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Israel boss Eli Guttman claims Real Madrid star Gareth Bale care more about playing for Wales than he does Los Blancos.

The Welshman has come under fire in recent weeks for some below-par performances and has also been accused by fans of being selfish and preferring to shoot rather than pass to Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo who are sometimes in better scoring positions.

Wales take on Israel in a European Championship qualifier later this month, and ahead of that game, Guttman has waded into the debate surround the 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur forward.

Speaking to walla.co.il, the national team boss stated: “I feel as if Bale is saving himself for his national team. The level of ground he covers and his level of commitment to the national team is nothing like how he plays for Real Madrid.”

And he went on to tell the website: “When Wales had a player injured Bale was the first to tweet ‘get well soon’. They are like us in that they are one group. However, Bale is the one that gives them balance. We’ll need to be tight against him and not let him find any empty space. If we don’t he will kill us.”

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Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has said he doesn’t think Real Madrid are a team in crisis but says his Los Cules team is the best team in the world.

The Croatian, who signed for the Camp Nou side last summer, told reporters on Thursday that the Clasico match next weekend will be as big as it always has been no matter what form the teams are in.

And he added that despite a dip in form, it doesn’t mean Real are in crisis and there is still a long way to go in the title race. He then seemingly forgot that Real are the Champions League and Club World Cup holders when he went on to describe the Catalans are the best team in the world, despite finished empty handed last season.

“Obviously when the results are not perfect, then the questions come. It’s all part of the season, which is very long. Anything can happen over the course of 10 months. My opinion about Madrid hasn’t changed. They are not better or worse than they were earlier in the season. Maybe they have a dynamic that needs to be changed but they will work to achieve their goals, so I’d just rather think about us,” he said.

And he added: “We are the best club in the world and this is a positive pressure that we must deal with. We live and work to be the best, and I always want to be present.”

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Gareth Bale is one of the best players in the world and fans should not forget the contribution he has made for Real Madrid, says Florentino Perez.

The Welshman has been the target of some anger by sections of the Madrid fanbase, with supporters unhappy at his selfishness at times. In recent games he has also been blamed for some overall lacklustre performances.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a superb first season at the Santiago Bernabeu and scored in the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals last season as Real ended their 12-year wait to win La Decima.

He started this campaign in excellent form too, helping the side win the European Super Cup and netting in yet another final – the Club World Cup in December.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Perez said the club had fought tooth and nail to sign their man and he is an important player.

“Gareth Bale is one of the best players in the world. The most important sides in the world fought for his services and will continue to fight for them.

“We must never forget his first year with this team, his first season and what he is capable of doing, [such as scoring] in the two finals in the European Cup and in the Copa del Rey,” he commented.

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Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has received the support of team mate Pepe who has said the shot stopper is the best goalkeeper in the world.

Echoing the comments made by La Roja boss Vicente del Bosque, the Portuguese defender said Casillas had been instrumental in Real’s success throughout his career and did not deserve to be the target of abuse.

Casillas was jeered by some sections of the Madrid support this week as Los Blancos lost 4-3 at home to Schalke in the Champions League but managed to scrape into the quarter finals.

He also said that he was unfairly punished by Jose Mourinho for coming out in support of Casillas in the past.

Speaking to La Cope, Pepe said: “Right now Iker is the best goalkeeper in the world and it’s strange that somebody like him gets whistled. Things were never clear when [Jose] Mourinho was here and I paid the price for saying Iker should be respected for what he has done for Spain. That was unfair.

“People forget what he’s won and everything he’s given to football and that was quite painful for me to see. When I came out and said he deserves respect it was taken as though I was his best friend and we then became everyone’s enemy.”

 

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez has given Carlo Ancelotti a vote of confidence and told the media the Italian will remain in charge even if Los Blancos lose to Barcelona.

Following a slump in form in recent weeks, questions have started to be raised about how long more Ancelotti will remain in charge, with many media outlets unsure as to whether he will still be in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Perez held a press confidence on Thursday to dispel any stories that he’ll get rid of Ancelotti, and said much of the what has been written in the press is mischief making.

“I have come here to talk to you because there is a climate of great pressure. The greatness of this club is the high demands we place on ourselves I and will not have our name tarnished when we are not going through our best moment,” he said.

And he added: “The attacks aimed at our coach and our players are wholly unfair. The club has complete confidence in our coach and in our players. Whatever happens, Carlo Ancelotti will continue to be coach of Real Madrid.”

He reminded reporters that all the success achieved by the club last season was under the guidance of Ancelotti, and the former PSG and Chelsea boss will remain in charge.

“Real Madrid had never won four titles in a calendar year, so this coach and these players form part of the history of this club. All of that was achieved by them. We need to be together and stay serene ahead of the challenges that lie ahead.”

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Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has backed under fire Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas and admitted he is unlikely to drop him any time soon.

Not for the first time this season, the shot stopper was the target for some jeering on Tuesday night as Los Blancos lost 4-3 at home to Schalke in the Champions League. The holders clung on to a 5-4 win overall and made it to the quarter finals.

But Casillas was seen by many for being at fault for at least three of the four goals conceded, and along with Gareth Bale, was booed by some sections of the Madrid support.

Speaking to Radio Marca, del Bosque backed his keeper and said he is still world class. Casillas has won two European Championships and the World Cup with Spain and has made 160 appearances for his country.

Del Bosque said: “He did not play well and he admitted that. He also saved Madrid at the end. We don’t have to make a change unless the dip in form is alarming. I think he is in good shape.”

It is not the first come the former Madrid boss has backed Casillas. The manager also stood by him at the start of the season after he was blamed for Spain’s disastrous World Cup last summer.

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Barcelona’s Neymar has stoked the fire ahead of the Clasico in a couple of weeks by claiming the front three at the Nou Camp is better than the attacking trio at Real Madrid.

The Catalans splashed out 75 million euros on Luis Suarez last summer, and alongside Leo Mess and Neymar, the trio have been nicknamed the MSN by media in Spain. Statistically, they have had a better season to date than Real’s BBC (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano), and the Brazilian didn’t mind reminding supporters of that fact.

Speaking at a promotional event on Wednesday, Neymar stated: “I don’t know if [Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and I] are the best trio, but we try to do some damage to our opponents.”

He added: “Each time we play together, we get to understand each other better. Suarez and Messi are two players whom you don’t need to speak with. Messi is the best [player] in the world and Suarez is also the best. It’s a pleasure to play alongside them. I think [the MSN are better than the BBC], but I prefer not to discuss our rivals.”

Speaking about the Clasico, he said minds were switching to the big game already, but the players had to focus on each game as it comes because there is still a long way to go.

“[The Clasico] will be very important. We approach it as a final. We have a very good team and are only thinking about a victory. The prospect of leading Madrid by four points? We have to follow our own path. Much of the season remains.”

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Iker Casillas has said former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel is his favourite goalkeeper of all time.

The Spain international said the Dane had an immense presence in goal and played a significant part in Denmark’s Euro 1992 success as well as the glory years with the Red Devils – something that made a young Casillas sit up and take notice.

In an interview with the official club website, Casillas discussed his heroes and inspirations while growing up, and added that Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon is a close friend of his as the pair emerged at the same time and have enjoyed equally successful careers.

Speaking about Scmeichel, Casillas said: “I grew up when he was playing. I vaguely remember the European Championship in 1992, when Denmark were included at the last minute and the players were on holiday. Schmeichel had a fantastic tournament. That was when I started to follow his career. At Manchester he was an example to follow as a goalkeeper.”

Moving on to talk about the other influences in his long career, the club captain stated: “It helped me a lot that Buffon began his career so young. He’s three years older than me and, when he made his debut in 1998, there was a group of young goalkeepers, which I was a part of alongside Landreau and Frey, coming up behind him.

“If you see a young keeper at Parma starting to play for Italy because the coaches have faith in him, that makes you see that you can also do that. Our careers have been similar, because I also made my debut at a very young age and we’re still playing. We’ve been friends for many years.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo was very upset last night following Real Madrid’s defeat against Schalke 04 in the last-16 round of the Champions League.

Despite moving into the next round thanks to their previous 0-2 victory in Germany, Los Blancos played a terrible game in the second leg and Ronaldo left the stadium very angry.

When the journalists tried to ask him about the match in the press zone, the Portuguese only said one sentence: “I will not speak to the press again until the end of the season.”

Ronaldo then walked away, leaving the journalists surprised, as none of them had a clue of the reasons that had moved the footballer to make that decision.

The harsh critics from a sector of the Madrid press could explain Ronaldo’s attitude. Although it could have been just a moment of anger and he could reconsider it in the next few days.

The Portuguese star was also very upset during the game. In fact, Canal+ cameras caught him shouting at Karim Benzema in the last minutes of the match. “This is embarrassing! This is embarrassing!,” he repeated.

Real Madrid are winless in their last three games, having drawn against Villarreal and lost against Athletic Bilbao and Schalke 04.

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Real Madrid are interested in signing Palermo striker Paulo Dybala, according to reports from Britain. Metro has claimed Los Blancos are planning a 42-million-euro bid to bring the 21-year-old to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Argentinian pearl has impressed many with his great season at the Italian Serie A, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in 22 appearances. He has caught interest from many European giants including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Real Madrid are looking for a striker to join the club next summer after Chicharito Hernandez returns to Manchester and Dybala is the last name added to the list.

The Argentinian striker is expected to leave Palermo during the summer transfer market, and this rumour could just be a strategy to increase the selling price. Dybala could surely be a great add for Madrid, but Florentino Perez is looking for a cheaper striker and has already set his eyes upon Villarreal’s Luciano Vietto.

Dybala arrived at Palermo in the summer of 2012 from Instituto de Cordoba, where he had scored 17 goals in 40 games. The Italian club paid 12 million euros back then and are willing to get at least three times more when they sell the striker next summer.

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