Page 338

By -
1

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says the team is determined to go all the way and win the Champions League this season but know the group stage will be difficult.

Los Blancos were drawn against French champions PSG along with Shakthar Donesk and Malmo in Group A on Thursday evening. And while many expect Real to make it through the group with few problems, the Portugal international says they have a tough task.

Real won the Champions League – their 10th European Cup – in May 2014 with a 4-1 win over Atletico de Madrid. But the bowed at at the semi-final stage of the competition last season, beaten by Juventus over two legs – something that cost former manager Carlo Ancelotti his job.

Speaking after the draw was made, Ronaldo told reporters the players are determined to reach the final at the San Siro and lift the famous trophy once more.

The 30-year-old, who finished as runner up to Leo Messi in the UEFA Best Player in Europe award, stated: “More or less the goal remains the same as last year and always. We know that the group stage will be difficult but we will try to pass and win the competition. We’ll see what happens.”

By -
0
Champions League trophy

Real Madrid have been drawn with French champions PSG in Group A of the Champions League.

The two European giants will be joined by Shakhtar Donesk and Malmo in the group and both will be confident that they will make it to the next round of the the tournament.

With the new system in place this season, Real were in the second pot for the draw. Under the new format, the winners of the Champions League along with the winners of the seven top European leagues are placed in pot one. Real could have faced Chelsea, Juventus or Bayern Munich, so will be relatively pleased they avoided the big guns.

PSG are obviously the biggest hurdle for Rafa Benitez and his men as they embark on their quest to win the Undecima. The Parisian side have made it to the quarter finals every year since returning to the competition in the 2012-13 season. Last year they defeated Barcelona in the group stage and knocked out Chelsea in the last 16. The meeting with Laurent Blanc’s side will also see Real come up against former player Angel di Maria.

Shaktkar have been involved in the Champions League for many seasons and can proved to be tricky especially on home turf. They have achieved notable results in the past against the likes of Manchester United and Juventus so Los Blancos will need to be at their best to beat them.

In Malmo, Real should be almost guaranteed six points. The Swedish side have done remarkably well to reach the Champions League group stage but Real should have too much for them.

By -
0

Wales manager Chris Coleman believes Gareth Bale will remain at the club beyond this transfer window.

The 25-year-old is starting his third season at the club and has stated he wants to stay in the Spanish capital. But having missed out on Pedro last week, Manchester United are though to be ready to make a final offer for the forward before the window closes next Tuesday.

The Red Devils have been keen to take Bale back to the Premier League for a while and are looking to take advantage of the fact that some media and fans in Spain have been unhappy with Bale’s performances.

But speaking to reporters at a press conference ahead of naming Wales’ squad for their match against Israel next month, Coleman said he thinks Bale will still be with Los Blancos come September.

“I don’t see it happening. You never know with football but, unless something’s been going on behind closed doors that none of us know about, I can’t see it. The finances involved for signing a player like that are astronomical. I see the media speculation, of course, but that’s a major, major deal – another world record if he was going to move,” he commented.

He also added he was in contact with the Real medical team over Bale’s toe injury.

“When it initially happened (Bale’s injury) you’re holding your breath a bit, of course. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t the case, but the scan and the feedback was positive thankfully. So I don’t think there’s going to be a problem.

“There have been constant conversations with both medical teams – there’s a very good relationship there between ourselves and Madrid – but it wasn’t as bad as first thought.”

By -
0

Former Manchester United player Terry Gibson has said the situation over David de Gea’s on-off transfer from the Red Devils to Real Madrid is a ‘mess’ that is benefiting neither club nor the player himself.

De Gea has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu all summer long but United want a world record fee for a goalkeeper if they are to part with their man. Los Blancos though are reluctant to pay over the odds, knowing they can get him on a free next summer when his contract expires.

The shot stopper is yet to feature for United in the Premier League this season and reports have said his relationship with boss Louis van Gaal has broken down completely.

Speaking on the La Liga Podcast, Gibson, now a pundit in the media, said: “How much of a mess has that become, from both parties. Is it worth the aggro over the money? Clearly not.

“In Real Madrid’s case, they have signed Kiko Casilla, who was an international goalkeeper last season, who cost 6m euros, and could end up being third choice. Manchester United are not even playing David de Gea. I don’t think it is going to happen this window.”

By -
1

Gareth Bale is confident Real Madrid will score ‘plenty of goals’ this season and Los Blancos will be challenging for honours at the end of the campaign.

Real started their La Liga campaign in disappointing fashion at the weekend with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Gijon – the newcomers to the top flight this season.

Los Blancos created 27 chances and had 16 shots on goal during the game but the forwards were oddly out of form. At a sponsors’ event this week, Bale said he was confident the goals would come though.

He stated: “We are getting better all the time. We’re learning, training and improving. With each game that passes we are becoming an even stronger unit.

“Obviously we are going to be an attacking side. We need to improve at the back, but we’re still working on being an exciting team, one that will be going out to win everything. We’ve only played the first Liga game of the season. We didn’t score, but I’m 100 per cent sure we’ll get plenty of goals.”

The Welshman also played down fears a toe injury would keep him out of this weekend’s home game against Real Betis.

“Everything is fine, I underwent tests this morning just to be certain and we saw that it was just a knock. There’s nothing to worry about, I’m perfectly fine.”

 

By -
0

Real Madrid and Monaco have confirmed Fabio Coentrao has completed a switch to the Ligue 1 side for the 2015-16 on a loan basis.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu for some time now with the likes of Inter Milan and Chelsea having been rumoured to be interested in him.

The Portugal international joined Los Blancos from Benfica in 2011 in a 30 million euro move and established himself as an important player under Jose Mourinho. He helped the side win La Liga in his first full season in the Spanish capital.

Coentrao also played an important role in the 2013-14 season and featured for an hour in the Champions League final when Real beat city rivals Atletico de Madrid to lift La Decima in Lisbon.

Since then though, the left back has found life tough at Los Merengues and has fallen behind Marcelo in the pecking order. He featured just 17 times for the club last season and a move away will hopefully allow him to rebuild his confidence and re-launch his career.

Monaco have started the season in somewhat slow fashion drawing two and winning one of their opening three games. They were also knocked out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage by Valencia this week.

By -
0

Ex-Real Madrid player Ruben de la Red says Gareth Bale is most effective when playing in a more central role and will adapt to how boss Rafa Benitez wants him to fit into the team.

The Welshman has featured for Real on the left and right hand side of the forward three but has been used through the middle from time to time. As Rafa Benitez is still working out the best use of the 25-year-old attacker’s pace he is likely to have to get used to playing in a number of positions.

And de la Red, a Los Blancos youth product, said in an interview this week that Bale is well capable of playing a more central role as his pace can scare defenders.

“Each coach has his particular version of football and where each player can perform better. I think it’s great there are players that can play in different positions,” he told Goal.com.

The 30-year-old, who had to retire from the game prematurely due to health reasons, added: “Bale has already played in that position at Tottenham and he was top scorer in the Premier League. In that sense, I don’t think anything is new for him, so we don’t have to worry about it.”

By -
0

Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi is set for a return to former club Real Sociedad, according to reports in Spain.

AS and Mundo Deportivo claim the Basque outfit have reached a deal with the 10-time Champions League winners that would see Illarramendi return to Anoeta on a season long loan before the club buys him outright for 16 million euros next summer.

Illarramendi has struggled to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabeu ever since he signed two years ago and while Rafa Benitez left the decision in the player’s hands, Los Blancos were keen to balance the books after shelling out 30 million euros last week to sign Mateo Kovacic from Inter Milan.

As he arrived in San Sebastian for his medical on Wednesday morning ahead of signing a deal later in the day, Illarramendi said returning to the club was his first option. He had also attracted the interest of the like of Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

“Very happy. Of course, I wanted to return, I haven’t yet spoken to my teammates, later I will speak with them. Real [Sociedad] has always been my first option and I was really wanting to return home, of course,” he said.

Illarramendi was seen as the long-term successor to Xabi Alonso at Madrid but found his way to regular first team football blocked by the likes of Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos.

By -
2

Real Madrid left back Marcelo has claimed Rafa Benitez is an amazing coach and is confident the side will pick up after a poor start.

Los Blancos drew 0-0 with Sporting Gijon at the weekend in an underwhelming start to the Benitez era. In the days following the game, the boss and players have been criticised by the fans and media alike.

Speaking at an event organised by sponsors, the Brazilian admitted his side was not at their best but will do everything they can to put things right.

“We weren’t at our best in that game but we’re going to take away the positives and get better. It was just the first game, we have a lot of time ahead of us. There’s a good feeling in the squad. Benitez is an amazing coach, very competetive. He talks to us a lot and shows us where we have to improve, he’s on top of it all to make us better,” he stated.

While Los Blancos have started slowly, Marcelo himself is in fine form and scored a brilliant solo goal to win the Trofeo Bernabeu for his club. And he said he’s looking to keep up his efforts in the coming weeks.

I’m always trying to get better. I’m at the best club in the world and that helps a lot to keep giving my best for the fans. I’ve been congratulated a number of times on my goal in the Bernabeu Trophy match, but that’s in the past now. My mind is focused on continuing to improve in each game,” he commented.

By -
0

La Liga outfit Valencia are the favourites to take Real Madrid’s Russian winger Denis Cheryshev on loan, according to reports in Spain.

The 24-year-old impressed at Villarreal last season where he netted four times in 26 appearances and spent the year on loan at Sevilla before that. He returned to the Santiago Bernabeu this although there have been consistent question marks over his long-term future with the 10-time Champions League winners.

Premier League side Liverpool were believed to be interested in him at one stage and when that deal failed to materialise, Cheryshev told Real officials he would be happy to go back to Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine remain keen on the player and would be interested in talking to Real too should Valencia make a move.

Los Blancos are well stocked in the midfield department and the Russian is facing a battle with the likes of Isco, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic to get a place in the side.

With Valencia set to sell Sofiane Feghouli to Fenerbahce, Cheryshev would be almost guaranteed a starting spot this season with Los Che. Sports daily AS says the Mestalla outfit would be keen to take him on a loan basis with the view to sigining him on a permanent deal next summer if all parties can reach an agreement.

 

 

1...337338339...733Page 338 of 733

www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk
Please gamble responsibly