old with a shirt bearing his name and the number 700 on the back.

Casillas played a key role in his side’s success this year, featuring in the finals of the Champions League, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and Club World Cup – winning all four of them.

And after the match in Morocco, the keeper took time to talk to reporters and look back at what he and the rest of the team have achieved this year.

“It wasn’t too bad of a year, there was a month and a half where I didn’t do well after the Champions League final until the World Cup.  It’s what happens sometimes when things go well and then go bad.  In the Copa del Rey I helped the team the best I could, after the suffering in the Champions League it turned out positively.  We couldn’t beat Atletico Madrid for the SuperCopa and now we’ve won.  I’m happy,” he said.

“Today’s title was one that I’d been missing and I’m happy to have won it.  This has been a sensational year that will stay in everyone’s memory.”

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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said 2014 has been an unforgettable year for him and the club.

Los Blancos lifted the Club World Cup on Saturday evening after seeing off Argentinean side San Lorenzo 2-0 in Marrakech. Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale scored the goals that secured Madrid’s fourth trophy of the calendar year.

The past 12 months will never be forgotten by Madridistas. It all started with the Copa del Rey win over Barcelona in April. The next month, Los Blancos travelled to Lisbon and lifted the Champions League after a 12-year wait for La Decima. Despite missing out on the Spanish Supercopa in August, the team did with the European Super Cup in Cardiff.

Speaking to reporters after the game in Morocco, Ancelotti hailed his players and said they had marked a special era.

“We’re really happy with this trophy. 2014 has been a fantastic and unforgettable year and we hope 2015 is the same. I’m very happy to have arrived at this club and won the Champions League in the first year, and now the Club World Cup; it’s really special,” he said.

“The final was difficult, particularly in the first half. The key to it all is that the players have really taken on board that we need balance at the back and up front. We’re a fantastic team, but it’s impossible to compare this team to others in history. We’re happy to have made history, but we want to keep going.”

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Real Madrid ended their remarkable year on a high in Marrakech as they defeated Argentine outfit San Lorenzo 2-0 to lift the Club World Cup.

Goals either side of half time from Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale ensured a fourth trophy of 2014 for Los Blancos, who also lifted the Champions League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup. The win in Morocco also ensured the team extended their winning record to a remarkable 22 games in a row – four more than the previous best by a Spanish club.

Ancelotti made one change from the side that beat Cruz Azul in the semi-final – James Rodriguez coming in for Asier Illarramendi. Real started the better and could have nicked an early goal but Karim Benzema was unable to poke home after Cristiano Ronaldo had teed him up.

The South Americans’ game plan was clearly to break up and frustrate Real, and tempers looked to be reaching boiling point with referee Walter Lopez failing to control affairs. He dished out four yellow cards in the opening 30 minutes.

Los Blancos kept on taking the game to San Lorenzo and Ronaldo went close twice with free kicks. The 10-time Champions League winners were rewarded eight minutes before the break when Sergio Ramos – an injury doubt going into the game – headed home from Toni Kroos’ corner.

The game was all but over as a contest five minutes after the interval when Bale latched onto Isco’s ball. His effort was too much for Torrico in the San Lorenzo goal to handle and despite his best efforts to keep it out, the ball trickled over the line. The Welshman has scored in three of the four finals that Madrid have won this year now.

Los Blancos continued to press and could have extended their lead throughout the second half – Benzema and Ronaldo being guilty of missing chances.

But Madridistas won’t care about that now as the side secured the Club World Cup and end the year on a high note.

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Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has jokingly said that God supports Real Madrid and will guide the team to victory in the Club World Cup this evening.

Los Blancos take on San Lorenzo in Marrakech this evening as they aim to win their fourth trophy of the year. The Argentinean outfit is the Pope’s team, and Ramos was asked at a press conference if Real would need divine intervention to help them win.

The defender responded: “Real Madrid is the team of God, and that’s why we have to keep on giving victories to our fans. All Argentines live Football in a very nice way – but with or without the Pope, we will try to take the title. We feel that the environment here (in Morocco) is like home. We’ve noticed the presence of the fans here as if we were at home.”

With or without God on their side, Ramos said he hopes the players can lift the trophy and continue to mark a golden era for the club.

“I hope we can mark an era. Whether it is or not, it’s a time that will be marked by titles and records. We live in a splendid and unique time. We are all very happy with Ancelotti, who is a very important part of what we’re achieving. Time will eventually tell what we have achieved,” he commented.

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Real Madrid San Lorenzo World Cup Final preview

Real Madrid will look to conquer their first Club World Cup as they face San Lorenzo de Almagro at Marrakesh on Saturday.

Los Blancos have won 21 straight games in all competitions and are favourites to make it 22 and lift the trophy.

The main doubt for Carlo Ancelotti is whether Colombian James Rodriguez is fit to play or not, after spending two weeks on the sidelines due to a muscle injury.

With Luka Modric and Sami Khedira still recovering from injuries, there have been rumours of Jese Rodriguez earning a spot in the starting eleven, although Ancelotti will most likely line-up Asier Illarramendi one more time if James isn’t fit.

Sergio Ramos is expected to feature despite leaving the field injured in the semi-final against Cruz Azul.

It will be a special match for captain Iker Casillas, who is set to make his 700th appearance for Real Madrid. The goalkeeper is in great shape at the moment, having saved two penalties in the last week.

South America champions San Lorenzo come into the game hoping to upset the Champions League winners. They will have the support of 5.000 Argentinians who have made the trip to Morocco.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Bale, Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

San Lorenzo: Torrico; Buffarini, Kannemann, Yepes, Mas; Ortigoza, Veron, Mercier, Kalinski; Barrientos, Cauteruccio.

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Real Madrid will play the Club World Cup on Saturday against San Lorenzo de Almagro; a great chance for Los Blancos to get their previous defeat in the tournament off their chest, since they had no luck in the first edition of the tournament.

FIFA created this championship in January of 2000, and there intention was for the World Cup to replace the Intercontinental Cup that used to reunite the European champion and the South American champion. However, that season both tournaments coexisted, causing chaos in the season calendar. As a matter of fact, that years Champions League winner Manchester United had to renounce to play the FA Cup in order to participate in the World Cup.

Real Madrid played the tournament invited by FIFA as the Intercontinental Cup winners of 1998. The champions of the other continents completed the draw, together with Corinthians, invited as the host country league winners, since it was played in Brazil.

The format of the competition was completely different back then, with two groups of four teams in which the winner of each group would qualify for the final, and the runner-ups would play the match for the third position.

Madrid was drawn in group A, alongside Corinthians, Raja Casablanca and Al-Nassr. Los Blancos played their first game against the Saudi Arabians, earning a hard-fought 3-1 victory. However, there were very good news for Real, as Nicolas Anelka, the most expensive signing of the club at that time, scored his first official goal for Los Merengues.

Vicente del Bosque men faced Corinthians in the second game. A victory would almost qualify them for the final, while a defeat would most likely leave them out. In the end, the match finished with a 2-2 draw, with Geremi missing a penalty for Los Blancos.

Madrid and Corinthians arrived into the last match of the group stage with the same points and the same goal difference, so the Spaniards needed to beat Raja Casablanca scoring one more goal that Corinthians against Al-Nassr. Unluckily for Los Blancos, they would have to play their game before the Brazilians did.

Raja was tougher than expected and Madrid obtained a short 3-2 victory. Corinthians 2-0 win over Al-Nassr sent the Spanish club to the consolation final against Nexaca. Los Blancos didn’t take this game very seriously, lining-up several regular substitutes.

The match ended with a 1-1 draw and Nexaca conquered the third place by winning the penalty kick lottery. In that penalty shoot-out, Samuel Eto’o scored his first goal for Los Blancos. Corinthians would go on to win the title by defeating Vasco da Gama in the final. The tournament didn’t fulfil the expectations, and it was cancelled until FIFA launched it again in 2005 with a different format.

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Carlo Ancelotti has told his players that quality isn’t enough and they’ll need to put in a complete performance to lift the Club World Cup.

Los Blancos take on San Lorenzo in Marrakech this evening as they go in search of the fourth trophy of 2014 and look to end a remarkable year on a high note. And speaking to journalists before the game, the Italian boss told reporters that he expects his players to be on top form.

“The players need clear ideas before they go out on the pitch. I don’t need to motivate them though, everyone has their own methods. In this final, we have to put all our quality into it, and I’m not just talking about technique. Organisation, fight, hunger, hopes… we have to play a complete game. Quality isn’t enough,” he stated.

And he added: “It’s a final and everyone is prepared to play. The team is well – confident and eager to end the year in good fashion. Something good will happen. We’ve prepared for a game that must be perfect and played to our maximum. I’m not influenced by anything else.”

Ancelotti was questioned about Cristiano Ronaldo, who cut a frustrated figure in the semi-final against Cruz Azul. But he backed his star man to be back to his best.

“He’s very happy. Good arenas, sun, lots of supporters… unhappy because he didn’t score against Cruz Azul? I’m sure he will against San Lorenzo.”

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Javier Hernandez is not leaving Real Madrid in January, his agent has said.

The Mexican forward only arrived in the Spanish capital four months ago on a season-long loan from Manchester United. But a lack of regular playing time has lead to speculation the 26-year-old may be leaving the club sooner than expected.

But speaking to Madrid-based sports daily AS, Eduardo Hernandez said the striker was happy in Spain and wants to fight for his place in the team.

“Sometimes the media speculate too much and assume situations. He will not leave the club [in January]” he stated.

And he added: “He is eager to play more minutes but he knows that hard work will open up more opportunities. He has his future ahead of him.

“Real Madrid are a team full of impressive players and obviously to earn a spot is difficult, but Javier has a great quality in working hard, like he has since the first day, and this is his quality.”

The Manchester United man has scored three goals in seven league appearances this season, including a brace on his debut in the rout of Deportivo La Coruna in mid-September. He has also featured for Los Blancos in the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

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