Showing posts with label Real madrid. Show all posts
Saturday 15 November 2014
Zidane promotes son to Madrid reserves
Real Madrid reserve team coach Zinedine Zidane has drafted his 19-year-old son Enzo into the side for a league match on Sunday, the club have announced.
An attacking midfielder already called up by the French under-19s, Zidane junior has until now been playing with Real Madrid's third team.
But on Sunday fans will be licking their lips to see if the old man gives his eldest son a run out for the second team, known as Castilla, against UB Conquense of Cuenca in Spain's third tier.
Zidane has four sons and Enzo, the eldest of them, has been on the books with the Madrid giants since 2004, while Luca (16), Theo (12) and Elyaz (8) are also on the books at Real.
Zidane senior, now 42, joined Real Madrid as a player in 2001 for a then record fee of around 75 million euros ($93m).
He had an immediate impact, scoring a wonder goal that delivered the 2002 Champions League in a 2-1 final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
He was appointed coach of Castilla in the summer but was last month banned for three months for not having the necessary qualifications to coach in Spain, only to be allowed to continue while he appeals the decision.
AFP
Saturday 1 November 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo's 17th league goal of the season
Ronaldo put the visitors ahead after only two minutes with a low finish after Karim Benzema's square pass.
The French forward then set up James Rodriguez, who made it 2-0 with a spectacular volley from 12 yards out.
Benzema collected Ronaldo's backheel and shot past goalkeeper Roberto for 3-0 before Rodriguez added a fourth from close range after another Ronaldo pass.
Real, who were without the injured Gareth Bale, have now won their last seven domestic league matches to move above Barcelona, who they beat 3-1 in El Clasico last Saturday.
Ronaldo, who this week was announced as one of the nominations for the 2014 Ballon d'Or award to decide the world footballer of the year, has now scored in 12 successive games and netted 22 times in all competitions.
This was a perfect preparation for Carlo Ancelotti's Real side before they entertain Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Granada have now collected only one point from their last six La Liga matches and are 14th in the table.
Tuesday 30 September 2014
Ronaldo is the best player I've coached, says Ancelotti
(Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acclaimed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player he had ever coached as he prepared for Wednesday's Champions League Group B match at Bulgarian underdogs Ludogorets.
"Yes, undoubtedly Ronaldo is number one," the 55-year-old Italian, told a news conference at the Vasil Levski national stadium in Sofia on Tuesday. "I don't want to offend other players I've coached, but he's my number one."
Ronaldo, last season's Champions League top scorer with 17 goals, has been scoring for fun in recent weeks, with eight in his last three matches, as Real netted 15 times against Deportivo La Coruna, Elche and Villarreal in La Liga.
When he struck in Saturday's 2-0 win at Villarreal, the Portugal forward became the first Real player to score 10 goals in the opening six games of the league season, breaking the record set by club greats Alfredo Di Stefano and Amancio Amaro.
"Cristiano is an outstanding professional," added Ancelotti. "He's committed to the team and the club, he doesn't talk much, but he is a leader.
"He scores more goals under a coach who puts him in the right scheme."
Real thrashed Swiss champions Basel 5-1 in their Group B opener but Ancelotti has warned his team not to lose focus against Ludogorets, who are making their eagerly awaited group-stage home debut.
"Ludogorets play a very dynamic football. They're pushing their opponents, so we realise what team we'll play against," said Ancelotti.
TENACIOUS BULGARIANS
The Bulgarians were tipped to struggle in their first appearance in the Champions League group phase.
However, the Razgrad-based side have been impressive with their tenacity and ball skills, finally losing 2-1 to Liverpool only after a penalty in added time in a pulsating match at Anfield two weeks ago.
"They have courage, they're very fast and a high-quality team that take quick decisions when playing on a counter-attack.
"There are no modest clubs in the Champions League. Every team fight to win their match. You saw how Ludogorets performed against Liverpool."
Ancelotti, one of only six people to win Europe's elite club competition as a player and as a coach, said Portuguese defender Pepe is available after recovering from injury.
"Pepe can play. He feels good," said Ancelotti, who will have to do without Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who are still recovering from injuries.
The match will be played at the Vasil Levski national stadium because the home team's 8,000-capacity Ludogorets Arena is not suitable to host such games.
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