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Atletico de Madrid will provide a stern test in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup despite losing some big players this summer, says Carlo Ancelotti.

The Real Madrid boss told journalists at a press conference ahead of the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu that their city rivals had bought wisely following the departures of Diego Costa, Felipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois. Of the new arrivals at the Calderon, the stand out names are Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic.

And Ancelotti said Atletico would be as competitive this season as they were last campaign.

“There are no favourites in this tie. It is a two-leg tie, 180 minutes, and we have to prepare well. The first match will not be decisive but we will try and take the lead and put in a good performance,” Ancelotti commented.

And he continued: “Atlético have changed a little because they have signed some big players. Their style has not changed and it will be a difficult match, as it was last season.”

The Italian also spoke about his own new signings and whether they would have an impact on his tactical system.

“In the midfield the attacking player has to be more dynamic, while the player who is closer to the centre-backs has to be tactically quick and move the ball quickly and decisively. I’m not thinking about changing the system. I’ll use the same system as last year. In a match I may change something, but just at particular points of the games,” the manager told reporters.

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Cristiano Ronaldo ice bucket

Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the Ice Bucket Challenge, after stripping down to his boxers after a Real Madrid training sesion to be covered with cold water.

Former Manchester United team-mate Darren Fletcher had called on Ronaldo to take part. The Portuguese accepted the challenge, and posted the proof on social networks.

Ronaldo was soaked by Los Blancos team-mate Fabio Coentrao while sitting on a chair wearing just a pair of boxer shorts. The Portuguese star then challenged musicians Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Lil Wayne.

Ronaldo had soaked Real Madrid’s left-back Marcelo, who also joined James McCarthy Foundation’s challenge, which aims to raise awareness regarding Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates came up with this idea, after his promising career ended due to ALS. He challenged a few friends, including some Boston Red Sox Players, and the game soon became viral.

Celebrities from all around the world have soaked themselves in ice cold water, including Marck Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Justin Timberlake.

In the last few days, the challenge has spread to football. Ronaldo and Marcelo have been the latest, but the Brazilian has already nominated Barcelona’s Neymar.

Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s challenge in this video:

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Atletico de Madrid manager Diego Simeone has conceded city rivals Real Madrid have improved on last term and a more frightening prospect this season.

Los Blancos defeated Atletico 4-1 to win the Champions League in May and also picked up the Copa del Rey trophy. But they finished third in La Liga, behind Barcelona and Los Colchoneros, who won their first league title in 18 years.

Since the end of the campaign, Carlo Ancelotti has bolstered his squad with the arrival of World Cup winner Toni Kroos and the tournament’s top scorer James Rodriguez. He has also added Keylor Navas to the playing squad, with the Costa Rican shot stopper replacing the departed Diego Lopez, who left for AC Milan.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Spanish Supercopa first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, Simeone stated: “Madrid have improved. Kroos gives them greater potential in the middle of the field, more balance. It is a lot better than last year’s team.”

Meanwhile, Atletico’s captain, Gabi, has said there are no thoughts of revenge on the players’ minds as they take on Real. He told journalists the Champions League defeat is behind them and they are focusing on lifting the Supercopa.

“There is no feeling of revenge for the Champions League final. It is an opportunity to win a title. Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world. The Supercopa will be won by who is better physically and mentally,” he stated.

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Los Blancos take on city rivals in the first leg of the Spanish Supercopa tonight, a match nicknamed by the Spanish press as the superderbi.

Summer signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos should make their home debuts on front of a packed house at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Keylor Navas will have to settle for a place on the bench after boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Iker Casillas will start.

And the fact Casillas is the number one will give Los Blancos plenty of confidence. AS has an in depth look at the keeper’s record against Atletico, and in 27 matches in which has has started against them he’s never been on the losing side. In addition, Los Rojiblancos’ new forward line of Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic have never scored against Casillas between them.

At the other end of the field, Cristiano Ronaldo has netted 13 times in 14 derby clashes – the last of those being in the final of the Champions League in May.

Elsewhere, Marca has more on the future of Sami Khedira. The German midfielder has been told he can look for a new team and according to the paper his agent is in London to sound out interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. Los Blancos have dropped their asking price to 15 million euros, the paper claims.

 

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Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has said if he were in Carlo Ancelotti’s position, there would be no debate over who should start in goal – it would be Iker Casillas.

The 41-year-old former Poland shot stopper, who retired in 2011, said in an interview with AS that despite a dip in form, Casillas is still a world class keeper and should be starting every game for Los Blancos.

The 10-time European Cup champions sold Diego Lopez to AC Milan earlier this month but signed Costa Rica international Keylor Navas to challenge Casillas for the number one spot at the club. Casillas was controversially dropped by former boss Jose Mourinho and failed to win his place back in Ancelotti’s first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, having to make do playing in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.

But Dudek said the Spain captain should be the Real number one now that Lopez has gone.

“Iker is fine, very happy. The World Cup wasn’t the best for him or Spain, but that’s now in the past. If you look at the game he just played against Sevilla, you can see he’s back to his best and he saved Madrid on a couple of occasions with some fine stops,” Dudek said.

And his continued: “It’s not an easy decision to make, but if I was the coach I’d start with Iker. All he needed was a break and to get some rest, but he’s back to his best again now.”

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Angel di Maria

Manchester United are prepared to spent a total of 125 million euros on Angel di Maria, according to reports.

Based on figures reported in the Daily Mail, Spanish newspaper AS says the Red Devils are set to offer 62 million euros to Real Madrid for the transfer of the Argentinean winger, who played a key role in his nation’s run to the World Cup final in the summer.

The Old Trafford club are then set to offer the 26-year-old a five-year deal worth 250,000 euros a week – putting him in the same pay bracket as Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney at the club.

United have  been linked with the attacking player throughout the summer, and their opening day Premier League defeat at home to Swansea highlighted the need for new boss Louis van Gaal to add reinforcements in the last two weeks of the transfer window. United, who finished seventh last season, have so far added Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera to their squad.

Di Maria had been attracting the interest of French champions PSG, but the Paris-based club pulled out of a deal after Real refused to allow him to go on loan for a year before being sold.

The winger, who is believed to be keen to stay in Madrid, proved his worth to the team on Saturday evening with a fine solo display against Fiorentina.

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Real Madrid put an end to their historical bad luck in the European Super Cup that affects the Champions League winners in this tournament. Since 2002, the UEFA Europa League champions had always lifted the trophy in even years.

Valencia was the first to win it in 2004, beating Porto in Monaco, who had conquered the biggest European title a few months earlier.

Real Madrid’s rival in Cardiff, Sevilla, suffered the good and bad of this competition. They won the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, but only managed to succeed in one of the two Super Cup finals they played. It was in 2006, when they thrashed Barcelona 3-0, while in 2007 they lost to Milan 3-1.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the man of the match of this year’s Super Cup, also suffered this peculiar bad luck in 2008. He won the Champions League with Manchester United, but the Red Devils were unable to conquer the Super Cup, as they were defeated by Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Atletico Madrid, winners of the Europa League in 2010 and 2012, benefited from this situation by winning the trophy in an even year. However, Real Madrid ended this unusual run against Sevilla, closing the circle they had started: Los Blancos had been the last Champions League winner to lift the Super Cup in an even year, back in 2002 against Feyenoord.

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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid have finished their business in the transfer market for the summer, according to manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Los Blancos have signed three players since the end of last season, bolstering their squad with James Rodriguez, the top scorer at the World Cup, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas. The three players arrive at an already strong squad that won the 10th European Cup for the club in May as well as the Copa del Rey.

But despite the signings, many pundits have said Real are short of a striker, with Alvaro Morata’s departure to Juventus leaving a place to be filled. Real have been linked with a number of forwards over the summer, and speculation still persists surrounding Radamel Falcao, the former Atletico de Madrid man now at Monaco.

But Ancelotti told a press conference he is happy with the players he has available to him and doesn’t expect any more arrivals.

“It’s done. We’re not looking to make any more signings,” he stated.

As well as Morata, Diego Lopez and Jesus Fernandez left the club. And there is some doubt over the futures of Angel di Maria and Sami Khedira. Ancelotti was coy when asked about them.

“Nothing has changed. They’re Real Madrid players. I chose other players for the Supercopa de Europa,” the Italian said.

 

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The focus in the Madrid press is switching to Tuesday night’s clash between city rivals Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa.

The first leg takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu, and AS says Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti is facing a selection crisis – whether to pick James Rodriguez or Angel di Maria.

James, an 80-million-euro summer signing from Monaco, is still finding his best position in the team and getting to know his new team mates. Di Maria, meanwhile, looks closer to the exit door as the days go by but reminded everyone of what he can offer in the game against Fiorentina on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Ancelotti has another problem to address – scoring goals. Although it’s only been pre-season, AS highlights the fact that Los Blancos have only scored five goals in the last five games, and all of them by two players – Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Other attacking players such as forward Karim Benzema came back into the fold later on following the World Cup so may not be back up to speed. But the lack of goals emphasises the need for the club to sign another forward.

Finally, former goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has said in an interview that there should be no debate over who the number one keeper should be at the club. The Polish shot stopper said Iker Casillas is the stand out goalkeeper of his generation and should keep his place.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has said he was disappointed to lose on his debut for the club and admits the players must work harder if they are to be successful this season.

Los Blancos slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Fiorentina in their last pre-season game in Warsaw last night. Although Navas couldn’t prevent either of the goals, he said he was unhappy to be on the losing side.

Speaking to reporters after the game the 10-million-euro summer signing from Levante said: “It was a shame that we couldn’t win tonight. We have got to keep working and improving every day. But I felt comfortable out there and the overall sensations were very positive. Getting that first contact with my team-mates was important.”

The keeper, who had an outstanding World Cup as little fancied Costa Rica made it to the quarter finals, went on to say the players are focused on the Spanish Supercopa against Atletico and want to win their second trophy of the campaign. Los Blancos host Diego Simeone’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night before making the short trip to the Vicente Calderon a week later.

Navas stated: “We want to win; we have a winner’s mentality. The team is motivated and we know that an important trophy is to be won. We will give everything we have got to win it.”

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