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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Premier League side Tottenham are set to make an ambitious move for Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti according to press in England.

According to The Daily Mail, current Spurs manager Tim Sherwood is set to be replaced in the summer when his temporary contract runs out, after several falling-outs with his squad and chairman Daniel Levy.

And Levy is expected to plot a move for a more experienced coach, after seeing the money spent by Real on Gareth Bale go on players that haven’t displayed anywhere near the sort of performances the Welshman was putting in at White Hart Lane.

The style of play and lack of real entertaining football was one of the main reason previous manager Andre Villas-Boas was sacked, but it has not improved under Sherwood.

It is now believed Levy will turn to Ancelotti, who won the Premier League with Chelsea scoring a record number of goals, as the Italian may be discarded at the end of the season.

Real have slipped to third in the title race behind Atletico and Barcelona, the latter having won at the Bernabeu two weeks ago Sunday, and Ancelotti, alongisde Louis Van Gaal has been sounded out for Tottenham’s next boss.

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Attention switches back to La Liga and the three way title race will resume this weekend. Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona are both at home o Saturday and should pick up wins, so Los Blancos likely need to get a result away at Real Sociedad.

But the main talking point in the Madrid press this morning is the trouble engulfing Barcelona. The Catalan club has been banned from making any signing for the next 14 months for repeatedly breaching regulations in signing youth players.

Yesterday, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu made a statement on the situation, denying any wrongdoing, and adding the investigation came about from “an anonymous complaint” from someone trying to “tarnish” the club – a less than subtle hint that someone with links to Real Madrid was behind it all.

Marca and AS have plenty of coverage and carry quotes from Pedro López Jiménez, vice president of Los Blancos and member of FIFA’s EU Social Dialogue Committee. He said: “Real Madrid, nor myself, as a member of FIFA, have anything to do with the sanction handed down to Barcelona.”

Elsewhere, concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo’s tendinitis injury have been allayed for now with news that he will be in the traveling party for the match in San Sebastian. The 29-year-old has been playing through the pain barrier, but should he miss a game it would be a huge loss considering he has scored in his last 10 consecutive matches.

 

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Criticism aimed at Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez has been harsh and unfair, according to ex-Los Blancos custodian Paco Buyo.

Lopez, who signed for the European giants from Sevilla in January last year, has come in for criticism from fans and some media pundits for some below par performances this year. He conceded six goals in just two games recently as Los Blancos lost 4-3 to Barcelona and 2-1 to Sevilla to dent their title hopes.

And he was also said by many to be at fault for goals conceded in big games, and in particular in the La Liga fixtures at the Nou Camp and Vicente Calderon.

But Buyo jumped to Lopez’s defence, saying the pressure he is put under is immense and he hasn’t made any serious errors.

Speaking to AS, he stated: “Since the start of the League, Diego Lopez has been under great pressure. Not just to wear the shirt of Real Madrid but the media obviously, and sometimes rightly, reviews him.

“But I’d say he’s made no major mistakes. He hasn’t committed any great faults or errors that have been decisive in a defeat. Some of the criticism has been unfair, although no one can question the merits of Iker and everything he has done.”

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Radamel Falcao refused to comment on speculation linking the striker with a summer move to Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old joined Ligue 1 side Monaco from Atletico de Madrid for a fee of €60 million last year, but a knee injury sustained in January has so far stalled his steady start to life in France.

Falcao scored nine goals in his 19 league appearances this season but has spent the last few months recovering back in Spain, where he claims fans in Madrid have wished him a quick return.

“Football fans I’ve spoken to in Madrid have been wishing me a swift recovery and say they hope I go to the World Cup,” he told Marca.

“Some people ask if I will join Real Madrid, but these are just opinions. Anyway, I tell them my only concern right now is to recover soon.

“I am realistic, I am aware of my injury and I just want to recover to play with my new club, Monaco. And if we qualify for Champions League in France, I want to be ready for next season.”

When the Colombian was asked if he’d be playing in the European tournament at the Santiago Bernabeu, he smiled and claimed: “Now I do not think about anything other than my knee getting better.”

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players the tie with Borussia Dortmund isn’t over yet, and they’ll need to be at their best in Germany next week to qualify for the semi-final.

Goals from Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo gave Los Blancos a convincing 3-0 first-leg lead, but the Italian manager told the press after the match that Dortmund are still very much in the two-legged affair. He added though that he was delighted by the display at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I’m happy with the result, the match and the team’s attitude. It wasn’t an easy match, we started it well, in the second half we reduced the tempo a little. Dortmund had a good attitude, above all on the counter. It is a very dangerous team. The second leg won’t be easy,” he said.

Speaking about next week’s return match, Ancelotti stated: “We have to be alert and play like we did in this match. If we play like today we’ll reach the semi-finals. Touch all the wood in the world, I don’t like talking about the semis yet. They are setting a trap for the second leg and we have to be prudent and avoid it.”

The boss also played down concerns over Ronaldo’s fitness issues. The Portugal star scored his 14th goal of the Champions League campaign, equaling Leo Messi’s record, but was removed with 10 minutes to go due to the tendinitis he is suffering in his knee.

Ancelotti told journalists there is nothing to be concerned about. “It’s a slight knee problem and I’m not worried about it. If the niggle, which at the moment is not a worry, continues we can rest him, but the player is relaxed. I took him off 10 minutes before the end and there is no reason to worry,” he commented.

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Real Madrid legend Luis Figo has said Gareth Bale has already proved himself to be a success in La Liga.

The Welshman arrived to much fanfare last summer when Los Blancos splashed out 91 million euros for him. But the former Tottenham Hotspur man had a difficult start to life in Spain, suffering from foot and thigh injuries.

Since finding full fitness however, Bale has gone on to have a good debut season in the Spanish capital, scoring 12 times and providing 12 more assists in the league in just 23 appearances. He has formed part of the BBC trio (Benzema, Bale and Cristiano) that has torn defences apart at times this year.

Speaking to Madrid daily Marca, 41-year-old Figo said Bale was a big success already and has shown great quality.

“Now he needs space because one of his virtues is speed,” he stated. “He did not start the season strongly because he was not physically prepared, but he has great quality.”

“He needed to make a rapid transition from English football (to Spanish football) and Madrid play a more organised attack, so he had to adapt to that. He has already proven so (that he can adapt).”

In his time at the club, Figo, who signed from rivals Barcelona, won La Liga twice and the Champions League once.

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Real Madrid have one foot in the semi-final of the Champions League after a 3-0 at home over Borussia Dortmund.

Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo got the goals that, barring a disaster in Germany, will mean a fourth semi-final appearance in four years for Los Blancos.

Much of the focus in the Madrid press today is on Ronaldo. Both Marca and AS run plenty of stories on him – and his injury is of utmost concern. According to the papers, he will miss the match with Real Sociedad this weekend due to the problems the tendinitis in his knee is giving him. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the game that should the 29-year-old need a rest at the weekend he will get one.

In more positive news though, the Portugal captain equaled two records last night. Firstly, his strike was his 49th goal in the Champions League for Real Madrid, equaling the great Alfredo de Stefano for goals scored in Europe’s top club competition. It was also his 14th of the current campaign, equaling the record held by Leo Messi.

It was also a good night for Isco, who scored in his return to the starting line-up. In recent weeks he has been getting more playing time, and after the game he said he was pleased with how things had gone. “I want to show that I can fit into any system,” he said.

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Real Madrid took a huge step towards reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League by strolling a comfortable 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Los Blancos got their revenge from last year’s defeat against the Germans in a perfect game for the hosts, who could have pocketed five or six goals hadn’t Roman Weidenfeller put in a spectacular performance.

Carlo Ancelotti men were in control from the first whistle. With Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric dominating the midfield game, Los Blancos took the possession away from Borussia.

Furthermore, they were lucky to score in their first shot on target. Karim Benzema held the ball up down the right hand side, leaving free way for Daniel Carvajal to reach the box. The right-back found Gareth Bale, who poked an effort to the bottom corner.

Los Merengues played one of their best games of the season, showing a hypnotic passing style and constantly threatening Weidenfeller.

The German goalkeeper made a couple of brilliant saves to avoid a humiliating goal fest in the first half. Yet, he wasn’t able to deny Isco’s perfect strike from outside the box and to the bottom corner, after a good recovery from Alonso.

Dortmund had their moments towards the end of the half, but they didn’t really threaten Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal.

Los Blancos were determined to seal their ticket for the semi-finals in the first leg, and they started the second half very motivated. Bale was close to making his second goal, but Weidenfeller rushed off his line on time to close the angle.

Madrid had their third before the hour mark as Modric found Ronaldo, and the Portuguese tricked the goalkeeper to send the ball into the back of the net.

Weidenfeller was superb again to deny an effort from Benzema, who had met a loose ball inside the box.

With the victory secured, Ancelotti gave Alvaro Morata a few minutes of play, letting Benzema get some rest for La Liga’s crucial game against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Yet, there were bad news for Los Blancos before the final whistle, as Ronaldo had to be replaced by Casemiro in the 80th minute due to injury.

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Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund match preview

Real Madrid entertain Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight with just one thing on their minds – revenge.

Los Blancos were beaten at the semi-final stage of the Champions League by the German side last year. Despite winning 2-0 in the second leg in Madrid, the damage was done in in Germany, with Dortmund humiliating Jose Mourinho’s side 4-1, with striker Robert Lewandowski grabbing a sensational hat-trick.

Much has changed since then, not least with Madrid changing managers and now being led by Champions League expert Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the competition twice as manager to add to the two European Cups he lifted as a player.

Madrid come into the game on the back of the 5-0 rout of Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening. They did, however, lose their previous two matches- against Barcelona and Sevilla. But in the Champions League against German opposition, Los Blancos have a good record, winning 19 of their 25 games played and losing just twice.

Ancleotti will be unable to pick a number of players through injury, including Marcelo, Jese Rodriguez, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sami Khedira. Iker Casillas will resume his place in goal as is usual for cup matches, while Luka Modric will likely be restored to the starting line up. Angel di Maria is also out with gastroenteritis and will be replaced by Asier Illarramendi.

For the visitors, star striker Robert Lewandowski is suspended. Jakub Błaszczykowski, Marcel Schmelzer, Neven Subotic and Sven Bender are all unavailable, but Marco Reus will feature.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Modric, Alonso, Illarramendi; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszcek, Sokratis, Hummels, Durm; Kehl, Sahin; Aubameyang, Mhkitaryan, Grosskreutz; Reus.

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Borussia Dortmund will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Germans are one of the strongest and most solvent teams in Europe. Yet, this wasn’t always like that. In fact, Borussia was about to disappear in 2005, when they were close to enter into bankruptcy.

The alarm bells starting ringing in Dortmund in that dark year, when the share value- the club had been listed since 2001 –  fell by 80 %. The club started drowning in a sea of ​​debt . Although Dortmund acknowledged the debt was around 170 million euros, the German press speculated then that the real debt was much higher.

The first result of this crash was that the German club was unable to pay investment society Molsiris, with which it had agreed years before to sell the Wesftalen Stadion in exchange for paying an annual rent until 2017, when they would then buy it back.

In addition to the crisis that engulfed the club because of questionable business decisions like the one highlighted, the problems were further enhanced by an exorbitant wage bill of around 78 million euros a year. Dortmund were also guilty of vast overspending in the transfer market. Some examples of this are the 25 million euros paid for Marcio Amoroso , 13 million euros for Jan Koller , 15 million euros for Tomas Rosicky and  8.5 million euros for Thorsten Frings .

The club eventually emerged from this almost hopeless situation thanks to the good management of the auditors who arrived to sort out the clubs problems. Morgan Stanley bank lent € 79 million, payable in 15 years, with which the club bought 42% of the stadium. With the revenue generated by the football side of the business (the stadium is one of the largest in the Bundesliga and in Europe),  the club  managed to pay salaries and renegotiate payments with creditors, who came to accept an offer of between 30% and 50% in their dues.

The Morgan Stanley loan started to be paid back thanks to a lucrative 12-year marketing agreement with SportFive. An increase in capital also proved to be significant for Dortmund – earning  40 million euros by issuing new securities. In Germany, by law, club members must collectively own over 51 % of the entity.

On top of this capital, Dortmund also struck a deal with Signal Iduna for the stadium naming rights for around five million euros a year.. Evonik brings 10 million annually for the sponsorship of the shirt, and kit supplier Puma adds a further seven million . A clear example of how the club was cleaned up when Jürgen Klopp arrived at Dortmund in 2008 was the budget for player salaries being capped at 30 million euros, far removed from the old 78 million mark.

In the end, strong leadership has put the club back on the map and under Klopp, Dortmund have gone on to win titles and become one of the best sides in Europe. A great example.

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