Casillas: Madrid season nine out of ten

Madrid season nine out of ten

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas feels the club's season would be perfect only if they won at least one title.

Real are still alive in three competitions - the Copa del Rey, Champions League as well as La Liga.
April will define the team's season and the Spanish international feels a trophy is essential for 2010/11 to be a success.
"At the moment I would say Real Madrid's season is nine out of ten, to get to ten out of ten we will have to win a title."
Real will play Tottenham in the Champions League last-eight clash and Casillas is not taking things lightly against the debutants.
"I don't trust Tottenham. They knocked out Milan and so we have respect for them," he cautioned.
However, the keeper gave full marks to coach Jose Mourinho, saying: "As for Mourinho, he is worth a 'ten'. The results speak for themselves."
Casillas' sentiments were echoed by teammate Esteban Granero, who told the Spanish press: "We are convinced that Mourinho will stay and we all want that.
"We want our coach to stay and he's happy here. I'm sure he'll remain with the team for a long time as the coming years promise to be successful ones."
Speaking about the vital month of April, the midfielder said:"The calendar reads that we will play two Clasicos in less than a week [in the Copa del Rey final and La Liga] and it's our duty to do our best to win the games.
"They will be decisive matches in regards to the outcome of two important competitions. It could prove to be an important time to turn things around. It is nevertheless too soon to talk about that because we have some crucial matches before we meet Barcelona."
Real will host Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga before playing them again in the Copa final on April 20.

Ramos: I'd be happy to never leave Real

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos says he has no intention of leaving the club and insists he would be happy to stay at the Bernabeu for the rest of his career.

GettyImagesSergio Ramos has been at Real for almost six years, having joined from Sevilla in 2005

• Mourinho hopes to avoid former clubs
• Real 3-0 Lyon: Marcelo savours win

Ramos, 24, has already been at Real for five years and is the second-longest serving member of the current squad, behind evergreen captain Iker Casillas.

However, the full-back has been rumoured to be unhappy at the Bernabeu this season, with reports of fall-outs with team-mates appearing in the Spanish press with worrying regularity.

Chelsea have been tipped to offer Ramos a chance to leave the Real by launching a big-money move for him in the summer, but the Spanish international says he wants to stay in Madrid and would happily pen a new deal to keep him at the club for life.

"You can never say what's going to happen in football, although I am happy here," Ramos told FIFA.com. "I'm very grateful to Sevilla and Madrid for having moulded me as a player and a person.

"And what more can I ask for than to be with the best club in the world, in a fantastic city and with my family close by? I love it here and if they offer to renew my contract for life, I'd jump at the chance."

"I know I need to earn a few more stripes and I'm more than happy to accept that challenge. I've been here for seven years and I've absorbed the values of this great club by playing alongside legends like Zinedine Zidane and Raul.

"Now I'm sharing the captaincy with Iker Casillas and I have to set an example and help the newer players, who don't know the club so well."

Ramos has played 235 games for Real in all competitions, scoring 27 goals for Los Blancos. He also has 73 Spanish caps to his name and played in the side that won both Euro 2008 and last year's World Cup.

If Real Madrid don't win all their games in the next seven days, Jose Mourinho can pack his bags

Even the great one Jose Mourinho isn't immune from the ruthless daggers that are constantly hovering around the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.

There's much uncertainty about Mourinho's future at Real Madrid. Is he really happy in the Spanish capital under the watchful eyes of Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano? Will he be given the sack if he doesn't deliver trophies this season? Will he see out his four-year contract?

The 'Special One' has made it clear that he will stay on and respect his agreement with the club, provided his bosses do not give him the sack. But there are other factors to consider, such as his on-going relationship with the hierarchy.

The internal spat between Mourinho and club director-general Jorge Valdano has died down in recent months, but the volatile Portuguese tactician is someone who lives and dies by the motto "my way or the highway".

If all goes swimmingly in the boardroom, Mourinho is likely to stay until he guides the club to success, or until he dethrones Barcelona... whichever comes first. Therein, however, lies the problem.

Things rarely go swimmingly at the 'Casa Blanca' when they are not winning. The smallest fall-outs after a catastrophic result tend to turn into full blown crises for months on end. And the next seven days could go a long way towards determining Jose's fate at the club.

Hercules 12.03.11

Madrid successfully negotiated their way past Hercules in Alicante in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, thanks to come-from-behind goals from Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo after David Trezeguet had given the minnows an early lead in what looked likely at the time to be another major upset.

Knowing Madrid's flawless record at home and their devastating attacking unit, Hercules are likely to give Mourinho and Co. another daunting game of 'one goalkeeper and ten defenders'.

The mighty Herculanos shocked Barcelona at Camp Nou; there's every chance they can pull off a similar scalp at the Bernabeu if Mourinho decides to rest his key players. 

Esteban Vigo's side are in dire straits after losing seven of their last nine league games. If Madrid play their cards right - and play the right players - there could be another whopping win in sight. If Mou fails to motivate his players and keep their focus away from the visiting Lyon in midweek, the first of the domino chips could fall.

Lyon 16.03.11

90 minutes that will make or break Madrid's season... and possibly Mourinho's future at the club.

Another exit in the last 16 of the Champions League is unthinkable for Los Blancos, especially with knockout master Mourinho at the helm.

Mou doesn't have to lose his unbeaten home record for his side to be knocked out of the competition. A high-scoring draw will send Lyon through on away goals. 

The fear is that Madrid, who are often so lethal in attack at the Bernabeu, will throw all their men forward and grow complacent in defence.

The good news, though, is that Los Blancos have only once conceded more than a goal a game at home this season in 20 outings, with Villarreal the only team to leave the Bernabeu with two goals on the scoreboard.

Atletico Madrid 19.03.11

Wouldn't Atleti just love to record their first win over their bitter city rivals since 1999 and in the process, hasten Mourinho's exit?

Mourinho has already begun his complaints about this fixture, reasoning that his troops have to play on a Saturday, just four days after the game against Lyon, whilst Barcelona were afforded an extra day's rest as this weekend they only play on Sunday after dismantling Arsenal on Tuesday.

Mou admitted in his own words that if Madrid drop one more point in the Primera Division, they can wave goodbye to the league. And if he fails to take his galactic superstars to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, then he could wave goodbye to the Bernabeu.

The record and history books favour Mourinho to emerge from the next seven days unscathed. Imperious home form should see them slay relegation-threatened Hercules; a stingy defence and a 100% home record should see them tame Lyon; and an 11-year unbeaten streak against Atletico, which has never looked in danger of being extinguished, should see them sidestep Los Colchoneros.

All these numbers will put Mourinho's future in even bigger jeopardy should he stumble in the next seven pivotal days.

Real Madrid without injured Kaka for two weeks !

MADRID (Reuters) -- Real Madrid and Brazil playmaker Kaka, the 2007 World Player of the Year, will be out for about 15 days after injuring the left knee that was operated on following the 2010 World Cup.

Kaka, who made his first appearance of the season for the Spanish club in January, had a series of tests which revealed the extent of the knee problem, the team said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old former AC Milan player will miss Saturday's La Liga match at home to Hercules as well as next week's Champions League last-16 second leg against Olympique Lyon, also at Real's Bernabeu stadium.

Coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference on Saturday it was better for Kaka, who has struggled to regain his best form since his return, to get properly fit before playing again.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/08/kaka.real/index.html#ixzz1G2VLo5QT

European Golden Shoe Weekly Update: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo moves joint first after Malaga hat-trick

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo put in a man of the match performance in the 7-0 home win over Malaga on Thursday as the versatile forward netted a hat-trick to lift his season tally to 27 league goals.

Elsewhere, Udinese star Antonio Di Natale was unable to impress in the 1-0 victory over Bari, but the experienced attacker coolly converted a spot-kick in the 76th minute to score his 22nd goal of the season.

Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o is the newcomer in the top 10 this week following his good performance for Inter in the 5-2 win over Genoa. The former Barca star netted a brace to lead the way after the break and has now scored 18 goals.

Edinson Cavani, Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Mario Gomez, Kenny Miller and David Villa all failed to find the net at the weekend, but still find themselves among Europe's top 10 goalscorers.

Kaka blow for Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s Kaka will miss his side’s La Liga clash with Racing Santander on Sunday due to a thigh injury.

The Brazilian attacker has missed most of his side’s season due to his recovery from a post-World Cup operation on his injured knee.

Kaka’s Real are seven points off pacesetters Barcelona in second place on the La Liga table, and he will join fellow playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo on the sidelines with his fresh injury.

Jose Mourinho will also be without the services of Sami Khedira, Fernando Gago, Alvaro Arbeloa, Ezequiel Garay and Gonzalo Higuain for Real’s trip to Campos de Sport de El Sardinero.

Mourinho said he preferred the 28-year-old to rest the muscle injury rather than risk it by playing on Sunday, as the club looks to step up their title charge in the season’s final stages.

“He is limited in his movement and agility and his condition on the pitch and he is not happy when he doesn’t feel on top form,” the Portuguese boss said.

“The medical department decided it was better to return only when he feels absolutely fine and I prefer it that way.”

“It’s not positive for the team or the player if he doesn’t feel at 100 percent.”

soccernews.com

Jose Mourinho Heaps Praise Upon Karim Benzema

Real Madrid recorded a comfortable 7-0 home win over Malaga on Thursday evening and French striker Karim Benzema played an important role in los Blancos' win by netting a brace, earning praise from coach Jose Mourinho in the process.