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Real Madrid youngsters Jese Rodriguez and Nacho Fernandez are studying offers to leave the club this summer, Spanish sports newspapers As and Marca have revealed.

Both players have failed to get the minutes of play they require so far this season and seem unhappy with their role. Thus, Los Blancos could facilitate their exit this summer either on a loan move or in a permanent deal.

Napoli are very interested in signing Jese, since they could lose two of their starting forwards in the next transfer market: former Real Madrid players Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon have received interesting offers and could move to a bigger club.

The good relationship between the two clubs could make negotiations come to a good end if Jese is willing to move to the Serie A. Clubs from the Premier League and the Bundesliga have also shown their interest, so he will have to decide where to move should he finally want to leave. In any case, Real would keep an option to bring him back the following year, the way they did with Carvajal.

Meanwhile, Nacho has received offers from Villarreal, Sevilla and Getafe and he is tempted to leave his life club in order to become a regular starter at a smaller side, Marca has reported.

The Spanish player has proved to be a solid defender, but competency is too high at Real Madrid and he knows he won’t get the minutes of play he wants. Thus, he’s considering asking the club for their permit to go, given that he still has a running contract until 2021.

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Iker Casillas has said the semi-final draw of the Champions League will be exciting for Real Madrid.

The holders will face Juventus in the next round after seeing off city rivals Atletico de Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday thanks to a last gasp Chicharito goal.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will face Alvaro Morata, the young forward who left the club last summer in search of first team football. In the other semi-final, Bayern Munich take on Barcelona.

“We’re talking about four European champions, four top teams. Of the most recent semi-finals, they’re the most even. The semi-finals are going to be exciting, really special, and we’ll play whoever is put in front of us,” he stated.

The club captain, making a record 150th appearance in the competition for his club since making his debut in Athens in 1999, said the holders deserved to beat Atletico and go through over the two legs.

“It was a difficult tie, but we deserved more both here and at the Calderón. Things are decided by small details and in the end Chicharito got the goal that had been eluding us. We didn’t drop backwards at any point, we defended really well and we had really clear chances in attack. I think that we had the better chances in the first half at their ground and today. We’re also grateful to the fans for their support.”

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Javier Hernandez should have celebrated his goal with Cristiano Ronaldo rather than acting like he’d won the World Cup, according to Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry.

The Arsenal legend, who also won the Champions League while with Barcelona, said Ronaldo deserved praise for setting up his team mate in the 88th minute of the game against Atletico de Madrid on Wednesday night.

Chicharito, on loan from Manchester United this season, has had to settle for a place on the bench for much of the campaign. When he scored, he ran to the corner of the field, followed shortly by his team mates. Television replays showed Mexican was emotional after scoring the goal that sent Madrid into the semi final and was crying.

But speaking in the post game analysis, Henry said Chicharito should have acknowledged his team mate’s part in the goal.

“Tonight was his opportunity and we don’t even know if he’s going to play after that. He had a couple of chances in the game before that but I can tell you he can thank Ronaldo tonight.

“I know he went on to celebrate alone and everything but he can thank Ronaldo. For me, he has to. That is, for me, Ronaldo’s goal. What I don’t like after [the goal] is it seems like he won the World Cup [with his celebration]. Turn around and celebrate with Ronaldo,” he said.

The comment caused much debate on social media afterwards, with a number of critics calling Henry’s comments bizarre.

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Atletico de Madrid boss Diego Simeone says his side dominated the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid but events turned when Arda Turan was sent off.

The midfielder received his marching orders 15 minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card for a high challenge on Sergio Ramos. Real went on to win the game two minutes from time thanks to a goal by on-loan striker Javier Hernandez.

At his press conference after the game, the Argentinean boss refused to criticise Turan, but said the sending off changed the course of the tie.

“There’s no sense in talking about Arda’s red card, it will change nothing. But until then we were controlling the game,” he commented.

The Atletico manager, who lead his side to the final last year, went on on to congratulate Real, and said the focus for his side now is finishing as high up La Liga as possible.

“We competed well, I am proud. We have a team of men who work, have pride and I am very grateful. Except the first 10 minutes when we did not play well, I don’t think it was a bad game. The other team had the ball but we had the feeling we covered the gaps very well.

“If you lose giving everything then you must be happy. When the team works like today, I have nothing to say. There are many coaches that envy me for having this team. We congratulate our rivals and now we have to think about the game against Elche on Saturday.”

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Champions League trophy

Real Madrid will face Juventus in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The draw held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, has paired Los Blancos with the Italian champions, while their arch-rivals Barcelona will face Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.

The first legs will be played on May 5th and 6th, with the return legs on May 12th and 13th. Los Merengues will have the slight advantage of playing the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti will face his former team, as he coached Juventus for two years between 1999 and 2001.

Los Blancos have very good memories of facing Juventus in the Champions League. In 1998, they ended a 32-years wait to lift the European title after beating the Rossoneri 1-0 in the final.

The other semi-final will be very special for Pep Guardiola, who won two Champions Leagues and 14 titles as a manager with Barcelona and will face his life club. Bayern will play the second leg at their stadium.

The four semi-finalists have combined to win the European Cup or Champions League 21 times in the tournament’s 60-year history.

Should Los Blancos manage to knock Juventus out, they would face either Barcelona or Bayern Munich on June 6th at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, looking to defend the title they won last season and conquer their 11th Champions League.

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Real Madrid defender Pepe has said the squad players who came into the side last night did the club proud after the team saw off Atletico de Madrid to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.

Forgotten man Javier Hernandez, on loan from Manchester United, scored the winner in the 88th minute – just as the sides were thinking about extra time. It was the highlight of the forward’s career so far at the Bernabeu.

Pepe told journalists after the game that the team deserved credit, especially with the number of first team players out injured – including Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric – as well as the suspended Marcelo.

“We probably deserved more from the first leg. 0-0 was an unfair result for us, but I think that once again we have shown our quality and team spirit. We went out to win the game despite our injuries, and started with non regulars like Chicharito, who made everyone very happy,” he commented.

And he continued: “We had to win the second balls because Atlético weren’t going to take the initiative in our stadium. We were always going to have the initiative and we needed to recover possession quickly and that’s exactly what we did. Everyone put in good performances and the manager did a great job of preparing us.

“We played excellently in the first leg and we should have scored. It wasn’t to be but we knew that as long as we could match that level of intensity and show the humility we need for games then we would have plenty of chances to secure our place in the next round. And that’s what happened.”

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Sergio Ramos has described Real Madrid’s win over Atletico de Madrid in the quarter final of the Champions League on Wednesday as a ‘magical night’.

Roared on by a fervent home support, Los Blancos saw of their rivals 1-0 thanks to a Chicharito goal in the 88th minute. Real showed resilience and determination, particularly as they were missing a host of first team stars including Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Marcelo and Karim Benzema.

The Real vice-captain took time out to speak to journalists after the game and praised Atletico for their performance, adding Los Blancos were made to work incredibly hard.

“It was a magical night, a really taxing and intense match against a top team, the current La Liga champions and we shouldn’t take anything away from them. Madrid put in a great performance and imposed their quality and tempo. Football always gives you the chance for revenge and that’s nice. What better way than at home and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They’re magical nights that this sport gives you the opportunity to experience. We deserved to go through,” he stated.

The experienced central defender was deployed in midfield against Diego Simeone’s side, and said he admired Carlo Ancelotti’s ability to make big calls.

“It was a secret that was kept until the last minute. I knew about the decision since Sunday because we had a test run in the Camp Nou that didn’t go very well. I like coaches who are good people but more importantly who have personality, and Ancelotti is one of them. The manager deserves praise today. I’m just one of the squad members,” he commented.

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Real Madrid midfielder Isco says the the best team won after Los Blancos defeated Atletico de Madrid to qualify for the semi-final of the Champions League.

The holders of the trophy beat their city rivals 1-0 on Wednesday evening thanks to a last gasp Javier Hernandez goal after great work by Cristiano Ronaldo to set him up. It was Real’s first win in eight attempts against Diego Simeone’s team this season, and once again they broke Atletico hearts in this competition having beaten them in last season’s final.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Isco said the best team went through not only on the night, but deservedly so after the two games. At the Vicente Calderon last week, Real dominated much of the game and could have won easily had it not been for the heroics of Jan Oblak.

Isco stated: “We were playing an important part of the season and thankfully things went well, we triumphed and we are delighted. We were superior both here and in their stadium. We didn’t let our heads drop, we kept pushing and we got our reward in the end. The fans cheered us on from the beginning and we gave them something to celebrate right at the death.”

And he added: “I struggled a little but that’s to be expected after playing every game over the last few months. Real Madrid are very strong, there is a lot of competition for places and that makes us all better players.”

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Javier Hernandez has said the whole team should be praised for their efforts after last night’s 1-0 win over Atletico de Madrid sent Real Madrid through to the semi-final of the Champions League.

The on-loan striker scored in the 88th minute to send Los Blancos through to the next round, where they will meet one of Juventus, Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Chicharito stated everyone deserved praise for their collective fight, spirit and determination shown.

“Every goal I’ve scored during my career has been important, they all fill me with confidence. This was a collective effort, it was a great assist by Cristiano and we all covered a lot of ground and battled hard. We deserved to win,” he said.

And he added: “It is a derby and things hadn’t been going well for us since la Décima. This win was the work of the whole team, the fans, my team-mates, my family and everyone who has showed faith in me. Atlético are a very worthy rival. They won La Liga last year and were Champions League finalists. We were deserved winners today. In order to win the Champions League you have to beat the best teams.”

Speaking about his selection in the team, the Mexican revealed Ancelotti had told him a few days ago.

“He told me a few days ago that I’d be playing, that I needed to be ready, be focused and do the same as I had been in my previous games.”

 

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Carlo Ancelotti has said his Real Madrid team came through a huge test last night after seeing off Atletico de Madrid to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.

A 88th minute goal from Javier Hernandez was enough for the holders to win 1-0 on the night and on aggregate as Los Blancos saw off their city rivals for the first time in eight games this season.

It was all the more impressive given the number of players missing from the side, including Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Marcelo.

Speaking to reporters at his press conference, the Italian stated: “Everything went well because the team were tuned in. I’m not taking anything away from Atlético. We were up against a very strong side that don’t give you chances. I have a lot of respect for this rival. The play very well defensively.

“That was a key game for the season, given all the pressure we were under against a very strong Atlético team that fought for every ball. We prepared well for this, we didn’t rush things but rather controlled the play. The first leg gave us the confidence we needed to control the game and patiently wait for our chance to score.”

Looking forward to the semi-finals, the Italian said every potential opponent will be a massive challenge again.

“We respect all of the three sides in the draw. Whatever happens, these teams deserve to be in the semi-finals. We’ll see what happens during the draw. As long as we show that same commitment, Real Madrid will have no problem competing against any team. Now our players have time to recover from injuries and things will improve. We can sort out the Bale and Benzema situations soon. We can’t give an exact date yet though.”

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