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Real Madrid have been dealt a blow with the news that German midfielder Sami Khedira faces up to two months out having injured his thigh in training.

There is some dispute between the German Football Federation and Los Blancos as to when the injury happened, but the news will hurt both club and country, and is a blow to Khedira, who spent most of last season on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

The midfielder, who played a key role in the Champions League final last season, has already undergone scans and is expected by be out for between six and eight weeks in total.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will now turn to Asier Illarramendi to act as his defensive midfielder, having sold Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich last month.

Khedira had been strongly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu himself following the arrival of Toni Kroos, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Fiorentina all interested in his services. He has just one year left on his current contract and talks are yet to begin over a new one.

Former Stuttgart player Khedira joined the 10-time European Cup winners after the World Cup in 2010 and has won the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his time at the club.

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Real Madrid and Spain defender Sergio Ramos says the national team does not need to change their style despite a host of icons retiring after the abysmal World Cup showing.

La Roja went into the tournament in Brazil this summer as defending champions but were humiliated by Holland and beaten by Chile as they failed to make it out of the group stage. Since then, national heroes such as Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandez have retired, while the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina have seen the curtain fall on their international careers too.

Speaking before Vicente del Bosque’s side take on France in a friendly on Thursday, Ramos told journalists that despite a bad performance in Brazil, La Roja are still a force to be reckoned with having won three major tournaments in a row – Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012.

For that reason, Ramos says, the players should go out and play the football they are used to and enjoy themselves. He added the senior players in the squad need to help the new ones understand what it’s like to play for La Roja.

In quotes published by AS, Ramos stated: “I don’t think there’s a theme of a change. The national team has always had its identity and that shouldn’t change even if players have left the team. We are here to help the new players adapt in the best way but in the end we all go to do things right.

“Both Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso were important to the team, fundamental in the years of success, but we must not forget there’s a new generation with great enthusiasm and quality.”

 

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New Real Madrid forward Chicharito has said his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United is a dream come true.

The 26-year-old secured a one-year loan deal on transfer deadline day, and Los Blancos have the option to buy at the end of the season for 20 million euros.

Speaking at a press conference shortly after signing his deal, the Mexican forward said it was his dream to play for the club and he will give his all while in a Los Blancos shirt.

“There is no player in the world who can say they wouldn’t like to wear this shirt or be at this club. It would be a big lie. For me it is a dream come true. I’m really happy to be here and I’m going to try and have fun, to help the team and win titles,” he told reporters.

He also said he believes he can become a better player after leaving Old Trafford, where he became an outcast under David Moyes and wouldn’t get much first team football this season after the Red Devils signed Radamel Falcao.

“You’re going to see a decisive, determined Javier, a professional on and off the field, and I’ll try to repay the trust placed in me. What we want is to win titles and we’ll work hard for it. I’ll give a hundred percent to contribute and help the titles come. I’m always grateful to the people who support me and follow me,” he commented.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a thinly veiled attack on the club’s hierarchy over the outgoings at Los Blancos this summer.

Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria were allowed to leave the club in recent weeks, heading for Bayern Munich and Manchester United respectively, while other departures included Alvaro Morata and Diego Lopez.

Arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu were Toni Kroos – who lifted the World Cup with Germany in Brazil and James Rodriguez, the tournament’s top-scorer. They were joined by Costa Rica goalkeeper and loan-signing Javier Hernandez.

Speaking to Marca about the comings and goings at the 10-time Champions League winners, Ronaldo didn’t hide the fact that he thought president Florentino Perez had dismantled a successful and settled side too quickly at the expense of having the next Galacticos in the Spanish capital.

“I have a very definite opinion, but I am not always allowed to say what I think,” the 29-year-old said. In a clear statement that he was unhappy with the departures, Ronaldo continued: “If I were in charge, perhaps I wouldn’t have done it like this. But if the President thinks that the best thing for the team is to sign the players he signed, and let others leave, then his decisions must be respected and supported.”

But he added that the new players would add a different dynamic and a change in style is normally for the better.

“With the new players, our style is going to change, but it might change for the better or for the worse,” added Ronaldo. “Let’s hope it will be for the better because they are top quality players. What usually happens is that they adapt well.”

 

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The big news this morning in the Madrid press is Sami Khedira’s thigh injury that will keep him out of the side for between six weeks and two months.

The German midfielder is believed to have injured it in training ahead of linking up with his international colleagues for the start of Euro 2016 qualifying this month. Marca and AS lament the fact the 27-year-old will be on the sidelines for such a lengthy spell again, particularly as the club just sold Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich.

But it means it is the perfect opportunity for Asier Illarramendi to step up and prove to everyone why the club splashed out 30 million euros to sign him from Real Sociedad last summer. The 24-year-old was criticised last season for some below-par performances and was given little playing time but now has the chance to fill the boots of Alonso and Khedira.

Elsewhere, AS has carried out a poll as to whether Los Blancos should fine Cristiano Ronaldo for his outburst this week on summer transfers. The Portugal forward said to Marca thata he would have done business differently and Alonso and di Maria should not have been sold. Three quarters of those polled (74%) said he should not be fined.

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Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa is targeting a win against Atletico de Madrid to help overcome the disastrous display at Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Los Blancos let a two goal lead slip as the fell to a 4-2 defeat at Anoeta on Sunday, and have criticised in the press in recent days for their inability to deal with set plays and crosses.

Speaking at an adidas event in Madrid on Monday afternoon, Arbeloa said the best way to put such a painful defeat behind them is to get a win over their city rivals. Los Blancos and Los Colchoneros lock horns again in mid-September, after the international break.

Diego Simeone’s team already have the upper hand on Real this season having defeated them in the Spanish Supercopa. The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu before the La Liga champions won 1-0 at the Calderon.

Arbeloa said: “The defeat in San Sebastian was particularly hard because of the way it happened.But we are now thinking about working hard. We have a very important match against Atletico after the break with our people and our fans.

“We’re aware that this is a warning and it will motivate us and help us see that we need a change.”

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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has said the defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday was a disaster for his side, but insisted the hosts should be congratulated.

Los Blancos took a 2-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes at Anoeta but their failure to deal with set pieces and crosses saw them unravel and concede four times without reply to leave them shell shocked by the end.

While much criticism has been directed at the 10-time European Cup winners for their display, Ramos was keen to highlight was a good job La Real did in making such a memorable comeback.

He insisted though that Los Blancos would work hard on improving their defending and concentration.

“La Liga is very long and we’ve only just started. We have to aim for what we did in the first 15 minutes, the rest cannot happen again. It is not a lack of attitude, we just didn’t finish it off. You have to look for the silver lining. We were hoping to put the match to bed. Real Sociedad managed to pick themselves up and handle the tempo. They should be congratulated,” he told reporters after the game.

“We controlled the match for the first thirty minutes and we had chances to put it to bed but we didn’t manage it. We gave them chances to come back and eventually it got away from us,” he added.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has said no Los Blancos player came out of the game against Real Sociedad with any credit after they put in a ‘horrible performance’.

The Champions League winners lost 4-2 at Anoeta on Sunday night, having taken a 2-0 lead early on. But it was an inability to deal with crosses and set pieces that was their undoing, and Casillas said it was an embarrassment in the end.

Talking to the club’s official website, the captain stated: “The team was negative everywhere, it was horrible, we didn’t play well. We cannot let slip a 0-2 lead like that. We have to take the defeat on the chin and learn from today’s mistakes.”

He also went on to say the whole team needs to defend better at set pieces and that it is not just the blame of him and his defence, but all 11 players on the field.

“We have to up the pressure and be more alert on them. That is the reality. We are all guilty, not just those in defence, because we all defend a corner. We have to fix it because what happened is not normal,” the 33-year-old commented.

While accepting criticism of his team’s performance, Casillas was also keen to praise the hosts and said they deserved their remarkable win.

“We are playing for a very important club and that is not the sort of example we want to give to the rest of the world. I want to congratulate Real Sociedad because they had a sensational game. Coming back from 0-2 in fifteen minutes is unusual, even more so at home,” he stated.

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The transfer window has closed after a summer of spending, with Javier Hernandez becoming the fourth major signing for Real Madrid, joining on a one-year loan from Manchester United.

And the main story in the Madrid papers this morning – with Marca and AS both going for the issue on their front pages – is Cristiano Ronaldo speaking out about Los Blancos’ transfer activity. The Portuguese forward, taking a three week break altogether to recover from various injury niggles, said if he were in charge of the club he would have done things differently, particularly over the decision to sell Xabi Alonso and di Maria.

Following the 29-year-old’s comments, AS carried out a poll among its readers asking them whether they thought the squad was stronger now compared to last season. And 79% of those who answered said the squad is weaker – the 4-2 loss at Real Sociedad at the weekend not helping perceptions of the team right now.

Elsewhere, former Real Madrid forward Hugo Sanchez has spoken about the signing of Chicarito. He says the former Red Devils player is the type of footballer Los Blancos needed – someone who has a real eye for goal and is a natural finisher. The 26-year-old becomes the fourth Mexican player to play for Real Madrid.

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Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has said that the club want to win the Champions League again, after winning La Decima last year.

Real would become the first club to win Europe’s premier competition in consecutive years since it was changed to its current format.

Los Blancos found out their group stage opponents yesterday, and will face Bulgarian side Ludogrets, FC Basel from Switzerland, as well as five time winners Liverpool.

But Ronaldo, who scored in the final against Atletico Madrid, wants to win it again, as part of a treble trophy haul.

The 29-year-old said “We know it’s a hard competition to win but we will try because Real Madrid are always thinking big – huge.

“Our target is to win it again – the Champions League, the Cup the League – everything.

The Portuguese forward spoke in depth about their game against Liverpool, with Ronaldo playing in many derbies against Liverpool for Manchester United.

“It’s going to be tough. Liverpool are a fantastic team. They came very close last year to winning the Premier League”, said Ronaldo.

“We know it’s going to be a very tough game at their home. But in general the group is nice and it’s going to be good for Real Madrid.”

 

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