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Real Madrid assistant boss Fernando Hierro has said he is confident the side can go on and win the Champions League again this season, becoming the first side to retain the trophy since it took on its current guise.

Los Blancos ended their 12-year wait for La Decima last season by defeating city rivals Atletico de Madrid on a memorable night in Lisbon.

This season, the Santiago Bernabeau side cruised through the group stages, winning six out of six, but only narrowly saw off Schalke in the last 16, winning 2-0 away but losing 4-3 at home.

Real hit form this weekend, winning 9-1 against Granada in La Liga, and Hierro believes the team can carry that on in Europe and retain the trophy in Berlin. The face Atletico in the quarter finals, a team they have failed to beat in six attempts already this season.

Speaking to the UEFA website, Hierro said: “I think the current squad can go on a successful European run like we did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are strong and confident and they won a very close Champions League final last time.

“Every record is there just to be broken. Everyone is pessimistic now because no club has won back to back Champions Leagues, but I think we are a really powerful team with a great coach leading us. The urge to be champions of Europe is in the club’s DNA.”

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Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said Carlo Ancelotti should not worry about his future not matter whether he is kept on as boss of Real Madrid or not this summer.

The Italian enjoyed a spectacular start his his managerial reign at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning four trophies in little more than 14 months. That trophy haul included the Champions League, the club’s 10th in total, along with the Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

But he has come under increasing pressure since the turn of the year after Madrid suffered a downturn in form. They were beaten in the Copa del Rey by Atletico de Madrid, let go of their lead at the top of La Liga, and looked less than convincing as the edged past Schalke in the Champions League.

Speaking to American radio station SiriusXM, Ferguson, who spent 27 years at Old Trafford, said: “I wouldn’t worry about his future, that’s for sure. For me, Carlo is one of the best managers I have known and one of my great rivals and that’s why I think he’ll never be short of work.”

Ancelotti has been linked with Manchester City should the CItizens get rid of Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the campaign. He has managed AC Milan, Chelsea and PSG before arriving at Madird, winning the title in Italy, England and France.

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Zinedine Zidane has admitted Real Madrid are monitoring Raheem Sterling’s situation at LIverpool as talk increases about the winger leaving the club in the summer.

The 20-year-old risked the wrath of Reds fans last week when he revealed in an interview with the BBC that he had rejected a 120,000 euro per week deal at the club, and was flattered by the interest of other big names in Europe.

The likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Cheslea were already though to be watching the situation develop, but now it seems they have been joined by Real Madrid – who are always on the lookout for Europe’s top talent.

In quotes published by the Guardian, Zidane, now in charge of the Real Madrid Castiila side, said: “We know who Raheem Sterling is, and of course we are monitoring him as a player.

“There are very few players in the world who can improve the Real Madrid squad, so it is going to make sense we monitor the progress of the best young players in the world. We monitored Bale for over a year, the same with Isco and also Varane.

“We monitor many of the best young players in Europe, then if we feel they have something to offer Real Madrid we will contact their club and try and make the next step.”

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Granada manager Abel Resino was “embarrassed” after suffering an incredible 9-1 defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

In a press conference after the La Liga match, Resino confessed “it has been the biggest blow I’ve had as a manager.” “We have to stand up and think of next game. Our game has been embarrassing,” the coach admitted.

“Losing 9-1 is different than losing 1-0 after having fought, but now the only think we can do is stand up. The match is history now, we have to look ahead. We have to show we’re not the disaster we’ve been today,” Resino added.

Asked whether the result was Real Madrid’s merit or Granada’s lack of fight, Resino replied “both things.” “Every loss we had ended in a counter-attack. Madrid have played at a great level and we have been below expected,” the Andalusians manager said.

“We are going to try to change this image. The players are deeply hurt, but tomorrow will be another day. This is no more than losing three more points, but next match we will risk our lives against Celta de Vigo and we will have to give our best to win,” Resino concluded.

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James Rodriguez has said he enjoyed a dream comeback to the first team in the win over Granada on Sunday that was topped off by the fans chanting his name.

The Colombian has spent the last two months out with a broken toe but made a return as Los Blancos won 9-1 over the Andalucians. It was the first time Real had scored nine goals in a league match in 48 years, with Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing five of them.

Speaking after the game, Rodriguez, who has enjoyed an impressive first season at the Santiago Bernabeu since his arrival from Monaco in the summer, said: “It’s been 60 days out but my foot didn’t prevent me from doing physical work, and that was noticeable. Being at the Bernabéu and everyone chanting my name is a dream come true. It’s something really nice and I hope I can keep on helping and working so that the team can get positive results.”

He added: “I’m happy to have helped, and what’s important is that we won. We have to carry on in this vein. It was a big scoreline, but I think it was fair. Everyone played well today and we know that Cristiano always scores goals. We’re happy for him too.”

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Real Madrid are ready to offer 40 million euros to take Radamel Falcao from Monaco to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, according to the UK press.

The Colombian striker is currently on a season-long loan at Manchester United but his future at Old Trafford is looking uncertain having scored just four goals in 20 appearances for the Red Devils.

And the Express says Real are looking to take the 28-year-old back to La Liga in the summer, where he enjoyed so much success with city-rivals Atletico de Madrid.

Los Blancos are expected to be on the lookout for a new forward, with on loan striker Javier Hernandez expected to return to Manchester United having failed to impress the Madrid hierarchy.

Falcao has long been on the radar for the 10-time Champions League winners and was thought to be close to a move before he suffered a serious knee injury. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will want to bring someone in to compete with Karim Benzema for the forward role.

According to the newspaper, Falcao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been in constant touch with Florentino Perez over the past few months as he looks to push through a move for his client. The superagent also represents Cristiano Ronaldo and has close links with Los Blancos.

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Real Madrid left-back Marcelo has said winning the last nine league games will be tough but not impossible as Los Blancos chase Barcelona in the race for the title.

The Champions League holders recorded their biggest La Liga win since 1967 by defeating Granada 9-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday to respond to the Clasico loss two weeks ago in spectacular fashion. Barcelona later defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 to restore their four point lead at the summit.

Speaking to the media after the game, Marcelo said the players were up for the fight and would give their all to win their remaining league games while hoping Barca slip up along the way.

“The result only gives you a glimmer of our performance. We ran a lot and fought extremely hard. We have to play that way to get over our problems and we are trying to change the image of Real Madrid. We always need to be on top. Winning ten games is not beyond the realms of possibility and hopefully Barcelona will slip up,” he stated,

He continued: “We can’t expect to win all our games like this and no team are capable of winning all their games, but we are going to try and stay on this track. You could notice on the pitch that our attitude was good and that we carried out the boss’s instructions.”

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Karim Benzema

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has hailed his fellow strike partner Cristiano Ronaldo as a phenomenon.

The Portuguese stole the headlines as he has so often done in is career by scoring five goals in the 9-1 rout of Granada on Sunday afternoon. It took his tally to 36 in the league this season.

Benzema grabbed two, Gareth Bale scored one, and an own goal from Granada defender Diego Mainz made up the rest of the goals.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Benzema hailed the 30-year-old forward, saying: “Cristiano is a phenomenon, he is always on the lookout for goals and ways of helping the team. He deserves everything he has achieved. Himself, Bale and I are in good form, as is always the case. We are helping the team, sometimes we score and sometimes we don’t, but we are in good shape to continue like this until the end of the season.”

Although it was an historic day – Real last scored nine goals in a league game in 1967 – Banezema admitted the players were most happy just to get the three points.

“We scored a lot of goals and created a hat full of chances once we broke the deadlock. For me the most important thing is winning, getting the three points. After that we can look at our nine goals, which is something that doesn’t happen very often. We are going to try and win all of the remaining games from now until the end of the season,” he stated.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said his team is hitting form at just the right time again after watching his side thrash Granada 9-1 on Sunday.

It was the first time Real had scored nine in a league game since 1967, with the goals coming from Cristiano Ronaldo (5), Karim Benzema (2), Gareth Bale (1) and a Diego Mainz own goal.

Speaking to the media after the devastating display of attacking football, Ancelotti admitted he was delighted with what he’d seen and urged his players to carry that form on for the rest of the campaign.

“The feeling is all positive, the team is good physically, we are fresh. We must highlight how the team has returned to playing as we want. It was important to win, and to play well, and we have done that,” Ancelotti stated.

He added: “The objectives are very close now, and all the players understand that by giving their all the team can be at its best. But this was just one game and we have another important game on Wednesday, and be fully focused then, as we were today. Last year we were not as good physically as we are now.”

Having describing Cristiano Ronaldo as a one-off earlier in the week, the Italian had more words of praise for him after he took his league tally to 36 for the season.

“Cristiano has improved, as the team has improved. What more can I say. It is the first time he has scored five with Madrid, which is good for everyone, for him and for the team in next games.”

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Alvaro Arbeloa says Real Madrid have got their confidence back after brushing Granada aside 9-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos needed a result following the Clasico defeat two weeks ago and we on a run of form in which they had won just one of their previous five games – prompting a growing number of supporters to voice their anger.

But the players responded in devastating fashion on a bright Spring afternoon in the Spanish capital with Cristiano Ronaldo gabbing five goals for himself. Frenchman Karim Benzema scored twice and Gareth Bale netted to silence his critics, while Granada defender Diego Mainz put through his own net. Roberto Ibanez scored a consolation for the visitors.

Speaking to reporters after the game, right-back Arbeloa said the game was a perfect response to the previous few weeks’ disappointments and the confidence has flowed back into the squad.

“We had a great game today. The fans enjoyed it & we’ve regained more of our confidence back. Our objective? To win, win & win,” he stated.

The Spanish international also had words of praise for five-goal hero Ronaldo, who took his tally in the league to 36 – four ahead of Leo Messi.

“Cristiano always betters himself from what he’s already accomplished. Hopefully this is the beginning of a great streak,” he commented.

 

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