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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is confident his team can retain the Champions League trophy they won in May.

Los Blancos won their 10th European Cup by defeating city rivals Atletico de Madrid in Lisbon. And the additions of James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas to the squad mean Ancelotti’s side will be considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy again this season.

No team has ever defended the Champions League since it was revamped in the early 1990s. Ancelotti was part of the AC Milan side that won back-to-back European Cups in 1988 and 1989 and is aiming to become the first manager to do it.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Italian boss said: “We know it will be very difficult. Our starting point resides in the fact that the team is more confident in itself. It is more confident now thanks to recent success. I think that gives us something extra for this season’s Champions League.”

Before the Champions League gets underway, Los Blancos take on Sevilla in the European Super Cup. And Ancelotti said despite the fact they won the Europa League last season, they are now an unknown quantity due to the number of changes in their side.

He stated: “They won the Europa League with a group of players who worked well as a team and they deserved to win the title.”

And he continued: “Sevilla has changed a bit this year. In some ways it is an unknown side at the moment because they have lost some important players and others have arrived. We’ll see what happens.”

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Spain’s most sold newspaper, Marca, claims today that Diego Lopez has signed for AC Milan, although it hasn’t been officially announced.

“Diego Lopez to Milan,” they title. “He will sign for four seasons and Real Madrid will let him leave for free,” they report.

Regarding the other main Real Madrid transfer rumour of the last few days, Marca publishes “Manchester United have revived their interest ni Di Maria after PSG’s renounce.”

Marca also publishes a special report on Iker Casillas, who will have a great chance of proving his value in the UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla.

“Iker takes a gamble,” is Marca’s main headline. The Madrid-based sports daily states “the final will be the first hand to hand between Casillas and Keylor Navas.”

Marca emphasizes the fact that “all the pressure is on Real’s captain” since “Ancelotti will switch goalkeeper if he’s not convinced.”

Meanwhile, the other main Spanish sports newspaper, As, reports that Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the desired state of shape to play the final. “Cristiano, all out for Cardiff,” they title.

“He will a starter in the Super Cup, having recovered from his injury,” they point out. “James and Kroos will also make it in the starting eleven,” As reveals.

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Former Real Madrid manager John Benjamin Toshack believes the people in Cardiff will get behind Real Madrid as they will face Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in the UEFA Super Cup.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Toshack stated Cardiff fans will support Los Blancos “more because of Gareth than on my account. They love Bale more than they do me; I spent four years there, but some people still haven’t forgiven me because after leaving Liverpool I took over as manager at Swansea, their arch-rivals.”

Toshack admitted he will be in Cardiff for the first European final of the season: “I’ve been invited to the official dinner on Monday night. It’s my city, my country…. I made my Cardiff City debut in Division Two as a 16-year-old. That was 49 years ago!”

Asked about the possible outcome of the game, the former Wales manager claimed that “saying Real Madrid are favourites is stating the obvious, but it won’t be a walk in the park.”

“I saw Sevilla a lot last year and I know their coach, Unai Emery, well; I handed him his debut as a player at Real Sociedad in the 1991-92 season. He was a midfielder. He had rotten luck with injuries, but he had a great understanding of the game and he’s showing that now as a coach. I think he’s doing a fantastic job,” Toshack confessed.

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Former Real Madrid and Sevilla player Julio Baptista has claimed Los Merengues are favourites to win the UEFA Super Cup next Tuesday against Sevilla.

In an interview with La Liga’s website, Baptista said “Madrid have a strong squad and they’re favourites, although Sevilla managed to have a spectacular year.”

Asked about what team he will support, Baptista replied he just hopes “to see good football.”

“Sevilla has never gone easy against Madrid, one of the worst teams for them to face as Sevilla are an uncomfortable opponent. They always fight,” he analysed.

The Brazilian believes “Sevilla have to play perfectly, with no errors” in order to beat Los Blancos. “They must make an awesome game to win and that’s how it always was, even when I was there,” he added.

Baptista also predicted Real Madrid will succeed next season after having reinforced their squad: “I think now they have the most balanced team. It’s amazing, with two players per position and all good. Madrid can continue winning many trophies because it has an awesome squad,” he concluded.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has apologised to team-mate Iker Casillas after retweeting “by mistake” an article criticising the goalkeeper.

Arbeloa retweeted a link to a Real Madrid guide that called Casillas “a tumour on Real Madrid”.

The former Liverpool right-back wrote a note on Twitter to explain the misunderstanding:

After everything that’s been said about my Retweet of the @madsubver guide, I’d like to clear up the following:

I made the mistake of retweeting the guide without having read all 98 pages word for word.

Never in my life have I spoken badly about a teammate, and in this instance, I had no intention to do so through an intermediary.

I apologize to my teammate and captain Iker Casillas, and all fans of Real Madrid who may have been offended.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and I hope we can bring you much joy this year.

Hala Madrid!

Spanish press had pointed at a social media war between the two Los Blancos players, who don’t get along very well. Casillas had previously liked an Instagram post in which a fan had criticised Diego Lopez and had also referred to Arbeloa’s lack of pace when the Spaniard was called a “cone.”

Arbeloa had confessed last season that he and the keeper had different views on former Los Merengues coach Jose Mourinho, which had led to their relationship having become strained.

This time, however, it seems that everything was a pure misunderstanding.

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Madrid sports daily As publishes today a special report on James Rodriguez, who received the Golden Boot award yesterday.

“A Golden Madrid,” they title. “James was awarded the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer,” they point out. “I’m here to win trophies,” the Colombian said in an interview.

The Madrid-based newspaper also claims that “Diego Lopez could close his move to AC Milan today.” There will be a “final meeting in Italy” today, they explain.

Meanwhile, the other main Spanish sports paper, Marca, puts its focus on Carlo Ancelotti giving Toni Kroos the lead for the crucial UEFA Super Cup final. “Kroos, you rule,” they title.

“Ancelotti considers giving Kroos the lead in the Super Cup; the German has arrived in great shape and feels integrated,” they report.

Marca highlight the fact that “UEFA has not forgiven Xabi Alonso” and the Spaniard will finally miss the game through suspension.

Spain’s most sold newspaper also informs about a misunderstanding between Iker Casillas and Alvaro Arbeloa on Twitter.

“Arbeloa asks for Casilla’s pardon,” they title. The defender “retweeted by mistake an article that criticised Casillas.”

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Real Madrid and Sevilla will meet in Cardiff in the first European final of the season, aiming to lift the UEFA Super Cup. This trophy brings memories to Carlo Ancelotti, who has already won this title after beating the Andalusians.

It was in 2007, when he was managing AC Milan. However, Los Blancos manager surely remembers that day for what happened before the game, rather than for the match itself. Only three days before the final, Sevilla’s midfielder Antonio Puerta died of a heart attack during a La Liga game against Getafe.

Puerta’s death left Sevilla in dismay, and the players were unable to properly prepare the final against Milan. Tactless as they are, UEFA refused to postpone the match, so Sevilla players had to put their boots on after burying their team-mate.

On the other hand, Milan and Carlo Ancelotti told Sevilla they were at their complete disposal, and they would facilitate a postponement if the Spanish team requested it.

The match ended up being played at the date and time fixed by UEFA, on August 31st 2007, at 20.45. However, the atmosphere surrounding it was very atypical, without the usual joy of this kind of games. Both Milan and Sevilla wore Puerta’s name on their shirts as they entered the field, and kept a one-minute silence.

Sevilla took the lead shortly after the kickoff, thanks to a goal by Renato, who pointed to the sky dedicating the goal to Puerta. The Brazilian could have clinched the victory before half-time, but Alessandro Nesta saved his shot over the goal line.

The psychological blow of Puerta’s death affected Sevilla in the second half, and Milan took advantage of their rival’s lack of concentration. Inzaghi and Jankulovski completed the comeback, and Kaka sealed the victory scoring the final 3-1 in the last minutes.

Milan lifted the trophy, but it could be the first time in football history that the triumph was dedicated to a player from the opposite team: Antonio Puerta.

Carlo Ancelotti admitted in the press conference that the player’s death had also affected them: “What has happened in the last few days has created a unique atmosphere for this match. Obviously, Sevilla were more affected, but they played well, especially in the first half. We were able to overcome and do better in the second half. The team is solid and we were able to keep calm when we were losing the game.”

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Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has shown his excitement over playing the UEFA Super Cup in his hometown Cardiff, in Wales.

The Welshman is expected to feature in the starting eleven to face Sevilla next Tuesday August 12th, in a battle for the first title of the season.

“The dream has come true and it will be a great opportunity for me to go back and play with Real Madrid. Cardiff is a very special place for me because I was born there. Playing there feels very special, but the most important is trying to win the game and the title,” Bale confessed in an interview.

“The key for us will be playing the way we know. If we give our best, we are capable of beating any team in the World. If we do that, we can win and lift the Super Cup,” the Welsh international added.

Asked about the possibility of scoring a goal in the game, Bale said “it doesn’t matter who scores the winning goals; it’s the team what matters, and we’ll all be happy if we get another trophy.”

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Madrid sports newspapers put their focus on Radamel Falcao transfer rumours. Marca publishes an estatement from Monaco’s vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, who said “We’ve talked to Real Madrid many times this summer, but they have never asked about Falcao.”

However, the other main Spanish sports daily, As, keeps on making up stories about a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. “Liverpool is late for Falcao,” they title. “Monaco told the Reds he’ll go to Madrid,” they argue.

As main focus is on Angel di Maria’s failed transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. “Brakes on Di Maria,” they title, emphasizing Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s words on the matter: “We’ve stopped negotiations because he’s too expensive,” PSG’s president confessed.

Marca also publishes a special report on Real Madrid’s long range shooters. “A Madrid of gunners,” they title. “Kroos and James join Cristiano and Bale, making it four specialists in scoring from outside the area,” they report.

“Madrid was the team that scored the most goals from long range in La Liga last season,” Marca points out.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news on our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw.

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Real Madrid midfielder Angel di Maria could be close to completing a move to Manchester United, after negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain have not come to a good end.

Reports in France have revealed that the French club cannot afford to buy the Argentinian, since they have been hampered by UEFA sanctions over a breach of Financial Fair Play.

Moreover, PSG’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admitted during David Luiz unveiling that “Di Maria’s transfer is too expensive.”

Thus, Manchester United have received a boost in their pursuit for Di Maria. The Red Devils have been the 26-year-old all summer and now it could be time to start negotiations with Real.

The Daily Express has claimed the Premier League side have already been in talks with Di Maria’s agent Jorge Mendes, and they have offered him an eight-million-euros salary.

However, Di Maria could be now considering staying in Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Carlo Ancelotti wants him to stay, and he is prepared to show his faith in Di Maria by starting him in the UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla next Tuesday.

Louis van Gaal is a massive fan of the player and will also try to convince him.

With Los Merengues having already spent 120 million euros on Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez and Keylor Navas, Florentino Perez might chose to sell Di Maria, but United will have to bid high to meet his expectations.

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