madristar

The 28-year-old is disappointed rumours have persisted linking his ankle, thigh and knee injuries with a desire to leave the club. “My long injury has been seen as a (reason) that I wanted to leave Real Madrid,” the former Sao Paulo and AC Milan player told Spanish newspapers. “There is absolutely no truth to this rumour. I am very happy here, and I want to recuperate and return to my best, winning a lot of trophies with Real.” Kaka also says he hopes the fans can be “patient” with him as he recuperates. Fortunately, sport betting sites are all in agreement with the fact that the Brazilian’s comeback will be a potentially successful one. The former Fifa World Player of the Year has been linked with a possible return to AC Milan, as well as cross-town rivals Inter and Chelsea. However, he has again denied all these allegations.

Ramos not giving up title hope Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos insists his side will not give up their fight for La Liga. Real need a major Barcelona collapse over the final weeks to deny the Catalan side their third successive crown. Saturday's 1-1 draw between the two Spanish giants at the Bernabeu meant Barca kept their eight-point lead over second-placed Madrid intact, and that is essentially a nine-point gap as Pep Guardiola's men also boast the better head-to-head record this season. With only six games now remaining it would take a remarkable loss of form for Barca - who have won 27 of their 32 league games this season and lost just once - to be denied the title, but Ramos has pledged to continue pushing as long as they can. "Whilst no team has been mathematically crowned champions we are obliged to carry on and put Barcelona under pressure," said the Spain international, who is also confident his side have the strength in depth to cope as they face a hectic final few weeks. On Wednesday they play Barca again in the Copa del Rey final, while they also face the same opponents in the Champions League semi-finals. "We have a large squad with quality players. Everyone on the team has responded whenever they've been given a chance to play," he added. Madrid would have breathed fresh life into their title challenge with a victory over Barca last night, but in the end did well to escape with a 1-1 draw after playing almost the entire second half with 10 men. Raul Albiol was shown a straight red card after bringing down David Villa in the area, and from the resulting spot-kick Lionel Messi put Barca ahead. The 10 men of Madrid battled on however, and they drew level with eight minutes to go with a penalty of their own, Cristiano Ronaldo slotting home after Dani Alves' foul on Marcelo. Ramos was left with mixed feelings following the draw, saying: "The attitude of the players was good and they can hold their heads up high. "(However) you always go home happier if you win. It's true that this point isn't all that great for us, especially considering our situation in the league. We lacked a little luck to win the game."

Mourinho tired of playing with ten men Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hit out at the referee after defender Raul Albiol was sent off in the 1-1 draw with Barcelona. Albiol saw red for a foul inside the box on David Villa. Lionel Messi stepped up to convert the resultant penalty that gave Barca a 1-0 lead but Madrid won a penalty of their own later in the game when Marcelo was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by countryman Dani Alves. Cristiano Ronaldo scored an emphatic spot-kick to give his side a share of the spoils in the first of four matches against their arch-rivals. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Mourinho said: "In the first-half, the two teams were equal. We played compact and kept our shape throughout. A win is a win and a draw is a draw but we will take the positives from this game. "What we want is to have equal decisions for both teams. The rules are the same and I am tired of playing matches with ten men. Raul Albiol will miss the cup final for a foul that was nothing." The Portuguese, who had sarcastically remarked before the game that he was preparing his side to play with 10 men - was incensed that Alves had not been sent off with a second yellow for the foul on Marcelo. "As usual, when it is ten against eleven, it is very difficult to play against a team like Barcelona. The referee's approach changed with the decision not to send off Daniel Alves. For once I would like to play against a ten man Barcelona," he remarked. "I don't understand the reason why Alves hasn't seen a second yellow after conceding a foul in the area for a penalty," said Mourinho. "I asked the fourth official why there wasn't a second yellow and he told me 'it's because he's a full-back'. "When everyone thought they could destroy us playing with one player more, for 45 minutes the team was strong enough to compete and strong enough to get a result, and if the referee gives, as he should have done, a second yellow card to Alves, the last 10 minutes playing 10 against 10, it could have been a different story. "We played very well with 10 players. We played with a lot of dignity and character and with the fans absolutely fantastic, and we almost won. "In my opinion it was a very even game when it was 11 against 11. In the first half the teams respected each other, knowing they were facing strong opponents. There weren't many great chances, some for them some for us, but not many. "Afterwards, with 11 versus 10, it was practically mission impossible. It would be mission impossible for many teams, especially against a side who are the best in the world at keeping possession. The two Spanish giants will now clash in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday at the Mestalla and Mourinho was looking to the supporters to provide his side with the extra boost. "The support of the fans will be vital in the final. We expect the fans to respect the occasion and the greatness of both teams," said the two-time Champions League winner. "It will be a game with more tension. We will try to win but it is different to a league or a Champions League game. Hopefully we will win and will be able to play on equal terms. Today [saturday], that was not the case." After the Copa final, Real and Barca will meet twice in the Champions League semi-finals to be played on April 27 and May 3. DISQUS...

Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late penalty to earn 10-man Real Madrid a dramatic draw from the Clasico showdown with bitter rivals Barcelona at the Bernabeu. Ronaldo's 82nd-minute spot-kick cancelled out Lionel Messi's 53rd-minute penalty for Barca, which came following an incident that also saw Madrid defender Raul Albiol sent off. Ronaldo's equaliser could prove a crucial morale booster for Madrid ahead of Wednesday's Copa del Rey final and their subsequent Champions League semi-finals against the Catalan giants, but tonight's result leaves Barca within touching distance of the Primera Division title. They remain eight points clear with only six games left now, while they also boast the better head-to-head record against Madrid having won 5-0 at the Nou Camp earlier this season. There were surprises in both starting line-ups, with Jose Mourinho selecting centre-back Pepe in midfield with dropping Mesut Ozil to the bench, while Carles Puyol was brought straight back in for Barca after three months out through injury. Puyol had not been expected to be fit until next week's Copa del Rey final, but his return was a huge boost for Barca, whose four defeats this season have been without their skipper on the pitch. After a quiet start to the match, Barca soon settled into their slick passing game and they fashioned the first clear chance in the 19th minute. Andres Iniesta's pass over the top picked out Messi's run in behind the Madrid defence, but the Argentinian's attempted lob over Iker Casillas was saved by the Spain custodian. Madrid responded to that with two efforts of their own, Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes fumbling Karim Benzema's shot just wide of the post before Ronaldo headed a corner over from six yards out. Barca then had a huge shout for a penalty turned down in the 27th minute after David Villa beat Casillas to a Messi through-ball and went tumbling over his Spain team-mate's challenge. However, referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez deemed there to be no foul, much to the astonishment and anger of the Barca players. The first half would end up finishing goalless, although both teams fashioned great chances to break the deadlock in the minutes leading up the interval. Firstly, a good Barca move set up a shooting opportunity for Messi which Casillas did well to beat away, then moments later at the other end an unmarked Ronaldo looked certain to score following a corner but his close-range header was cleared off the line by Adriano. That was an exciting end to an evenly-matched first period, and the second half started off in much the same vein. Ronaldo came within inches of putting Madrid ahead in the 49th minute when his 25-yard free-kick smashed against the foot of Valdes' right-hand post with the Barca keeper beaten. However, two minutes after that let-off Barca took the lead in an incident that also Madrid reduced to 10 men. Villa was dragged to the ground by Albiol as the two tussled for a through-ball, and this time Muniz Fernandez had no doubts as he pointed to the spot and issued last-man Albiol with a red card. That gave Messi the chance to score his 49th goal of a record-breaking season in all competitions, and the Argentina forward duly obliged, firing his penalty high into the Madrid net. Barca suffered a blow soon after that when Puyol was carried off injured on a stretcher, but that did not seem to affect the visitors too much and Xavi almost made it 2-0 in the 61st minute when his shot clipped the top of the Madrid crossbar. Despite playing with a man less, Madrid still created chances and Angel Di Maria blazed one opening over before Pepe failed to convert a clear opening at the far post following a corner. With time running out Barca looked on course to equal the record of six successive Clasico victories, set by Madrid in the 1960s. However, Madrid continued to fight and they were rewarded in the 81st minute when they were awarded a penalty following a challenge by Dani Alves on his fellow Brazilian Marcelo in the area. Barca protested but, after their appeals had been turned down, Ronaldo coolly stepped up to send Valdes the wrong way and earn Madrid a morale-boosting draw - even if the result means Barca remain firmly on course for a third successive league title. DISQUS...

The Press Conference: (yes, in capital letters) The most interesting part of the day came during the press conference. Over 100 journalists had turned out to attend the first 15 minutes of the training session and subsequent press conference. However, Madrid’s communications department then informed the Spanish journalists that it would be Aitor Karanka speaking to the press on Friday afternoon, rather than José Mourinho, the 11th time that he would not do so. They complained to Óscar Ribot, saying they wanted to hear from Mou as well, but their complaints came to nothing and so they advised that they would walk out in protest. Thus, the moment the press conference began and it was announced that only Aitor Karanka would be responding to questions, about 30 journalists stood up and walked out of the room. Among the 30 were all the Spanish journalists, except those from AS, Punto Pelota and Catalunya Radio, and seven foreign correspondents (Italian, Swedish, Portuguese and French). They did tell the club that it was nothing personal against Karanka, but rather the absence of José Mourinho before such an important game. Mou had known ahead of time that part of the press would do this, so he decided to attend the press conference with Karanka, the first time he had ever done that, in a show of support. The only time he opened his mouth was when he offered his assistance as a translator for the English journalists. Press agency dpa revealed that Madrid’s communications department had found out that Mourinho didn’t want to speak to the press, to the surprise of everyone, because he didn’t want to be the center of attention or to have his words misinterpreted, as that could create conflicts. Karanka’s words: Karanka echoed these sentiments during the press conference when he tried to explain the reason for this switch: “each time the míster speaks, his words are magnified and it’s said that he’s being provocative. We’re not the ones who have raised our voices recently and we don’t want anything to be taken out of context or be used to heat things up before the game. We’d rather be tranquil than misunderstood.” He added that his presence is not a “lack of respect” towards anyone, and in reference to the walk out, that “each one is responsible for his or her own actions, and out of respect for those who are here, I’m happy to be with you and it’s better not to talk about those who aren’t here. It’s not the first time that I’ve spoken.” He also said that what the fans are concerned about is not who speaks before the game, but “the team winning, and having a coach that works every day since the day he was signed, one that is 100 percent there for the club.”

we'll win

"Pep Guardiola not leaving Barcelona" Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has dismissed speculation that Pep Guardiola will soon leave the club. Speaking to Italian television station Rai, Guardiola had indicated that he would leave the La Liga giants at the end of next season, after having signed a one-year contract extension earlier this year. Zubizarreta, however, has refuted talk of the Catalan's departure, according to reports from Sport. "He has a contract and he wants to be with us, and that's it," he said. "Is he on the bench? Yes. Does he have a contract for next year? Yes. What more do we want?" Zubizaretta added: "What is certain is that he has a contract [until the end of the 2011-12 season]. Anything else does not bother me." However, given the huge trophy haul that Guardiola has brought to the Nou Camp since his arrival in the summer of 2008, Zubizaretta's comments could well come back to haunt him should the club fail to match the eight trophies won with the manager, should the Barcelona legend finally leave the club.

Granero: Real can still win La Liga Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero refuses to concede the La Liga title to Barcelona. The Los Blancos find themselves eight points off the league leaders after a shock 1-0 home defeat to Sporting Gijon on Saturday. And it appeared their title hopes have been extinguished when Pep Guardiola's side notched a 1-0 win away to Villarreal. But Granero believes otherwise. "The league isn't over until there is no mathematical chance to win," the Spaniard told Madrid's official website. "Sporting prepared well for the game and our performance was under par." Madrid next host Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday, and Granero is optimistic they can bounce back against the English side. He added: "We must now play an important game on Tuesday and we have to concentrate on it. Our goal is to win." This is the first time in seven years that Madrid have reached the last eight of Europe's premier club competition.