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Spain boss Vicente del Bosque says Real Madrid legend Raul would be a huge asset to have at the club if he returns one day in some capacity.

The 38-year-old brought the curtain down on an illustrious career last month, going out with a bang as he won the Soccer Bowl with New York Cosmos in the US. In his 16 years as a Los Blancos player, Raul won three Champions League titles and six La Liga trophies among many others.

Until recently, he was also the club’s all-time leading goalscorer on 323 goals in 741 appearances but was overtaken by Cristiano Ronaldo in October.

Raul says he will take time out to assess his future and spend more time with his family but there has already been plenty of talk about a return to the Santiago Bernabeu as a coach.

And speaking to reporters, World Cup winning boss del Bosque said Raul would be a brilliant addition for Real.

“Raul has profound feelings for Real Madrid just like all of us who have passed through the club. Raul would be a vital asset in whatever post he might be given at Real Madrid. Raul performed to an exceptional level both with Spain & Real Madrid. He has won respect & admiration the world over,” he commented.

 

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Real Madrid homegrown defender Nacho Fernandez congratulated his team-mates following Los Blancos 4-1 victory over Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Spaniard started at centre-back alongside Pepe and completed a good game, despite failing to prevent Alexis from scoring in a corner kick.

Yet, Nacho was very happy with the win, and especially with the hosts superb first half: “We have played at great level, especially in the first half. Our plan was to play with great concentration from the first minute.”

“We wanted to play in the second half the way we played in the first one. We kept our lines tightly close, and we are very happy with our performance in the match,” he added.

Asked about the Copa del Rey elimination after Los Blancos fielded suspended Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz, Nacho believes the club’s appeal can succeed: “Right now we are out of the cup, but the club is going to appeal the decision, so we have hope and want to keep fighting in this competition. We don’t want Real Madrid to be out of the Copa and we hope this can be solved in our favour.”

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Real Madrid pushed aside their recent problems with a convincing 4-1 victory over Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Karim Benzema ended a turbulent week in which Real had been eliminated from the Copa del Rey for lining-up suspended Denis Cheryshev.

It didn’t take long for Los Merengues to take the lead, as Benzema made it 1-0 with four minutes on the clock. Pepe delivered a sensational cross towards the Frenchman, who had the simple task of volleying home from inside the box.

The France international scored his second only ten minutes later as he worked some space inside the box and fired one into the bottom corner. It is terrible defending from Getafe, who didn’t have a good start to the game.

Rafa Benitez men were impressive going forward in the first half, and they scored two more goals before the break.

Bale collected a knock-down from Ronaldo and worked some space before firing his effort into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.

Four minutes later, Ronaldo collected a wonderful through pass from Toni Kroos before and sent his effort across Guaita and into the bottom corner.

The victory was sealed, and so Los Blancos played more relaxed in the second half, allowing Getafe to dominate possession.

The visitors had their goal with 20 minutes to go as Alexis rose inside the box and angled a superb header into the back of the net.

That was the only real chance of the second half, which was pretty boring for the Santiago Bernabeu fans.

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Embattled Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez says he is aware there is more focus on him now than at any other time in his career because he is managing the biggest club in the world.

The Los Blancos boss has been under pressure in recent weeks following the 4-0 loss at home to bitter rivals Barcelona. Pundits and fans have been critical of the team’s defensive style of play, while a host of other issues have seen the pressure cranked up too.

Benitez has had to deal with stories emerging of fallings out with star players such as Ronaldo and James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema has been at the centre of a blackmail investigation in France, while the club made all the wrong headlines again this week with the Copa del Rey and Denis Cheryshev debacle.

At his press conference ahead of today’s game against Getafe, Benitez said the pressure is greater at the 10-time Champions League winner, but he and his players are working hard to guarantee success at the end of the campaign.

“Coming to the best club in the world you know there is more attention to every detail. I know how it is. I’ll take a clear path to keep working and concentrate on doing my best in the knowledge we are a great team who can do big things,” he commented.

He also called on the fans to get behind their team after a difficult few weeks.

“All of the fans of Real Madrid are now fundamental for us. I hope they keep supporting their team. Madridistas are crucial as they have shown in helping us to so many comebacks. The key is to keep winning games.”

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Real Madrid vs Getafe match preview

Real Madrid will look to put another turbulent week behind them today when they take on Getafe in La Liga.

Los Blancos won during the week in the Copa del Rey but their game against Cadiz was overshadowed by the inclusion of Denis Cheryshev – who should have been suspended after picking up three yellow cards in last season’s competition.

Real have made plenty of headlines recently. On the pitch, they have looked shaky following a solid start to the season and were humbled by Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. Off the field, Karim Benzema is subject of a blackmail case in France, and there are grumblings about Rafa Benitez and his relationship with senior players.

All in all, Real need the three points, and will be pleased to be coming up against a Getafe side with just one win in their last seven fixtures. They were also soundly beaten at the Santiago Bernabeu last season, going down 7-3.

In terms of team news, Isco is definitely out as he serves the final match of his ban for his sending off against Los Cules. Benitez has his options limited in defence with Sergio Ramos joined on the sidelines by Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane. Marcelo is expected to return from injury though. Don’t expect to see Denis Cheryshev in the team today either.

Possible line ups:
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Nacho, Pepe, Marcelo; Kovacic, Kroos, Modric, Rodriguez; Bale, RonaldoGetafe: Guaita; Suarez, Alexis, Cala, Lago; Mensah, Lacen; Sarabia, Rodriguez, Lafita; Vazquez

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has admitted he found the situation surrounding Denis Cheryshev and Real’s ban from the Copa del Rey funny.

The Los Cule centre back, who has taunted Real on a number of times in the past, posted a tweet on Wednesday evening with a number of emojis showing tears of laughter. It was around the same time that news emerged Cheryshev should not have been playing for Real in the tie against Cadiz as he was supposed to be serving a one-match ban for picking up three yellow cards in last season’s competition.

Asked about the post on the social media site, Pique joked at first that it was unrelated but then admitted he found the situation funny. He then offered his support to Cheryshev, who is believed to be distraught by what happened.

“I was watching a Leo Harlem sketch … Just kidding, you know me! I found it funny,” he told reporters. My support goes to Cheryshev. He’s a professional footballer and hopefully it’ll resolved quickly,” he told reporters.

“I remember being shown a fifth yellow card against Atletico Madrid [on the final day of the 2013-14 season], and I knew I wouldn’t be able to play the first game of the following season. I’m a curious guy, so I called the club to find out. Carlos Naval is our match delegate. I don’t know who Real Madrid’s is, but they have plenty of staff on their books.”

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Former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff believes current star Leo Messi is much more of a team player than his Real Madrid counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo.

The pair are on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, which that have already shared seven times between them. Another Barcelona man, Neymar, completes the three-man list with the winner announced at a ceremony in Zurich on January 11.

There has been much debate in recent years as to which of the pair is better, with both of them considered two of the greatest footballers to have played the game. And with the Ballon d’Or just over a month away, the talk in the media is once again about who is the more important in each team.

And Dutchman Cruyff believes that while Ronaldo is an excellent goalscorer, Messi adds more to his team and helps out his team mates.

“Messi is a team player and his individual brilliance is part of something bigger.Ronaldo’s contribution on the other hand is much more limited. His role at Real Madrid is that of someone who feels the best way to help the team is by scoring goals,” Marca quotes him as saying.

He added: “That is the difference between the two of them. Messi also scores a lot of goals and uses his individual class, but never loses sights of his team-mates.”

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Denis Cheryshev

Real Madrid have been officially kicked out of the Copa del Rey for fielding Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz when the player should have been serving a one-match suspension.

The Spanish Competition Committee judge, Francisco Rubio Sánchez, has ruled to disqualify Los Blancos from the competition following Cadiz’s official complain.

Thus, the Ansalusian outfit will move into the last-16 round of the cup, and the away leg at the Santiago Bernabeu will not be played.

Los Merengues have announced they are going to submit an appeal first in the Spanish Federation Appeals Committee and then, if this doesn’t work, in the Spanish Sports Tribunal (TAD).

Cheryshev was suspended for one Copa del Rey match after receiving three yellow cards last season with Villarreal. Yet, nobody at the club was aware of this, and Rafa Benitez decided to include him in the starting line-up against Cadiz. He was warned during the game and substituted the Russia international at half-time, but it was already too late.

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Barcelona right back Dani Alves has taken time out of his side’s preparations for this weekend’s match against Valencia to comment on Real Madrid’s situation in the Copa del Rey and suggest Ronaldo is not worthy of a place on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.

Proving once again that Los Cules players seem obsessed with the 10-time Champions League winners, Alves spoke to radio station Cadena Cope to talk over all things Los Blancos.

Real could be thrown out of the Copa after fielding Denis Cheyshev against Cadiz on Wednesday night even though he was supposed to be serving a one-match ban for picking up three yellow cards in last season’s competition while on loan at Villarreal.

Brazilian Alves stated: “These things should not happen at a club like Real Madrid. They should be expelled on the basis of their match [against Cadiz] parties and the rulebook. There’s no defence which stands up.”

The defender has also spoken about the Ballon d’Or shortlist, which has seen Ronaldo joined by Leo Messi and Neymar.

And Alves commented: “Messi is a bit ahead, because of his influence on the game. I think at this moment, Neymar is second best in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t deserve to be among the Ballon d’Or finalists. It’s not only about scoring goals.”

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Real Madrid playmaker Isco says he was delighted to play the full 90 minutes against Cadiz in the Copa del Rey as he was able to maintain his fitness.

The 24-year-old, who was sent off in the Clasico two weeks ago, scored twice in the 3-1 win in the first leg of the last 32 tie with the Segunda B side. The focus of the headlines since has been the inclusion of Denis Cheryshev, who was supposed to be serving his one-match ban for picking up three yellow card in last season’s competition.

His inclusion could see Real thrown out of the Copa after Cadiz launched an official complaint, but Isco preferred to focus on the positives after the game.

Speaking to the media, he stated: “We put in a good match at a really special ground. It’s a good result against a strong team who look to control the ball, and I think that we played pretty well. Nobody is in any doubt about the quality James has, he’s a really important player for us. We have to be bang at it because we need everyone.”

And he added: “I think that the coach gave me the full 90 minutes to ensure my fitness doesn’t drop off. My sending-off against Barcelona was a nasty challenge from me, but I’m young and you have to look to improve.”

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