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Sergio Ramos has said the Real Madrid players want to continue making the fans happy and winning the Club World Cup would be reward for their hard work this year.

The defender scored the first goal in the semi-final win over Cruz Azul in Marrakech on Tuesday night as Los Blancos cruised into the final with a 4-0 win. It extended the team’s winning run to 21 consecutive matches.

Speaking after the match, the vice-captain of the team said the players are motivated to end the season on a high.

“This is a year of statistics and records for Real Madrid. We are going through a good spell and we want to keep winning and making the Madrid fans happy. The title we are competing for is the reward for last year’s work. We aim to win the title,” he stated.

The Spain international, who scored the equalising goal in the Champions League final against Atletico de Madrid to elevate himself to cult status among Madridistas, went on to play down concerns about his thigh injury.

He hobbled off in the second half, but told reporters the change had been planned and he hopes to take his place in the final.

“Coming out was prearranged. I am not in too much discomfort and we hope it isn’t anything serious. They are going to take a look at it tomorrow, and see how I am feeling then. I hope to play in the final.”

 

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Carlo Ancelotti has hailed his Real Madrid players for their effort in the semi-final win over Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup.

Los Blancos won 4-0 in Marrakech with goals coming from Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Isco. Iker Casillas saved a penalty at the other end to ensure a clean sheet. The Champions League winners will play Argentina’s San Lorenzo or New Zealand’s Auckland City in the final.

Speaking to the press after the game, the Italian said his players had put in a professional performance and he was pleased with the job they had performed.

“We had the right amount of quality for this competition. We were strong, focussed and organised. The team behaved fantastically out there. They are prepared and always give their best,” he stated.

And he added: “We played a serious game. We started well from the outset. We scored early on and that made things easier for us. They could have minimised our advantage, but Casillas saved the penalty and in the second half we killed the game off on the counter attack with two goals. The pitch was perfect.”

Los Blancos now have the chance to win their fourth trophy of the calendar year – something Ancelotti admitted he couldn’t have ever dreamed about.

“I hadn’t thought about it but we are doing very well this year and there is one match left to finish it off well. We are really going to prepare for it because this team deserves the title and it would cap off a fantastic year perfectly if we were world champions.”

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Real Madrid qualified for the final of the Club World Cup for the first time in their history as they got their 21st consecutive victory in all competitions. Cruz Azul proved to be a weak side and barely threatened Los Blancos tonight in Marrakesh.

Los Blancos took the lead before the 15-minute mark. A cross from Toni Kroos found the head of Ramos but the goalkeeper was nowhere near the elevated ball in.

Karim Benzema made it 2-0 following a great play from Daniel Carvajal down the right flank. The Frenchman sent the ball to the back of the net with a short-range finish.

Cruz Azul could have shortened the difference as the referee awarded a penalty for a Sergio Ramos foul on Mariano Pavone. However, Gerardo Torrado’s shot lacked confidence and Iker Casillas denied it easily.

Los Merengues showed some poor defending in that first half and Cruz Azul had several chances to score, but they proved to have limited quality.

Shortly after half-time, Los Blancos sealed the victory following a brilliant play. Benzema passed the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who sent a perfect cross for the Welshman to nod home with a magnificent header.

Ronaldo assisted Isco a few minutes later to make it 4-0. The Andalusian dribbled past one defender before delicately firing a shot into the bottom corner.

Carlo Ancelotti men will most likely face Argentinian side San Lorenzo de Almagro in the final, as they are expected to beat Auckland City.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up the BBC Overseas Player of the Year Award.

The Real Madrid man was recognised by the corporation and its viewers for his oustanding year in which he set all kinds of personal records and helped Los Blancos to three trophies. The Portugal international was not present at the ceremony to pick up the award, but team mate Gareth Bale presented it to him.

In a message to BBC viewers, the former Manchester United man said he was honoured to pick up the award.

“Thank you BBC for the award, it was an honour to be chosen. Thank you to all my fans who voted for me,” he said.

The 29-year-old has taken his game to new levels in 2014 and he is favourite to win the Ballon d’Or again next month. Ronaldo scored 17 goals in the Champions League last season – a competition record for a single campaign – as Los Blancos won La Decima after a 12-year wait. He scored the fourth goal from the penalty spot as Real defeated city rivals Atletico de Madrid in the final.

Los Blancos also won the Copa del Rey and the European Super Cup, while this season Ronaldo has already scored 25 goals in just 15 league games.

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cruz azul real madrid preview

Real Madrid take on Cruz Azul in their first match of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup hoping to obtain their 21st consecutive victory in all competitions.

The Mexican side beat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-1 after extra time in the quarter finals of the competition. Yet Los Blancos are expected to earn a comfortable victory.

Carlo Ancelotti will miss James Rodriguez and Sami Khedira, who have not recovered on time from their injuries. With Luka Modric also on the sidelines, Asier Illarramendi will start again alongside Toni Kroos. Isco and Gareth Bale will complete the midfield line.

While Madrid have won their last 20 games, Cruz Azul had only earned one victory in their previous six games before travelling to Morocco for the World Cup.

The game venue has been changed due to heavy rains in Rabat, and it will be played in Marrakesh.

This is the second time Real take part in the Club World Cup. On the previous occasion in 2000, they finished fourth. Cruz Azul had never played in this competition before.

Possible line-ups:

Cruz Azul: Corona; Flores, Maza, Dominguez, Pinto; Baez, Torrado; Formica, Gimenez, Anibal; Pavone.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Bale, Kroos, Illarramendi, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

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Premier League champions Manchester City are to step up their interest in Real Madrid playmaker Isco according to reports.

Media outlets in the UK claim the Citizens have been rejected in an approach for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcus Reus and will instead turn their attention back to their long-term target at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 22-year-old played under City boss Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga and City are confident the close relationship between the two will be the deciding factor should other clubs get involved in the fight for his signature.

Isco signed for Los Blancos in the summer of 2013 but struggled for his place in the side last season – suffering a loss of form and also finding himself victim of Carlo Ancelotti’s formation change from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3. He had been considering his option in the summer but stayed at the club and has been in brilliant form this season, covering for the injured Gareth Bale up front and for Luka Modric in midfield.

As well as Manchester City, other big names in the Premier League are thought to be keen on the Spain international, including FA Cup winners Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. The midfielder has become a fans’ favourite in the Spanish capital and Madridistas would be disappointed to see him leave.

 

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has warned his team mates not be complacent and to keep their focus on each game as it comes.

Los Blancos have won their last 20 consecutive matches, setting a new Spanish record, and head into the winter break top of the table. This week they take part in the Club World Cup and are in search of their fourth trophy of the calendar year, having won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup in 2014.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Costa Rican international said the players must be switched on for 90 minutes of every game they play or they will pay the price.

“We must be prepared to close out games and stay focused. This team cannot make mistakes, we must stay focused 100 per cent and work to be prepared at that time. Every victory is celebrated, we are delighted when we win. We know we’re at a winning club where you have to triumph; every game that brings us closer to our goals of being champions,” he said.

Speaking about his own situation, Navas said he is thrilled to be part of the playing staff and is loving his time in the Spanish capital.

“It’s amazing to be at Real Madrid. It’s a dream for any player that, when it becomes a reality, is difficult to explain. I think about everything I’ve been through to get here. Playing in the Champions League…I enjoyed it from the moment we left the changing room. The only way I’d heard that anthem before was on television and being there was a dream come true.”

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Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has revealed he almost joined Manchester United before his move to Los Blancos in 2011.

The 21-year-old, one of the best young defenders in the world, told Telefoot discussions had taken place with the Red Devils about a switch from Lens in Ligue 1 to the Premier League. But in the end talks broke down and he ended up in the Spanish capital after being snapped up by Jose Mourinho for a fee of around eight million euros.

“We were close to an agreement with Manchester United. My mom speaks English and this facilitated the translation. There was also an interesting project [on offer] but I made a choice for my career,” he said.

Varane, who already has 17 caps for France, went on to talk about his ambitions for the future and said he wants to be considered one of the best in the world.

He stated: “I think I can go higher and mark my generation. I would be happy to tell myself I did the maximum and went as far as I could during my career.”

Since arrival in the Spanish capital, Varane has picked up winners medals in the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey. He has scored six goals in 88 appearances for the club.

 

 

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Real Madrid have been drawn against German side Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The defending champions met the Bundesliga side at the same stage last season, winning both games, 6-1 and 3-1 to ease into the quarter finals. Los Blancos will head to the Veltins Arena for the first leg on 17th or 18th February and will host the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on the 10th or 11th March.

The match-up against Schalke will see Jese Rodriguez come up against the side he was playing against when he suffered a serious knee injury last season. The young Real forward was stretchered off in just the fourth minute of the second leg and only recently made his return to first team football. He will no doubt be keen to make up for lost time.

For the Germans, they face perhaps an even tougher task than last season. Carlo Ancelotti’s men cruised through the group stage, winning all six matches. They have set a new record in Spain having won their last 20 matches, and are determined to become the first team to win the trophy back-to-back since it took on its current format.

Schalke have had a slow start to the campaign, but since appointing Roberto di Matteo as boss, the man who lead Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2012, they have picked up and are fighting in the European places in the league.

Their main threat up front is Klass Jan Huntelaar, who played for Real Madrid in 2009 before leaving for AC Milan.

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Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final match against Cruz Azul has been switched to Marrakech from Rabat because of concerns over the state of the pitch.

None of the teams involved in the tournament already have been able to train on the picth at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah. And the pitch deteriorated rapidly at the weekend after a serious downpour took place and two quarter-final matches were played. Cruz Azul beat Western Sydney Wanderers and Auckland City saw off Setif.

Speaking after their win to set up a semi against Real Madrid, Cruz Azul boss Luis Tena said he doubted whether the pitch was able to be be played on at all for the rest of the tournament.

“We need to take into account the way that they apply corrective measures on the turf, so let us hope that they have the ability to make it recover. But we have to be realistic, and there is very little time available for it to recover,” he said.

FIFA later confirmed the switch on Sunday evening. In a statement, it stated: “”Due to the difficult pitch conditions at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, the Fifa  Organising Committee has decided, following consultation with the Local Organising Committee to play match 4 (Cruz Azul FC v Real Madrid CF) in Marrakech and not in Rabat as previously scheduled. The match will kick off on Tuesday, December 16 at 20:30CET.”

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