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Ex-Real Madrid man Alvaro Morata has said it will be impossible for the current Spain squad to repeat the success the previous generation of players had for the national side.

The La Roja side between 2008 and 2012 will go down as one of the greatest teams to ever play the beautiful game after they won two consecutive European Championships with a World Cup sandwiched between.

But their success came to an abrupt halt in Brazil in the summer when the World Cup holders crashed out of the tournament at the first round. Many of the side that was so successful have been moved on to allow younger players their chance to shine at international level.

Morata, one of those youngsters, says the previous generation will be an impossible act to follow.

“I have found that the current Spain team are group with lots of enthusiasm but aware it is impossible to repeat what has been achieved,” the 22-year-old Madrid-based daily AS.

“It is hard to follow one of the best teams in history, that won playing great football. It is very difficult to overcome, but we will try.”

He also spoke of his happiness at playing for Juventus and says he feels at home already after his summer switch from the Santiago Bernabeu. “I’ve adapted quickly to the country and the way they play there. I am very happy at Juventus and I have to repay the confidence they have placed in me and to have the best time possible.”

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Former Real Madrid forward Jose Callejon admits he is sad he wasn’t able to be part of the squad to win La Decima but is happy the club made history in May.

The Napoli forward spent two years in the first team squad at Los Blancos between 2011 and 2013. And under former boss Jose Mourinho, the side made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

The young forward left the Santiago Bernabeu to sign for the Seria A side, managed by Rafa Benitez, and watched on as his former side went on to lift the Champions League trophy in May, defeating city rivals Atletico de Madrid 4-1 on a famous night in Lisbon.

Speaking to the press about his thought on hie former club’s success, Callejon stated: “I have thought about missing out on being a European champion many times. A lot! Because I spent two very nice years there, where we were at the semi-finals both years.

He added: “I always thought it in that third year, when I am not with them, that they’d go and win but I was also very happy for them.”

The forward went on to say that although his missed out on that dream, being called up to play for Spain means he has fulfilled another goal of his.

“It’s a dream! Every player wants to play in his national team. I am very happy and really enjoying this opportunity,”

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Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has said former Barcelona man Ronaldinho was unstoppable at times as he looked back at the best strikers he has ever faced.

Speaking at an sponsors event ahead of Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus, the World Cup and Champions League winner picked out three ex-Cule strikers as the toughest his has come up against in his glorious career to date.

He said Samuel Eto’o was a tricky forward to play against and Sweden and PSG frontman Zlatan Ibrhimovic is a man mountain. But he told reporters that former Brazil international Ronaldinho was at times simply unplayable.

“There’ve been many. Ronaldinho was virtually unstoppable at his best, as a forward or a playmaker. Samuel Eto’o, on his day, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a striker who was a lot of trouble with his size, holds the ball up well, plays great with his back to goal and was fast,” he said.

He went on to add that members of his family have been his harshest critics down the years and very rarely praise his performances, even today.

“I almost always watch the matches to see any mistakes and review them,” he commented, before continuing, “Even if I got a hat-trick, my family’s two words would be ‘very good.’ They don’t praise me too much. Sometimes their silence is what hurts more than anything else. The day after a match I call my father or my brother and we exchange views.”

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Italian giants AC Milan have set their sights on signing one of either Asier Illarramendi or Sami Khedira from Real Madrid, reports have said.

The press in Italy claims the Seria A giants are looking for reinforcements in midfield and want to sign one of the Los Blancos duo when the window opens in January.

Khedira is into the last year of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, and is free to talk to clubs abroad about the possibility of a Bosman transfer in the summer. The World Cup winner, who has made just four substitute appearances this season, has been linked with a move away from the club for some time, with Premier League side Arsenal considered the favourites for his signature.

Manchester United, Chlesea, Manchester City and Fiorentina have also been mentioned as possible destinations should he decide to explore his options, although this week the 27-year-old told the media he is happy at the club and his agent is discussing the possibility of a new contract.

Illarramendi, meanwhile, has made just six appearances and one full start, as the form of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the heart of the midfield limits the chances for other at the 10-time European Cup winners. The 25-million-euro signing from Real Sociedad in 2013 has had a frustrating time in the Spanish capital and could be willing to make a move to kick-start his career.

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Real Madrid playmaker Isco continued to show his great state of form with a brilliant performance in Spain’s 3-0 victory over Belarus. The Andalusian opened the score in the 17th minute with this superb strike to the top corner that will surely be included among the best goals of the year.

Isco led Spain’s possession-based game and earned himself a standing ovation when he was replaced by former Los Blancos man Alvaro Morata in the 80th minute.

After the match, the 22-year-old confessed he’s feeling better than ever: “I feel physically great. I’m feelling fast and light, and that’s reflected in my game.”

Speaking about the goal, Isco said “it was lucky that the ball went in; it could have gone over the bar.”

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Santiago Bernabeu was one of the most celebrated presidents in Real Madrid history. He’s remembered, among other things, for the speeches he would give the players when things went wrong. These speeches were so frequent, they would end up calling them ‘Santiaguinas’. November 13th marked the 58 anniversary of the first one.

That day in 1956, Real played the second leg of first round of the European Cup against Prater Vienna. Los Blancos were the reigning champions of the competition, and they were confident ahead of the game, having won the first leg 4-2.

However, the game didn’t start well for Los Merengues as centre-back Oliva suffered a bone fracture in the first minutes. Since there were no substitutions back then, Los Blancos had to play the whole game down to ten men. Their bad luck would not end there, and goalkeeper Alonso suffered a hand injury and had to play under pain the rest of the game.

Those injuries and Rapid’s good game helped the hosts lead 3-0 at half-time, a result that would earn them the qualification for the next round. That was when Santiago Bernabeu entered Real’s dressing room and, as Alfredo Relano reveals in his recent book, he told the players: “Ladies! What are you doing here whining? I’m ashamed to see you like this, but I was more ashamed seeing you on the field! Do you know how many Spanish workers are on the stands? Do you know some have come from afar and they will be mocked tomorrow? Do you know the sacrifices those people make? You are undeserving of all that, ladies!”

After exchanging a few words with Zarraga, he finished his speech: “If you still have some sense of shame, get out there and behave as men, don’t make me feel ashamed.”

That ‘Santiaguina’ touched the players, and despite Rapid trying hard to score more goals, Los Blancos netted one in the second half and forced a third game thanks to that 3-1. Bernabeu was so pleased by their player’s attitude that he apologised for everything he had said at half-time: “I come to apologise for my words. You are true men.”

‘Santiaguinas’ were born that day, and that one was key for Los Merengues to overcome a moment of great adversities and end up winning their second European Cup six months later.

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Real Madrid are keeping tabs of PSV Eindhoven and Holland wonderkid Memphis Depay, according to reports.

The Dutch press claim a number of leading clubs in Europe have been monitoring the player’s progress this season, with Los Blancos and Manchester United – now managed by former Holland manager Louis van Gaal – the frontrunners to sign Depay.

The 20-year-old made a name for himself at the World Cup in Brazil with some eye catching displays at the Dutch made it to the semi-finals of the tournament. He was named on the three-man shortlist for the best young player of the tournament award.

He has maintained his excellent form this season, netting 12 times in 13 appearances for his club, prompting speculation that one of the big clubs in Europe will come in for him sooner or later.

The winger is blessed with pace and would be another useful asset in the squad at the 10-time European Cup winners. But should Los Blancos decide to make a move after being impress with what they’ve seen, it would be likely they’d have to sell before they buy, with players such as Isco, James Rodriguez, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi all vying for a place in the midfield already.

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading scorer in European Cup qualification and finals combined, thanks to his goal against Armenia.

The Portuguese netted his 23rd goal in the competition, overtaking Denmark’s Jon Dahl Tomasson and Turkey’s Hakan Sukur, both of whom scored 22.

Los Blancos forward was Portugal’s savior once again as he grabbed the winner to beat Armenia 1-0 with a close-range finish.

“I knew I would break that record sooner or later,” he confessed in an interview with Portuguese television RTP after the match.

Asked about football pundits claiming that he’s favourite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo said he remains quiet: “I already did what I had to do to win the Ballon d’Or. I won important trophies, I broke records in all competitions… So I’m well placed to win the award, but I’m not obsessed about it. International coaches and captains will vote, and I’m calm.”

Ronaldo also spoke about the upcoming game between his national team and Leo Messi’s Argentina: “It’s just a friendly game. If it was the World Cup, it would be special, but it’s a friendly and it doesn’t count, although it will be special for me to return to Old Trafford.”

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Italian giants Juventus and Roma are prepared to go head-to-head to sign Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao, according to reports.

The Portuguese defender has spent the past few seasons competing for his place in the side against Brazilian full back Marcelo and has often found himself on the bench. This season, Coentrao has only made three appearances and played just 242 minutes of football for the 10-time Champions League winners.

The former Benfica man has been long linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, and Juventus and Roma are the latest two teams to be linked with him.

Last summer, Chelsea and Benfica were believed to after his services, and he was also reportedly left in tears on transfer deadline day when a loan move to Manchester United broke down at the 11th hour.

Coentrao, who has 47 caps for his country, joined Los Blancos for 30 million euros in 2011. He has made 86 appearances in total in the past three and a half years. Despite not featuring as often as he may have linked, Coentrao has picked up numerous winners’ medals while in the Spanish capital, including La Liga, the Champions League, European Super Cup, Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey.

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Toni Kroos has said Carlo Ancelotti told him he needed him to improve his Real Madrid team ahead of his transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old German midfielder left Bayern Munich for the 10-time European Cup winners in the summer and has won many plaudits for the way he has slotted into the team so far this campaign.

Two former Real Madrid managers, Bernd Schuster and Jupp Heynckes, have both spoken to the press in the past week saying what a perfect match Kroos and Los Blancos are.

And speaking to Madrid-based sports paper AS, the World Cup winner revealed the influence Ancelotti played in persuading him to move to the Spanish capital.

“It was important that from the first day the Coach had confidence in me. Ancelotti said he needed me and has given me a central role in the team. In a telephone conversation he said I could make Madrid better,” Kroos stated.

He added: “The coach wants more balance in our play, a little more control. He said he wants our play to get better, to change, to have more phases of possession. And he told me he needed me.”

He also said his former manager Pep Guardiola predicted he would take up a deeper role and told him the best players in the world tend to move further back as their career progresses.

“I’m a central midfielder and 10 yards back than at Munich. Really, I’m a No.6. I’ve not forgotten the attacking side but for the moment I’m more a No.6. Pep told me at the start: ‘Toni, the best players move further back during their careers.’ With Ancelotti I could go the same way.”

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