Real Madrid

[Rasputin]

The Brazilian shined again in the city in which he made his debut with Real Madrid

Real Madrid won the third place in the Carranza Trophy against Cadiz this evening and Robinho played a crucial role in his team's victory.

On 28 August 2005, Robinho had one of the most impressive debuts in the history of the Spanish League when he stepped onto the pitch half way through the second half of the first fixture of the League between Cadiz and Real Madrid in the southern city.

Then coach Wanderley Luxemburgo risked bringing the forward on when his team was losing 2-1, but the move paid off. Robinho’s terrific plays helped the team come back from the adverse score to win the match and he was given a standing ovation by Cadiz’s fans at the end of the encounter. The same fans witnessed an excellent performance by the Brazilian tonight in his return to the Ramón de Carranza Stadium.


First half

Robinho’s first play tonight proved he was going to be very driven throughout the encounter. After receiving the ball from a corner kick, the forward dribbled past a defender and shot on target, but Contreras managed to stop the ball from entering the goal. On the 10-minute mark, the Brazilian forced a corner kick in favour of his team after doing a series of impressive step-overs. Later on in the game he starred in several counter-attacks that were eventually thwarted by Contreras. The Whites’ number ‘10’ also performed well in defence, covering his countryman Marcelo’s position when the latter was attacking. Robinho played on both wings, swapping changes with Saviola.

Flanking Saviola and Van Nistelrooy

Schuster changed his system when he brought on Balboa and De la Red in the 63rd minute. Robinho had a more prominent role as second striker, the position he most likes to play in. He was replaced on the 78-minute mark by Esteban Granero. He may not have given the brilliant performance he gave two years ago in his debut, but he nonetheless created key plays and proved to be a constant threat to Cadiz’s goal

[abadani69]

With the start of the Spanish season just days away, Real Madrid was still busy finalizing its squad for the new campaign on Wednesday with two new arrivals and one departure imminent.

Real's long chase for Arjen Robben finally looks to have reached a successful conclusion after the Primera Liga champions agreed a deal with Chelsea for the transfer of the Dutch international winger to the Bernabeu on a five-year contract.


Full-back Gabriel Heinze is also heading to Spain with an agreement in place to bring the Argentina international to Madrid from Manchester United on a four-year deal.

Both transfers are subject to successful medicals but, providing there are no complications, the duo could well form a new-look left-hand side at Real next season.

Heinze, 29, is set to step into the full-back berth vacated by long-serving Brazilian Roberto Carlos, who departed for Turkey this summer, while winger Robben has long been a target of Real's to boost their options down the flanks.

Real president Ramon Calderon promised to bring Robben to the Bernabeu as part of his successful election campaign in 2006, but no deal was forthcoming until Chelsea announced on Wednesday they had agreed to let the player leave Stamford Bridge for Spain.

A statement on the Chelsea website confirmed the situation.

"Chelsea Football Club and Real Madrid have reached an agreement for the transfer of Arjen Robben subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical," the statement read.

While Robben and Heinze both look poised to became Real's latest summer signings - following in the footsteps of Christoph Metzelder, Pepe, Javier Saviola, Jerzy Dudek, Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder - one player who is set to leave the club is full-back Cicinho.

On the same day that the deals for Robben and Heinze were announced, Real revealed the 27-year-old Brazilian is heading to Italian side Roma.

"Real Madrid announce that they have reached an agreement for the transfer of Cicero Joao de Cezare 'Cicinho' to AS Roma, according to a statement on the club's official website.

"The club wish to thank the player for his services and wish him the best of luck for the future."

Real's trio of transfer deals came just three days before they launch the defence of their Primera Liga title with a mouth-watering home clash against local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The build-up to that game has been far from smooth however, with the team having lost six of their 10 pre-season matches under new coach Bernd Schuster.

The latest of those losses came at the Bernabeu last weekend when Real were beaten 5-3 by Sevilla en route to a 6-3 aggregate defeat in the Spanish Super Cup.

[abadani69]

Two months after winning a record 30th Spanish league title, Real Madrid approaches its 2007-08 La Liga opener against crosstown rival Atletico after some shaky preseason results.

Bernd Schuster, who replaced the fired Fabio Capello in July to become Madrid's seventh coach in four years, has failed to make an impact. Madrid hopes the arrival of the former Getafe coach will herald an era of offensive play and contrast with Capello's gritty but unspectacular style of soccer.

But concerns grew last Sunday with a 5-3 loss to Sevilla at home in the Spanish Supercup.

"We're still a long way off from playing well," new Madrid forward Javier Saviola said. "We need to change our outlook, and we have to do it quick."

Schuster's lineup at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday will be much changed from the one Capello picked for the final day of last season, when Madrid (23-8-7) lifted its first major trophy in four years.

David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Ivan Helguera and Jose Antonio Reyes are gone, and Saviola, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe have arrived along with central defenders Pepe and Christoph Metzelder.

There also could be a place for newcomers Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze, whose signings from Chelsea and Manchester United on Wednesday raised Madrid's offseason spending to about $163 million.

With Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas doubtful, Jerzy Dudek, who joined from Liverpool, could make his Spanish league debut.

Seeking its first league win over Madrid since 1999 will be a new-look Atletico, which in the offseason lost captain Fernando Torres to Liverpool. Attacking midfielders Luciano Galletti and Martin Petrov also departed.

Among seven new signings is Reyes, who scored twice for Real in last season's finale, which won the league title.

Other arrivals are Portuguese forward Simao Sabrosa from Benfica, Spanish forward Luis Garcia from Liverpool and Villarreal forward Diego Forlan.

"This type of game is totally different. It has a different atmosphere. In derby games, and I have played them in Argentina, England and Uruguay, form doesn't matter," Forlan said.

Barcelona (22-6-10), trying for its third league title in four seasons, opens at Racing Santander on Sunday. During the offseason, it attempted to tighten its defense by acquiring Argentina's Gabriel Milito, France's Eric Abidal and the Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure. In attack, Thierry Henry has joined Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, leaving coach Frank Rijkaard with an abundance of choices if all are healthy.

The Barcelona coach appeared unlikely to select all of the so-called "Fantastic Four" for Sunday's starting lineup, even though he says they can all play together.

"It would depend on the opponent's lineup, their physical state, injuries, training sessions, etc. There are many factors," Rijkaard said.

Sevilla (21-9-, which won its fifth trophy in the last 15 months when it beat Madrid last weekend, hosts Getafe on Saturday as it tries to win its first league title since 1946. The two-time UEFA Cup champions were boosted by coach Juande Ramos' announcement Wednesday that he has rejected a lucrative offer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Another title candidate, Valencia (20-12-6), faces a tough start Sunday against local rival Villarreal, which finished fifth last season.

The three promoted teams -- Valladolid, Murcia and Almeria -- have difficult opening matches.

Second-division champion Valladolid visits UEFA Cup finalist Espanyol, while Murcia hosts Zaragoza and Almeria plays at Deportivo La Coruna.

The league begins without Real Sociedad for the first time since the 1966-67 season. The Basque team, league champion in 1981 and '82, finished 19th last season and was relegated with Celta Vigo and Gimnastic Tarragona.

[Rasputin]

The last year Real Madrid won by this score was in 1996

Real Madrid managed their first 0-5 road victory in over ten years on Sunday. The last time the Whites won by said score was during the 1995/96 season against Athletic Bilbao in San Mamés.



Real Madrid made history again on Sunday night by winning their first 0-5 match since the 1995/96 season. The last time the Whites enjoyed so much success was in San Mamés, and a young Raúl just happened to score one of the goals.
Sunday's victory was the six time in history that Real Madrid won 0-5. It first happened against Betis in the 1960/61 campaign, then Sevilla in 62/63, followed by Zaragoza in 70/71, and Valladolid in 94/95. In 2002/03, the Whites twice won 1-5 on the road, first against Alaves and then against Mallorca.

Last year's Real Madrid gave signs of its goal-scoring capacity outside the Santiago Bernabéu by scoring four goals on Levante, Osasuna, and Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid have been even more devastating at home, where they have won 5-0 34 different times. The last blowouts took place in 04/05 against Racing Santander and Levante. That same year, Albacete conceded six goals in the Spanish capital. Last year, Real Madrid found the back of the net four times against Espanyol, while Mallorca and Deportivo Coruña fell victims to the same result one year earlier.

[Rasputin]

Real Madrid President Ramón Calderón was extremely pleased with the football the Whites play against Villarreal. In an interview on Spanish radio program El Larguero, Calderón pointed out that "this is the team that Madridistas demanded. We've left it up to the experts and I am very happy, especially for Schuster, who was treated unfairly during the preseason."

"I am very satisfied. This is the Madrid we all want. But this is a long season and we have to remain humble. There are 36 matches left and it is still way too early to sound the victory bells, but we're on the right track. We've left it up to the experts and I am very happy, especially for Schuster, who was treated unfairly during the preseason. The same goes for the new signings. Mijatovic and Portugal did a great job."



"The Madridistas demanded a team like this one; it's what they have always wanted to see. We have a good squad. The proof lies in the fact that there are players like Higuaín, Pepe, and Robben, and Saviola and Soldado haven't played. This is the team that was needed. The coach had to be able to look towards the bench and see very talented substitutes."
The team that played on Sunday against Villarreal was "ambitious and eager to continue pouring it on no matter what the score was; a gelled, dedicated, and excited team. They could have scored nine goals. This is the Madrid of always. Schuster has never veered despite all the headlines that try to discredit him. He has been treated very unfairly."

"People need to realise that the preseason is to get the team to gel and to try new things, especially with so many new players. Many asked me where the good football was, and I think they've started to see it. I just hope it's a calm season."

[abadani69]

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is still a transfer target for Spanish champions Real Madrid, according to its coach Bernd Schuster.

The Bernabeu boss has admitted he did attempt to lure the Germany captain away from the English Premier League club in the summer, but financial difficulties blocked the move.

But now Ballack has been left out of Chelsea's squad for the Champions League group stage, Schuster is prepared to try again.

He can offer the 30-year-old Ballack regular first-team football.

"Nobody wants to take a pay cut," Schuster told Kicker magazine. "Ballack has an excellent contract with Chelsea which would have absolutely demolished the wage policy at Real. No player here is in the same category (of earnings).

"The door is not closed for Michael. His qualities are clear and they will still be there in six months."

[abadani69]

باشگاه رئال مادريد اسپانيا هواپيماي جديد خود را براي سفرهاي داخلي و خارجي روز سه*شنبه در سفر به رم مورد استفاده قرار مي*دهد.

روزنامه ورزشي آس چاپ مادريد امروز سه*شنبه گزارش داد: تيم رئال مادريد از اين پس هواپيماي "سائتا ام دي "۸۳خود را با ۱۳۷صندلي كه*آرم اين باشگاه نيز بر روي بدنه*اش نقش بسته مورد استفاده قرار مي*دهد.

اين هواپيما متعلق به باشگاه رئال مادريد نيست، بلكه به آژانس مسافرتي "وياخس ايبريا"تعلق دارد و براي سه سال مورد استفاده باشگاه رئال مادريد قرار مي*گيرد.

بنابراين گزارش، داخل اين هواپيما را كاملا تغيير و ظرفيت آن را از ۱۸۰ صندلي به ۱۳۷صندلي كاهش داده*اند.

تمام صندلي*هاي اين هواپيما از "كلاس بيزينس" هستند و فضاي راحتي براي بازيكنان ايجاد شده است.

روزنامه آس نوشت: باشگاه رئال مادريد ۷۰صندلي اين هواپيما را در طول سال ورزشي در اختيار دارد و بليت ۶۷صندلي ديگر آن را اين آژانس مسافرتي به فروش مي*رساند.

هر صندلي اين هواپيما سالانه به مبلغ ۶۵هزار يورو به فروش مي*رسد كه شامل هزينه بليت تماشاي مسابقات،هزينه*هاي هتل وانتقال مسافران به فرودگاه و هتل مي*شود.

همچنين با پرداخت اين مبلغ،بليت ورودبه ورزشگاههابراي تماشاي رقابتهاي رئال مادريد در طول سال در ورزشگاه اختصاصي اين تيم به اين مسافران داده مي*شود.

بنابراين گزارش،اكنون فقط هفت صندلي اين هواپيما براي فروش باقي مانده است.

[siamak]

"I want the European Cup"

José María Gutiérrez, ‘Guti’, sat down with sports radio's Radio Marca for a broad interview that covered the current state of the team, the first month of the season, his expectations of what's to come, and he hinted that his main objective is winning the European Cup.





How was today's training session?
It was all physical work today. It was very hard, but it helped increase stamina and strength. Those who were called up will have less time to recover, so it's time for us to work hard. There's a lot of physical and mental wear and tear when you play. Spending ten days in national team camp and playing on Wednesday and Sunday takes its toll.
How do you feel on a personal level?
I feel good. I am happy with the team's performance so far. For someone who has always had trouble making it into the starting eleven and has always started by warming the bench, being a starter now makes me feel great. Earning a starting position comes when it comes. I would have like to play more, but I am pleased with everything that I have contributed.

You've gotten off to a spectacular start this season.
We have played some very good matches. The fans have been excited, and we have just the right team for that. But we have also made many changes and need time to assimilate them all. The great start allows for ease of mind. It's been a while since we got off to such a fine start.



Is there a good atmosphere in the dressing room?
There always has been. It's a lot more fresh now. We all knew each other before. Now it's younger and full of players who are eager to accomplish great things, and that's what shows on the pitch.

Is Barcelona back?
They were slacking and it looked like they might have troubled gelling, but their attack is in great form and they have Messi, one of the best players in the world. Their talent is impressive when they pressure and run, but that doesn't mean that Real Madrid isn't strong. They still have to face a lot of good teams who will give them a run for their money.

Did you have hopes of being called up to the national team?
I've said it several times before and I don't want to have to repeat myself. I cannot go with the current national team coach. It's an important match. It would be a terrible failure if Spain didn't qualify for the 2008 Euro.



And Raúl...
Undoubtedly. It’s hard to understand. He may not have been in great form before, but he is better than ever now. Villa is injured... Raúl should be there. But this is just my opinion.

The match against Espanyol will be your 450th official fixture. You’ve been a starter in 60% of them.
That’s a lot, but the percentage would be much higher if I had played as much as I wanted.

You talked to Schuster about your situation on the team this summer.
We never talked about reinforcements. We talked in order to get to know each other. He told me what he wanted of me and I said I would feel comfortable wherever I could help the team from.

You had offers to leave this summer. Did you even think about it?
No, I didn’t. I feel very comfortable here. I recently extended my contract for many more years. I never thought about leaving.

Will the League be decided between two teams?
I hope not; it wouldn’t be good. Atletico, Valencia, Sevilla and others have reinforced themselves well. The League has just started and we all have our good moments. I think there will be four or five strong contenders for the title.



How do you feel with Schuster as coach?
It is very important that he used to play, and more so at Real Madrid. He says things to your face. That’s better sometimes, as opposed to the complete opposite. He still has great touch on ball, like years ago.

What do you think about those who say that players should take it easy with their national teams?
It’s a delicate matter. People don’t understand it when a player injures himself in an international friendly and is forced to miss three months’ worth of games with his club. This problem should be dealt with and a new calendar would probably have to be drawn up.

Which title would you like to win the most? The Champions League. It is our duty to fight with the best to win it.

[abadani69]

Spain's Cesc Fabregas, who has shone with Arsenal in the Champions League, is a target for Real Madrid for the 2008-2009 season, the sports daily AS said Tuesday.

The paper carried comments by Real president Ramon Calderon on Saturday following Spain's 3-1 defeat of Denmark in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

"Cesc is one of the best," Calderon said.

AS said the Real manager Bernd Schuster is aware of Calderon's interest in the midfielder for next season.

Prior to his election by Real's board last year, Calderon promised to get Fabregas, Arjen Robben and Kaka for the club.

The Dutchman was bought from Chelsea last summer for 35 million euros (50 million dollars), but AC Milan has refused to part with its Brazilian star.

Fabregas, 20, who spent his early career at Barcelona, has already scored four goals in eight matches for Arsenal in the Premiership, and three goals in the Champions League.

[abadani69]

Real Madrid conceded defeat on Sunday in their attempt to lure AC Milan's Brazilian star Kaka to the Bernabeu stadium.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has made the brilliant playmaker one of his prime targets and Kaka's possible arrival in Spain has been the subject of frenzied debate in the local media over the past few months.

But the Spanish champions' sporting director Pedja Mijatovic put an end to all the speculation on Sunday, telling Marca: "(Real Madrid) can't allow itself to waste too much time on something that is extremely difficult to obtain."

He added: "We've spoken a lot about this player over the past year and a half.

"Everybody likes him, but we know his situation and where he is playing, we'll move on to something else."

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi this month said "there has never been any possibility" that the Italian Serie A giants would sell their prize asset.

According to Berlusconi, Kaka, the highest earning footballer in Italy, "has never wanted to leave and I believe that he will never do so... Kaka is the symbol of Milan."

The 25-year-old is favourite in most quarters for December's European Footballer Of The Year award.

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

The Whites face La Liga bottom-dwellers in the final match of the first half of the s

It's first place against last place as Real Madrid hit the road to play Levante on Sunday evening. The Whites can reclaim their seven-point lead over second place Barcelona with a victory in what is the last match of the first half of the season, while the hosts could use a huge morale boost down the home stretch.





Matchday 19 is here, and with it, the end of the first half of the season, which Real Madrid has dominated start to finish. Since throttling Villarreal 0-5 in the second week of the competition, the Whites have never lost possession of the top spot in the table. And with their win in the Camp Nou, the Madridistas were proclaimed 'Winter Champions' with two matches to go before completing the first round. What's more, Real Madrid has scored 39 goals and is the top-scoring team in La Liga.

Eighteen player expedition

Bernd Schuster traveled to Valencia with 18 players in tow. Those not making the trip include Robben, Soldado, Balboa, Heinze, and Metzelder, who are recovering in Real Madrid's sick bay, Sergio Ramos, who is serving his one-match suspension, and Diarra, who is on international duty with Mali. Cannavaro and Baptista, meanwhile, have recovered from an ankle sprain and tonsilitis, respectively, and were included on the squad list. Raúl is also likely to see action despite suffering a knock in last Thursday's Cup match against Mallorca, but whether or not he will get the start is up in the air.



Casillas' presence on the pitch is also unknown. The goalkeeper is battling gastroentiritis and is a game-time decision; his streak of 58 straight League matches played could be in jeopardy. Van Nistelrooy has also rejoined a Madridista expedition after taking full advantage of a well-deserved rest. Higuaín is fresh off a goal-scoring performance and eager to prove that his spectacular volley in Ono Estadi wasn't a fluke. Gago is sitting on four bookings and a yellow card tonight would mean sitting out next weekend's derby against Atletico.

Despite all the goals, points, and weeks on top of the table, the Madridistas want nothing said about being favorites. They know Levante has nothing to lose, which is the primary danger of De Biasi's squad. There's no time to relax. Leaving Valencia with three points is a must.

Turbulent times for Levante

Levante is a very fragile team right now. This matchup against Real Madrid comes at the worst possible moment after losing Storari, Cirillo, and Savio during the winter transfer period. The team's top scorer Riganò cannot play due to tendinitis, and all signs point to his departure as well.



Offensive responsibility now falls on the shoulders of Guijo, who has yet to score in what is his first season in First Division football. Levante is experiencing it's longest scoring drought in its history in the First Division after playing to a 0-0 draw last week against Valencia. Riga and Riganó have only combined for seven goals in La Liga this season. Vladan Kujovic will get his second start in goal this year and Mustapha Riga may return to the starting lineup after clarifying why he was late in returning to camp after the Christmas break.

If things are rocky for the sporting side of the Levantine club, a club spokesperson announced this week that the profit generated from the Real Madrid match will be frozen by judicial order after lawsuits were filed by current and former players and former coaches, who claim they haven't received their paychecks. Perhaps there were too many factors for the manager and squad to wholeheartedly prepare for the clash against the Madridistas, but the best band-aid for temporary relief is a victory over the Whites.

[Rasputin]

Twenty-four hours before his team takes to the pitch against Levante, Bernd Schuster commented on the opponent, his players, and the injuries he has to deal with.





How does Iker Casillas feel?
Casillas has some minor stomach problems, but I think he should be perfect to play. He woke up with a stomach ache, but he doesn't have fever. With a little medical help he should be fit for tomorrow.
Iker has had a lot of work recently.
Zaragoza reached our goal too much and Iker had a lot of work. I must say, though, that he has a good time when he makes so many saves. Obviously, it's not good when an opponent has so many one-on-one chances and shots from within the box, but we also have players good enough to decide a match despite what the other team does. We're working on making sure our defense is as stout as it was before Christmas.

Would resting Raúl be a good idea against the worst team in the League?
It's not a good day to rest him. It's an important match and the three points are essential. Titles are won in stadiums like Levante's. They may be in last place, but that doesn't make them any easier. I'll play my best team in order to win.



You have to get your players extra-motivated to play a team like Levante.
The players and I have to be motivated and mentally prepared because we have to play a good match and take all three points. We have to be very cautious heading into matches like this one.

Your squad is plagued by injuries right now, especially in defense.
It's been our most problematic line all season, but our squad is deep enough to not have to worry too much. Tomorrow's back line is also a sure bet.

With Diarra out, are you worried that Gago might get booked and have to sit out against Atletico? Are you thinking about keeping him out in order to prevent such a situation?
Resting players is a good thing, but it's not the time, especially in the midfield, where we're missing Diarra. It would have been good to get Gago's fifth booking over with, but his only option is to play with four. As a footballer he must always fight for the ball. It's something that's hard to control, but I hope he doesn't have any problems because we can't lose any more players with so many matches coming up.



Does Diarra's absence weigh heavily?
We've known he would have to leave since last summer. We were prepared and we have faith in our current midfield comprised of Baptista, Guti, Gago, and Sneijder. They have done a good job and played well. The Diarra situation is just something we have to deal with.

As a former player, what advice would you give Gago?
In his position, providing a lot of security is what matters most. There's a lot of pressure in that area; more here than in Argentina. Not only does he have to create, but he has to avoid losing the ball.

Have you contemplated playing Ramos in Diarra's spot?
That would be the last resort; only if the midfielders were injured. It could be a solution, but I hope it's not necessary. I want Sergio to continue along the right wing, which is where he is most productive.

Did you reprimand your players after what took place in Mallorca?
We lost a lot more balls in Mallorca than we tend to. We lost possession and continued giving life to the opponent, but our team spirit is still intact. All my players are working hard and are dedicated. Giving so much away on a silver platter is a huge risk. Tomorrow we'll really have to battle it out against Levante, who are going to put up a tough fight. We have to go back to dominating the ball.

You had a stint in Valencia and it didn't go very well. Is there any sense of personal revenge?
None. I didn't do very well there, but off the pitch it was a different story. I'll get to see some friendly faces, which is why I'm happy to be returning. We can't think it's going to be easy because they are in last place. A footballer's pride can change a lot of things.



Van Nistelrooy extended his contract this week.
Ruud deserves it. He has always been a goal-scorer and he's a sure bet every season. He's also a great person. I like seeing extensions like his. We want him here for a long time to come.

Why did you decide to start training sessions at a later time this week?
Because of the frost. The weather is getting better now and we'll be returning to normal hours. We have to spend more time warming up in the gym when the grass is frozen. I prefer training earlier in the morning because I'm your typical German in the sense that I get hungry.

What do you think about the new lyrics to the Spanish national anthem?
I love the anthem's music, but only time will tell if the people like the lyrics. The German national team is required to learn and sing the anthem before matches.

[Rasputin]

"We've still got the return leg at home, where we have yet to lose this year"

Although it wasn't enough to help Real Madrid win, Gonzalo Higuaín's goal was an important morale booster for the Argentine, who hadn't scored in quite some time.



“We weren't able to achieve what we wanted, but I am happy that I scored. I felt good out there, especially because I scored a goal.”
“It was a pretty goal, but I think the one against Espanyol was even nicer because of what it meant. It's a shame we couldn't win.”

“This tie isn't over yet and we're going to do whatever it takes next week, but first we have to think about Levante.”

“We knew Mallorca was a good team and that leaving here with a win would be hard. They had a good gameplan, but this isn't a bad result for us. We've still got the return leg at home, where we have yet to lose this year”

“We have to think about Levante now because we have to maintain our seven-point lead in the League.”

“The manager decides who plays. I just try to do my best and to work hard every day. I feel comfortable as a forward. I am pleased because I was finally able to score again.”

[Rasputin]

"Raúl and I complement each other perfectly on the pitch"

In an interview with sports daily Marca, Ruud Van Nistelrooy discusses football on both a national and European level.





Now that you just inked a contract extension, are you happier in Madrid than you were in Manchester?
I'm happy in Madrid. It's too hard to choose. I played for Manchester for five years, and they even waited a year to sign me after I injured my knee. I was valued there, and now I'm valued by Madrid. I might not be here today had I not had any problems with Ferguson.
How many more years of football do you have in you?
Until I'm 35, or even more. My output depends on goals. I am happy because I have the option to extend my contract depending on the number of matches I play. It's a challenge for me.

Did you win the League last year because of luck or because you scored a lot of goals?
Both I think. But the attitude of the team, the club, and the fans also played a part. Playing in the Bernabéu during the first four or five months was difficult. We lost a lot of points at home, but then we played our hearts out in every game and the Bernabéu was always at our side. I will never forget these times.

Do you think Barcelona are going through some of the same problems that Real Madrid was dealing with?
It's not the message I got when we played at the Camp Nou. They, too, are my colleagues. It's too early to say if Barcelona are in bad shape.



Is the team capable of maintaining this rhythm throughout the second half of the season?
That's the big question. It will decide a lot. We have a great squad, but we do have several players who are injured right now. That said, I do think we can maintain it.

Can you win all three titles?
That's our goal, and I think we are capable. We know that winning all three is something very unique and difficult.

Does the team miss Guti when he's not on the pitch?
Yes. Guti has an eye for the last pass and he always looks for the forward. If he gets the ball, I look for a running lane and a way to get open so that he can pass it to me. He always thinks vertically, which is the most difficult concept in football. He dominates the entire pitch and knows where every player is.

What is Raúl's and your secret to such perfect understanding?
We have similar personalities and we spend a lot of time together. We discuss football and how we believe good professionals should act, which helps our understanding on the pitch. When we play, however, we're different. He can play further back and as a centre-forward. We complement each other. Raúl plays with his left foot and I play with my right.



Do you guys really listen to flamenco music in the locker room?
Yes, but I don't dance to it. I only clap. We really turn up the volume, too. Players like Sergio and Robinho really put their hearts into it.

Who will win Euro 2008?
Tough question. We have Italy and France in our group. Spain also has a good team.

Should Raúl participate in it?
Holland would be better off if he didn't.

Who is the best player in the world right now?
I believe Messi is playing the best football this season. He's incredible, but Kaká has also played extremely well.

What do you think about Schuster?
He's great. He's got a great understanding of football. He really knows how to prepare for matches, he likes to speak about the opponent, and he's got a good eye for tactics. He always focuses on the small details.

Is the squad having more fun than last year?
There's a totally different atmosphere within the club and locker room. We have an easier time playing now.

Will we have the pleasure of presenting you with the Pichichi again?
I would love it, but not just the trophy. The whole presentation was nice.