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Karim Benzema

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has said his best years lie ahead and he is still to improve as a footballer.

The French striker, who signed from Lyon in 2009, has scored 121 goals in 251 games for Los Blancos. He has been criticised at times by sections of the press and fans, but already has 10 goals from 16 appearances this season – not a bad return at all.

Speaking to Spanish sports paper, Marca, the 26-year-old said he works hard in training every day and feels his can still improve as he enters the peak years of his career.

“I feel good, I’m training hard and things are working well. I’m only 26 years old, so I really believe that the best years of my career are still to come. I’ve always heard that a player hits the high point of his professional career when he turns 26. I hope this applies for me too,” he said.

He went on to discuss he thoughts on scoring goals and what is more important to him – his own personal stats or how the team does on the pitch.

“For me, scoring goals isn’t the most important thing. What I aspire for is being involved in the collective play so we as a team create chances. There will be times when I score goals, and other times when this won’t happen. I love providing assists to my team-mates. If I see a player in a better scoring opportunity, I’ll pass them the ball,” he commented.

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France manager Didier Deschamps has claimed criticism of Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is unfair and he is one of the best attackers in the world.

The 26-year-old has been nominated on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or award, with the winner to be announced in January. And having been part of the team to win the Copa del Rey and the Champions League last season, Deschamps believes Benzema deserves his place on the list.

The forward divides opinion between the media and fans alike, with some believing he is a top player and other saying he should be more ruthless and contribute more in front of goal.

Speaking at a new conference on Thursday, the 1998 World Cup winning midfielder said those who criticise Benzema don’t really understand the qualities he brings to the team – both for club and country.

“After you know, between those who vote and those who are chosen, there are surprises too. Karim is now one of the offensive players, one of the strikers, very efficient in this year 2014. He is unfairly criticised and especially in France. Because abroad, he is still considered a high-level attacker. Of course, he could always be better, he may still be more decisive,” he stated.

And he went on: “But for me, it is a privilege to have Karim in the French team. He is beaming right now, efficient, he makes a lot of things in the game, for his team. He is a very important player for his club, Real Madrid, and for us. He is pleased to be there, it shows. He is a very high level striker.”

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Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has said his friend and former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo will with the Ballon d’Or in January after another outstanding year.

The 29-year-old Portugal forward fired his club to success in the Champions League last season, setting a new record for the most amount of goals in a season in the competition along the way. He also helped his side as they won the Copa del Rey to complete a superb season for the Santiago Bernabeu side.

Although pundits and fans have long run out of superlatives for the striker, he has managed to take his game to even greater heights this season, netting an astonishing 22 goals in just 16 games in all competitions. Since he signed for Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo has 274 goals in just 262 games.

And speaking to MUTV, Rooney said he couldn’t see anyone stopping his friend winning the Ballon d’Or trophy again when the ceremony takes place in January – even Leo Messi.

“I’m sure it’ll be difficult to give it to anyone else. He’s had an incredible two or three years and I think he has certainly overtaken Lionel Messi now as the best player in the world,” Rooney stated.

The pair enjoyed great success at the Red Devils together, firing the club to the Premier League title and Champions League among a haul of trophies.

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Florentino Perez has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as the ‘worthy sucessor’ to Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano.

The Portuguese forward picked up the Golden Shoe award at a ceremony in Madrid on Wednesday, and the club president was there to speak in glowing terms about his star striker.

The 29-year-old has started this season ins blistering form, scoring 17 La Liga goals in just nine games, and 22 goals in total. He is in the running for the Ballon d’Or in January, and this form carries on from last year when he fired Madrid to the Champions League and Copa del Rey titles.

Speaking about the forward, Perez said he will leave a lasting legacy just like di Stefano, who passed away earlier this year, did.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has once again shown the world that he belongs in the pantheon of legends to be looked up to. He combines undeniable talent and an extraordinary work ethic. There are no limits to what Cristiano can do, nor records he cannot beat,” he said.

And he added: “His attributes are in keeping with Real Madrid’s core values. He does our club and the game of football proud and is a role model for young people. Our fans worship him because he gives everything on the pitch. He is among the best in living memory. Like another club great, the late Alfredo di Stéfano, he has an insatiable hunger for success. We know that he wants to go for a fourth Golden Shoe. Quite simply, Cristiano is the best player in the world.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo says he wants to be the best player ever and will continue to work hard to reach new limits.

The 29-year-old spoke to journalists after picking up the Golden Shoe at an awards ceremony in Madrid on Wednesday and told them he doesn’t mind what opinions others have of him – he just wants to work hard and be the best he can.

The striker, who has scored 50 goals or more his Los Blancos for the last four seasons, already has 22 to his name this year, including 17 league goals from just nine games.

Speaking about his determination to do better, he said: “Everyone will have their own opinion. Being the best in Portugal isn’t enough for me, I’m going to work to be the best ever. I respect every decision. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, just to myself. I want to continue working in the same way because it’s harder and harder to improve my figures. I want to be the best at the best club in the world.”

Having picked up the award, he was also quick to thank his team mates, who he said are key in allowing him to achieve what he has in the game.

“You only win this trophy with a very good squad around you and with everyone’s support. Last year things went very well and we won the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. It was an extraordinary year and I feel very lucky to be in this squad and at Real Madrid,” he commented.

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Iker Casillas

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has expressed his satisfaction at the side’s early qualification for the next round of the Champions League, allowing them to focus on other targets.

The holders picked up their fourth win in four matches in the group stage by seeing off Liverpool 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, sealing their place in the next round of the competition they won in May.

With fixtures in the Copa del Rey and the World Club Championship on the horizon, and looking to cement their place at the top of La Liga, Casillas told reporters after the game that the players could focus on other trophies now qualification has been guaranteed.

“I’m happy about our record in the Champions League and about the victory. We’ve done what we had to and qualified. Now we can focus more on the league, the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup,” he stated.

And the 33-year-old continued: “We were coming off the back of some difficult and tough matches. When we got to 1-0 we tried to control the match a little more. We tried to get a second but the result was enough. We’re going to continue to be prudent, stay calm and enjoy ourselves. Success will come little by little.”

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Real Madrid left-back Marcelo has been linked with a move to Manchester United by the UK press, who say Los Blancos could sell to fund a move for David Alaba.

The Daily Express say Carlo Ancelotti wants to sign the Bayern Munich defender in the January transfer window, and Louis Van Gaal would be keen to take Brazilian Marcelo to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils went on a huge summer spending spree, bringing in the services of Angel di Madrid, Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind among others, but still look suspect at the back, with the Ducthman keen to add more depth to his defence.

Marcelo, who scored the fourth goal in Madrid’s Champions League win over Atletico de Madrid in May, would be an ideal signing for him, as he is still relatively young but possesses plenty of experience.

The 26-year-old arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2007 and has helped Los Blancos to a number of titles. As well as the Decima, he as also won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Supercopa and European Super Cup in his time in the Spanish capital. At international level, Marcelo has won 37 caps for his country, and has represented Brazil at the World Cup, Copa America and Confederations Cup.

 

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Alvaro Arbeloa has said the current 12 match winning run enjoyed by Real Madrid is purely down to the hard work each player is putting in on the training ground and during matches.

Los Blancos saw off Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening thanks to a goal by Karim Benzema. The win ensured qualification for the next round of the competition and means the side can focus on La Liga for now as well as setting their sights on the World Club Championship in December.

Talking to reporters after the match, former Liverpool full back Arbeloa said the Reds had given the 10-time Champions League winners a tough match and the players were happy to pick up the three points.

“It was a tough and hard fought game, but we achieved our objective, which was to secure our qualification. We came into this game having made a big effort. We have had a lot of back-to-back games and because of injuries the manager has not been able to rotate things as he would have liked,” he was quoted as saying.

Discussing the overall form of the team, the Spanish international stated it was down to hard work – and having Cristiano Ronaldo on their side too.

“We have had time to train together and the team has improved through our sacrifices. We all work hard and we are really solid at the back. Seeing things come together motivates us all. What Cristiano Ronaldo is doing is incredible. You can always rely on him.”

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.

After a rocky start to the season in which they lost two of their opening three league matches and the Spanish Supercopa, Los Blancos have stormed back into contention and have won the last 11 games in a row in all competitions.

The feel-good factor at the club is back and the team look as good as last year’s one, which won the Copa del Rey, and more importantly, the club’s 10th Champions League trophy.

Speaking on Sky’s Revista de La Liga, Balague revealed Los Merengues are keen to tie Ancelotti down to a new deal so he can continue building on the success he has already achieved.

“It seems like the club has already negotiated a new deal with him,” said Balague. “His deal finishes in 2016 so the possibility is to renew it until 2017 or 2018.”

The journalist went on to add that things could have been very different however if Sergio Ramos hadn’t headed in the stoppage time equaliser against Atletico de Madrid in Lisbon in May.

“It’s funny because if that corner from Modric in minute 93 of the Champions League final had gone one centimetre the wrong way and Sergio Ramos had headed it wrongly, Ancelotti would have been sacked,” he stated.

“Perez didn’t believe completely in what he was doing. If they hadn’t won the Champions League, they also did badly in the league against a Barcelona who were poor and Atletico Madrid who won the league, he would have been sacked.”

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James Rodriguez has said he is happy to play in whatever position Carlo Ancelotti sees fit for him at Real Madrid.

The Colombian played his part in his side’s 1-0 over Liverpool on Tuesday night, a win which ensured qualification to the next stage of the Champions League with two group game matches to spare.

It allows Los Blancos some breathing space and time to focus on other competitions on the horizon, and also the chance to asses how the season has gone so far. And reflecting on his own performances since his arrival in the Spanish capital this summer, Rodriguez told journalists he is happy to be playing well.

He revealed his best position is higher up the field, slightly behind the main striker, but added that he is happy playing anywhere in the team as he trusts Carlo Ancelotti to get it right.

“I’m happy and in recent matches I’ve been comfortable. I just want to help and if I can score goals and set them up that’s also important for me. It’s true that I’m good near the opposition’s goal but I’m also open to whatever Ancelotti wants,” he commented.

Speaking about the match, the 22-year-old said he was delighted to win and now the players would look forward to the challenges that lie in wait.

“We were patient, we looked for space and it was a fair victory. They played well but we did too, as we have in recent matches. Qualification gives us peace of mind for what is to come and we have to carry on like this.”

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