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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has slammed FIFA boss Sepp Blatter for comments he made over this year’s Ballon d’Or nominations.

The Swiss suggested recently that Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would be a more deserving winner of the Ballon d’Or than Los Blancos forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

And speaking at his press conference ahead of his side’s game against Cornella in the Copa del Rey, Ancelotti said Blatter doesn’t know what he’s talking about and should learn to keep quiet.

“It never fails to amaze me the things he says, but what can we do about it. It seems the FIFA president is unable to keep his mouth shut. It’s a subject we’re always talking about and whilst there was competition from players like Messi last year, there’s not much thought needed this time.

“It’s the year of Cristiano, as he’s been scoring lots of goals and winning important titles, which means there’s no doubt he should win the Ballon d’Or. These words [of Blatter] don’t make much sense,” he told reporters.

Ronaldo is considered favourite for the award that he won last season after scoring more than 50 goals for his club, and playing a key role in their success in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.

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Real Madrid started their Copa del Rey defence with an comfortable win over third-division side Cornella.

Raphael Varane played a brilliant game and scored a brace to guide Los Blancos to the next round. Sealing the qualification in the second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu seems like a pretty easy task for Carlo Ancelotti men.

Cornella fought hard at the beginning. Real opened the score in the tenth minute, when Varane sent a powerful header to the back of the net in a corner. However, it only took Munoz another ten minutes to level. The striker latched on to a flick over the top and lashed past Keylor Navas.

The hosts were solid in defence and Los Blancos struggled to retake the lead. Yet Varane made it 1-2 before half-time in another corner, following a mistake from Cornella’s goalkeeper Jose Segovia.

Things were easier for Los Merengues after Chicharito Hernandez doubled the lead with just five minutes on the second half. The Mexico international found space on the edge of the box and stroke a precise shot into the corner.

Marcelo, who came in from the bench in the second half, sealed the victory in the 75th minute. The goalkeeper parried a shot from Isco and the Brazilian was fast to score from short range.

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Real Madrid start their title defence in the Copa del Rey as they face third-division side Cornella in the first leg of the last-32 round.

Carlo Ancelotti will take the opportunity to give minutes to some substitutes, such as Keylor Navas, Nacho Fernandez and Chicharito Hernandez.

Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo will most likely rest. Arbeloa could replace the Brazilian at left-back, while Nacho and Raphael Varane could be the centre-back couple.

Ancelotti will also make changes in midfield. The main doubt is whether he will rest Toni Kroos, Luka Modric of both. Asier Illarramendi and Sami Khedira will surely get minutes.

Gareth Bale is still sidelined due to injury, just like Fabio Coentrao and Jese Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, Keylor Navas will have a chance to claim the starting goalkeeper role, as Casillas is also expected to rest.

Cornella have beaten Jaen, Zamora and Leioa so far in the competition, and playing against Real Madrid is a reward for their good work. They will try to repeat what another third-division side five years ago: Alcorcon trashed Los Blancos by 4-0.

Possible line-ups:

Cornella: Segovia; Pere, Marin, Lopez, Israel; Marti, Gomez, Garcia, Boniquet; Munoz, Gallar.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo; Rodriguez, Modric, Illarramendi, Isco; Chicharito, Benzema.

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Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi is a possible target for AC Milan, according to reports in the UK.

British radio station talkSport suggests the Spaniard could make a switch to the San Siro after failing to establish himself in Carlo Ancelotti’s first team plans at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The defensive midfielder joined Los Blancos in a 25.5 million euro deal from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2013 and was thought to be the long-term successor to Xabi Alonso in the heart of the midfield. When Alonso left for Bayern Munich this summer, the 23-year-old was hopeful of seeing more first-team football but that has failed to happen so far this campaign.

He is below the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in the pecking order, while Sami Khedira is chosen ahead of him when the German is fit.

Ancelotti spend eight successful seasons as boss of AC Milan and is known to still have close ties at the club, meaning the Seria A giants are hopeful a deal could be agreed.

If Illarramendi does come onto the market, Milan could face competition from Arsenal. The Premier League side were interested in him before he signed for Los Blancos, and with Mikel Arteta and Matieu Flamini heading towards the end of their careers, boss Arsene Wenger may revive his interest.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been named on the shortlist of 10 managers for the FIFA Coach of the Year award, it has been announced.

The Italian is joined on the list by former Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho, as well as fellow La Liga boss Diego Simeone. Ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is also in the running, completing a strong showing for current or former bosses in La Liga.

Ancelotti will be among the frontrunners for the award, which will be announced on January 17 2015 at a ceremony in Zurich. The manager guided Los Blancos to success in the Champions League last season, ensuring the club secured the long-awaited 10th Champions League in their history – La Decima.

He also coached the team to success in the Copa del Rey in April, as Los Blancos saw off fierce rivals Barcelona in Valencia, a match attended by the team at Realmadridnews.com.

At the start of this season, Ancelotti managed his team to yet more success, this time in the European Super Cup as Real saw off Europa League winners Sevilla 2-0 in Cardiff.

Real currently sit third in the table, while they they have a busy few months ahead as the look to defend the trophies they won last season, as well as attempt to win the World Club Championship in December.

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Keylor Navas all picked up prizes as Real Madrid shone at the LFP awards.

Despite finishing third in La Liga last season, Los Blancos enjoyed a hugely successful campaign, winning both the Champions League – the 10th time in their history – and the Copa del Rey.

Ronaldo, who was nominated in the best overall player category, picked up the award following another sensation season leading the line for Los Blancos. The 29-year-old netted 31 league goals, and 17 goals in the Champions League – a new record in the competition for goals scored in one season.

Sergio Ramos picked up the award in the best defender category. Madridistas everywhere will be forever grateful to the 28-year-old after his heroics at the end of the campaign. he netted twice in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, before heading in a last gasp equaliser against Atletico de Madrid in the final in Lisbon. At the other end of the pitch, he was a stalwart throughout the season with his passion and energy rubbing off on his fellow Los Blancos defenders.

Luke Modric won the award for the best midfielder. The Croatian enjoyed a brilliant second season at the Santiago Bernabeu and was the creative hub through which much of Madrid’s play went through.

Finally, Keylor Navas picked up the best goalkeeper award for his displays at Levante. The Costa Rican keeper joined Real Madrid in the summer after a season of wonderful shot stopping at Ciutat de Valencia.

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Real Madrid are considering the signing of Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, British tabloid Daily Mail has claimed.

There has been a lot of talk of Alvaro Arbeloa leaving the club. The Spanish defender will soon turn 32 years old and he’s not the fast, solid full-back he used to be.

Thus, Florentino Perez might be seeking for a replacement, and Lichtsteiner is possibly the cheapest option.

The Switzerland international’s contract with Juventus will expire next June, and he has reportedly decided not to sign an extension. Therefore, in January he will be free to start negotiations with any other club.

It’s not very common to find a quality player who could come on a free transfer, so Los Blancos could be seriously considering the move.

The Daily Mail has also stated Los Merengues could even be planning a bid to bring Lichtsteiner in the winter transfer market, but that seems highly unlikely with Daniel Carvajal and Alvaro Arbeloa playing at such a high level.

Lichtsteiner arrived to Juventus in 2011 from Lazio. Since then, he has won two leagues and two Italian Supercopas with the Turin-based side, making 104 appearances and scoring nine goals.

The 30-year-old has also been linked with a move to Arsenal.

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Zinedine Zidane has been banned for coaching Real Madrid Castilla for three months after taking charge of the team without the right qualifications, it has been confirmed.

The legendary former player, who scored a sensational goal for Los Blancos to lift the Champions League in 2002, only took charge of Madrid’s second-string outfit in the summer. Last season, he worked alongside Carlo Ancelotti as Real won the Champions League for the 10th time in their history, and the Copa del Rey.

Soon after taking up his current role, the club received complaints about Zidane’s qualifications. He holds the Uefa A licence – equivalent to the Level 2 badges in Spain, but needed the Level 3 badges to coach in the second tier of Spanish football.

Zidane’s assistant, Santiago Sanchez, has also been banned for the same time period. The LFP said Sanchez, used his qualifications to shield Zidane.

The World Cup-winning playmaker, who scored twice in the 1998 final, must now get his qualifications up to date by April to avoid further sanctions.

Upon having the ban confirmed, Real Madrid released a statement saying the would fight the ban and explore every legal option open to them.

The statement read: “In response to the sanction handed down by the Competition Committee to the Real Madrid Castilla’s head coach and second coach, Santiago Sánchez and Zinedine Zidane respectively, Real Madrid C. F. would like to outline the following:

“1. The club’s absolute disagreement with the decision, not least of all because Zinedine Zidane has been authorised by the French Football Federation to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently find themselves in, as the certificate issued by said Federation from 13 October 2014 states.

“2. Real Madrid will pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned.”

 

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Luka Modric has rejected suggestions Real Madrid only won the Clasico on Saturday because Barcelona were under-par.

Los Blancos secured a thrilling 3-1 over the fierce rivals in front of a delighted Santiago Bernabeu. Neymar had given the visitors an early lead but the 10-time Champions League winners hit back with goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Karim Benzema.

Speaking to a Croatian newspaper about the game, the midfielder said Madrid were too powerful for Barcelona and rejected comments by some pundits saying Los Cules were under-par.

“Except for the first 20 minutes, Madrid were awesome. Since I’ve been in Madrid this is the most convincing demonstration of power,” Modric was quoted as saying.

He added: “Against a great rival we’ve confirmed our team has an incredible amount of quality and, if we use it right, there are few who can resist us.

“Barca are powerful. I’m not one of those who will say they’re weaker than before. They have phenomenal individuals and you see how we saw how we were punished right away for giving them a second of space. I think Barca actually seemed less powerful because Madrid were so impressive.”

He also hailed the team’s mental strength and ability to recover having gone a goal down so soon, and praised Iker Casillas for his wonder save to prevent the hosts going further behind.

“[Coming from behind] shows our psychological stability and our strength,” he argued.

“I have to say that perhaps the key moment was the fantastic reaction and infallible positioning of Casillas to Messi. If we had gone 2-0 down it would have been very difficult to take the lead.”

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Real Madrid legend Raul has said he was humbled and touched by the tribute the club made to him ahead of the Clasico on Saturday evening.

The legendary striker, about to embark on a new chapter in his career in the United States, made his debut for Los Blancos 20 years ago on 29th October. To commemorate the occasion, Raul was invited as the guest of honour to watch the win over Barcelona.

Before the game, a highlights reel of his most memorable moments in the famous white shirt was also played for the Madridista fans. The 37-year-old was also given a replica shirt with the number 20 on the back.

Speaking to Madrid-based daily Marca after the game, Raul said he was delighted the club still holds him in such high esteem.

“It was a very special moment. I wasn’t expecting it. It was a really nice touch from the club,” he said. And he added: “I can only thank them for this surprise. The gesture made me feel even more keenly that this is my home.”

During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Raul made 741 appearances in total and scored 323 goals. Among his haul of trophies are six La Liga title and three Champions League wins.

 

 

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