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Spanish playmaker Isco has told the UEFA Champions League magazine that Real Madrid must not become obsessed with winning the Champions League.

When asked if the current crop of Real Madrid players could win the tenth Champions League title that Los Blancos crave so greatly, the 21 year-old said: “I think it is a challenge for everyone and we are really excited by it. But it should not become an obsession because that can hinder the team.

“We have a great team, with the best [players] in the world: with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso. Madrid have a historic standing, perhaps our opponents are a little bit scared just at the prospect of facing us,” he added.

When asked about how he felt about his start, Isco admitted he has actually surprised himself with how well his time at Madrid has begun: “I started playing very well in the league, scoring goals, giving assists, helping the team. I hope I can continue that way.”

The playmaker also spoke of how playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, who he describes as the ‘best player in the world’, has helped improve his game: “It’s great to play with him, he helps me in every training session because he always want to win and be the best.”

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Former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Marco Simone has said fellow countryman Carlo Ancelotti will be a more successful coach at Real Madrid than his predecessor Jose Mourinho.

Ancelotti arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in June this year to replace Portuguese manager Mourinho, who ended a turbulent time in the Spanish capital to return to Chelsea. In this three-year stint, he guided Los Blancos to success in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, but could not secure the elusive 10th European Cup for the club – known as La Decima among the fans and local press.

In an interview with Marca, Simone, who also played for Paris Saint Germain and Monaco, said Ancelotti has the experience to handle big players. Prior to his arrival in Spain, the 54-year-old already had an impressive CV as a manager having guided AC Milan to  two European Cups and the Seria A title, as well as the Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea, and the Ligue 1 Championship with PSG.

Simone stated: “Ancelotti will definitely be a success at Madrid. Coaching Real Madrid is easy in one sense and difficult in another. “It’s easy because you have players like Cristiano who, even if the system isn’t working, can win you matches on their own.”

“It’s difficult because you’ve got to have what it takes to deal with a very tricky group. He knows how to handle the big egos you get at a club like Real Madrid. Ancelotti will have more success than Mourinho. I have a lot of time for Mourinho and I’m a big fan of his personality, but he finds it hard to back down once a conflict breaks out,” he added.

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There is still plenty of coverage of the midweek international matches in today’s Madrid press, and in particular the stunning performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, who grabbed another hat trick in Portugal’s 3-2 win over Sweden to send them to the World Cup in Brazil.

While the 28-year-old was helping his nation qualify, on the same night, FIFA revealed it was extending the voting deadline for the Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery were considered to be Ronaldo’s close rivals for the award, but following his performance, in which he scored his 64th, 65th and 66th goals of this calendar year, the Portuguese is considered to be the hot favourite.

Both AS and Marca carry quotes from the star upon his arrival back in Madrid in which he admits he’s in the best form of his life. He then told reporters that he main focus in now back on Real Madrid, and on Saturday’s match away at Almeria.

So good is the form of Ronaldo that even Barcelona players have been saying positive things in the press. Former Manchester United team mate Gerard Pique told AS that Ronaldo is a “ten out of ten” to work with because of his professionalism and desire to improve. Daniel Alves also had good words to say, telling the press that the Real Madrid frontman is “a bit ahead of everyone else” at the moment.

Elsewhere, there are reports Xabi Alonso has finally agreed a new deal and just has to put pen to paper on the contract. Until that happens, the rumour mill will likely continue, with Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and clubs in the USA all interested.

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adan has been signed by Cagliari after his contract was terminated last summer.

The 26-year-old has been without a club for the past two months but the Sardianian outfit have now offered the shot-stopper a chance to prove himself after his 16 year spell with Los Blancos.

Speaking to Cagliari’s official website, Adan said: “I am very happy to be here.”

“My first thought is for the victims of the enormous catastrophe that struck Sardinia,” referring to the flash floods that killed at least 18 people yesterday.

“I am very happy to be here. I want to thank the President and the club for this great opportunity,” he concluded.

Adan will wear the number 26 jersey and will most likely be utilised this weekend, following an injury to Cagliari’s first-choice goalkeeper Michael Agazzi.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Rumours and speculation never end when top clubs and players are involved, and Real Madrid is certainly no exception. Fans and journalists alike are notorious for taking an almost guilty pleasure in making connections (however outlandish) between players, coaches and their former alliances. The basis of “proof” is almost always the involved parties’ contract status with their current clubs, and whether or not renewals have been discussed (or disclosed).

The case that concerns us today is the rumoured departure of Los Blancos midfielder Xabi Alonso, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, with no specific renewal discussions having yet transcended. Similar speculation has surrounded Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo, whose current contract with La Vecchia Signora also ends next summer. Unsurprisingly, rumours of a potential swap deal between the two clubs have recently appeared, especially given Real Madrid coach Ancelotti and Pirlo’s long history of fruitful collaboration.

The fellow Italians spent nearly a decade together at AC Milan, from Ancelotti’s arrival in November 2001 to his resignation in May 2009. In this time, the ‘rossoneri’ squad won two UEFA Champions League titles and two European Super Cups (both in 2003 and 2007), in addition to two Italian league titles, among other achievements.

Although the two have remained in contact and maintain a good relationship, Ancelotti has been quick to stop the latest bout of speculation in its tracks, denying outright the possibility of such a deal taking place: “We have no intention of making a player exchange deal with Juventus. There is no substance to any rumour like that.”

As described on this blog in previous articles, Xabi Alonso has revitalised Real’s performance since his comeback from injury this month, and with Sami Khedira out of comission for the foreseeable future with a serious knee injury, the Basque midfielder is expected to be a regular starter in the coming games. This state of affairs lends credibility to Ancelotti’s denial. “Xabi is a vital player for Madrid now that he’s recovered from injury,” he told Mediaset.

Still, the Italian conceded that a swap between the two midfielders wouldn’t be completely illogical: “There are only two players like him in Europe. One is Pirlo and the other is Xabi.” Alonso and Pirlo have both received massive acclaim for their performance in the position they share on the pitch: that of the “deep-lying playmaker”, often referred to with the Italian term of ‘regista’. Operating in a defensive midfielder position, these players provide a balance between defensive and offensive play, and are responsible for the initiation and coordination of the bulk of their teams’ tactics. In the case of players as gifted as the 31-year-old Spaniard and 34-year-old Italian, their work can be likened to that of an orchestra conductor. One of Pirlo’s nicknames is, in fact, “Mozart”.

Alonso was forced to leave the field limping during last week’s 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, as a result of an ankle knock, but it ended up just being a scare. Xabi is expected to be in the starting lineup against Almeria this Saturday, after last weekend’s La Liga break.

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Iker Casillas has revealed details regarding his well-documented phone call to Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez that settled the tension in the Spain dressing-room.

The veteran shot-stopper was responding to events surrounding El Clasico fixtures, which had harmed friendships amongst international teammates, particularly the behavior of former coach Jose Mourinho who poked Tito Vilanova in the eye during the 2011 Supercopa encounter.

Xavi and Casillas are vital players for both club and country and have been friends since they were teenagers, but it was the Real Madrid keeper who sought to patch things up for the good of Spain.

“I called Xavi because it was my duty to do so, as the captain, it’s my responsibility,” the 32-year-old told El Pais. “I knew what I had to do because the group was becoming divided, because I represent my country and I have to defend an idea.

“We chatted about how we could re-direct what was going on because we had reached a point where we were about to mess everything up.

“Those images of El Clasico were something I had not seen since I was a boy – we were sending out the wrong messages and because I was a part of it all too, I had to make a decision to call a halt to the problems.” he concluded.

Spain have since won Euro 2012 and reached the final of the Confederations Cup. They finished top of their World Cup qualifying Group last month and have continued their preparations with a friendly match against South Africa. Their first return to Johannesburg since their 2010 World Cup victory saw them lose 1-0 on the night.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Albano Bizarri joined Real Madrid in 1999, and 14 years later the fans are still asking why the club bothered with the transfer of the Argentinean goalkeeper, given the fact that he had failed to do anything of note at the club from which he was signed – Racing de Avellaneda.

Madrid paid just under two million euros for the keeper.  Things did not get off to a good start for him at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Lorenzo Sanz, president of the club at the time, admitted he did not know much about Bizarri.

In theory, the Argentine arrived to be the understudy to Bodo Illgner. But the German keeper suffered numerous injuries in the 1999/00 season meaning Bizarri would soon make his debut for Real Madrid.

The goalie first appeared for Los Blancos in a league match against Malaga at La Rosaleda on September 25, 1999, which ended 1-1.  However, his nervous performances did not inspire much confidence, and he conceded plenty of goals thanks to poor shot stopping.

In fact, so bad were the keeper’s performances that then manager John Toshack, had some fairly damning criticism of Bizarri. “Every time the ball enters our area I close my eyes. I feel like crying. The goalkeeper issue is a problem,” he said.

The sacking of the Welsh manager hardly helped things get easier for Bizarri, as Vicente del Bosque, replacement for Toshack, blocked his path to regular first team football. It happened after Madrid had lost 5-1 against Zaragoza in December 1999.

From that moment on, the Spanish manager decided to go with a young Iker Casillas in goal, who exploded onto the scene like no other Madrid keeper had done in the past. Bizarri admitted the form of Casillas closed the door to his opportunity in Madrid in an interview with El Pais. He said: “Things went badly for me, and to make things worse, I never had the opportunity to put it right because Casillas came in and played superbly. It became apparent that at Madrid things were not going to work out, so I went to speak to the Real hierarchy and told them I wanted to leave.”

Albano Bizarri’s best years

The Argentine left the club for Valladolid in the summer of 2000 having played only once more since that dreadful night in Zaragoza – against Necaxa in the World Club Championships.

Away from Madrid, Bizarri became more at ease and less nervous. So much so that he would eventually replace Jose Zorrilla and remain in the side until 2006. He became the undisputed number one at the club and didn’t miss a league match between 2002 and 2004 – even though he was unable to help the team avoid relegation to the Segunda Division in that year.

From Valladolid he switched to Tarragona, where he was also unable to help Gimnastic lose their place in the league in 2007 after their historic return to La Liga. At that point, Bizarri opted for a change of scene, and moved to Catania, in Italy.

Whilst at the club he showed just why Madrid had decided to sign him in the first place, as he was named as the best keeper in Seria A in the 2008/09 season by the Italian press. His form at Catania paid off and he earned himself a move to Lazio in 2009.

The Argentinean only left the club this summer having won the Italian Cup with them, although he didn’t play as much as he would have liked in his time with the biancocelesti – just 12 games in all.

He’s now at Genoa, once again as an understudy. Bizarri said he will never forget his time in Madrid. “I matured as a person at the club. I am proud to have been able to have proved myself as a football after everything that happened there.”

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Los Merengues may be close to losing their interest in Liverpool forward Luis Suarez and perhaps attempt to pursue Argentinean forward Sergio Aguero instead, accoring to reports.

Madrid were presumed to return to Anflied with an offer for Suarez next summer after both trying but failing to lure the forward to the Sanitago Bernabeu in the summer According British tabloid, the Daily Star, the European giants’ may end us disappointed in their pursuit however, as Liverpool are reluctant to sell one of their star players.

Instead, Real president Florentino Perez has turned his attention to Manchester City striker Aguero, after a meeting with Carlo Ancelotti and his assistant Zinedine Zidane. This season, both South American players have scored eight goals until now with Suarez playing exceptionally well.

“El Pistolero” returned to the regular season scoring eight goals in six matches after missing the beginning of the season through suspension because he bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in a game that ended in a draw towards the end of the last campaign.

Aguero is also excelling at his club along with strike partner Alvaro Negredo. He has scored eight goals to help The Blues into one of the top four positions in the Premier Leagie table after an inconsistent opening in the first few matches.

The Real Madrid administration have presumably concurred that Aguero would be suitable for the side. A newspaper claimed that they are arranging a bid of 45 million euros. Aguero has a contract with City until 2017 although Spanish sources revealed to the newspaper that included in the deal there is a subsection which forces The Blues to contemplate any offer they obtain from either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti presented his book ‘Il mio albero di natale‘ (‘My Christmas Tree’), whose title refers to the formation the Italian coach created (4-3-2-1).

The book covers his life as a manager. “I’ve tried to explain how football has changed since I started at Reggiana until today,” Ancelotti told the press.

“I’ve written this book because I love football, it’s changes, the systems, the philosophy… it’s a technical book for coaches and for everyone who likes football and wants to know more about it,” he explained.

Ancelotti said his assistant Giorgio Ciascini, who accompanied him from Reggiana to Chelsea, helped him write the book.

“The idea was to make a summary of all the work, the changes in football and my ideas about them. My experience as Arrigo Sacchi’s assistant made me change my idea about the 4-4-2. When I arrived to Juventus I had to change because I had Zinedine Zidane and I didn’t want to move him.

“In order to find a effective system you have to put their players in the best positions to better use their qualities.

“In the book I also speak about the trainings. Now we have more control and technologies. I also wrote about my relationship with the presidents, the team and the club,” Ancelotti concluded.

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Madrid press report 20-11-13

Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today on Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning exhibition with Portugal, scoring a hat-trick to beat Sweden 2-3 and qualifying his national team for the 2014 World Cup.

“Is there someone better than Cristiano?,” As titles. “He knocked Sweden out with his 64th, 65th and 66th goals of the year,” they point out. “After his exhibition, FIFA extended the Ballon d’Or voting window,” the Madrid daily highlights.

Meanwhile, Marca claims Ronaldo played “the match of his life.” The most sold Spanish newspaper argues “it was an exhibition of strength and leadership.”

Both papers also emphasize Karim Benzema’s great performance with France. “Benzema leads France in an epic victory,” Marca titles, highlighting the fact that the French national team came back from a 2-0 against Ukraine. “Varane, Benzema and Modric will also play the World Cup,” As reports in a mention to Croatia’s victory over Iceland.

Regarding international games, Madrid dailies coincide in bringing to their front pages the fact that Real Madrid’s defender Alvaro Arbeloa was close to playing as a goalkeeper in yesterday’s Spain’s 0-1 loss against South Africa.

Victor Valdes fell injured when Vicente del Bosque had made all the substitutions, but the FIFA delegate and the referee allowed one more. “The referee breaks the rules and prevents Arbeloa from playing as goalie,” Marca states.

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