madristar

WOW !! great photos. THAT ought to silence everyone !

"Mourinho will play for goalless draw" Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas believes Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will play for a goalless draw in their Champions League clash on Wednesday. Both sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first-leg of their last-16 tie at the Stade de Gerland with Mourinho's men taking a precious away goal back to the Santiago Bernabeu for the return leg. As his charges travel to Madrid with all odds against them, Aulas has questioned Mourinho's approach to the game, insisting the Portuguese will play for a goalless draw. Speaking to the club's official website, Aulas said: "I am sure Mourinho will play for a 0-0. "But, we will try to qualify and if we do it will be an unprecedented feat. The conditions are not the same as last year, and it will be even harder to go through having drawed at home. We are not afraid of anyone." Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is well aware of the massive task awaiting his side but remains upbeat over their chances. He added: "It will be massive if we go through as Real Madrid have a better defensive structure at the back this season. "We have to take advantage of the spaces though and we must be careful in the first half hour as I think Real Madrid will want to score early." Lyon and Madrid are currently third and second in their domestic leagues respectively.

Neville: Mourinho won't replace Fergie Retired Manchester United defender Gary Neville has urged Jose Mourinho to forget about managing Manchester United anytime soon. Talks on who will replace Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm of United when he finally calls it a day continue to be on the lips of many. And Mourinho, who is currently at Real Madrid, has been widely tipped as the top candidate for the hot seat at Old Trafford and is reportedly planning a move back to England at the end of the season. But Neville, who recently announced his retirement from football after spending 20 long years with United, has thrown a wet blanket on the Portuguese's hopes of managing the Red Devils. The 36-year-old was quoted in The Sun as saying: "There are many great managers and there's always speculation about who's going to take over from Sir Alex. "I'm sure when the time does come, Mourinho is one of the candidates who will be mentioned because of the success he's had elsewhere. "He's a character. You have to respect people for what they do and he's very good at what he does. He's been successful wherever he's been. "But it doesn't come into my head at this moment in time as Sir Alex is still going stronger than ever. "It's a waste of time to start speculating who will take over from him." Meanwhile, Ferguson looks poised to land his 12th Premier League title should United fend off the challenge of Arsenal, who are currently just three points behind them with a game in hand. DISQUS...

Real starlet on Gunners' radar Real Madrid are set to open talks with starlet Pablo Sarabia in a bid to ward off advances from Arsenal. The midfielder is currently starring for the club's second team Castilla and is thought to be held in high regard by coaching staff at the club. Jose Mourinho handed the 19-year-old his Real debut earlier in the season when he came on against Auxerre in the UEFA Champions League. His agent Gines Carvajal confimed that interest in Sarabia is growing, with Real now keen to tie him down to a professional deal to avoid losing him for a minimal fee. "Some clubs are looking at Sarabia and Real knows this," Carvajal was quoted on Skysports.com as saying. "The kid wants to triumph in Real and I will have a meeting with the club's directors at the end of the season." According to Sky, Arsenal's top scout in Iberia, Francis Cagigao has recommended the player to manager Arsene Wenger. Cagigao is widely considered to be the man who initiated Gunners' interest in Cesc Fabregas.

Adebayor: I want to stay at Real Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor has stated that he will do everything he can to make his loan spell permanent. He is with the Spanish giants until the end of the season on loan from Manchester City, but has had a mixed start to life at the Bernabeu having scored two goals in seven games. Despite becoming a key figure with Arsenal prior to his move to Eastlands, Adebayor slowly cut a more frustrated figure during his time in England, and moved away after five years in the country. Adebayor is proud to be at Madrid and is happy to be feeling the love from the supporters. "I can tell. I hear my name chanted around the stadium. It's important to feel loved. I will do everything possible to stay here as long as possible," he told Spanish daily AS. "I came here to do something. I have made something of myself in football and spent years playing at the highest level, but I'm still empty-handed. "For me, the most important thing is to win trophies. When I joined Arsenal, I never imagined that I wouldn't win anything. Here I have to do everything I can to make it happen." The 27-year-old is so eager to impress he has even gone to the lengths of cutting his hair to fit in with the club's values. "I had dreadlocks for three years but, when the opportunity to play for Madrid arose, I knew I'd have them cut off," he added. "This haircut is more appropriate for an institution like Madrid. I'm doing everything possible to integrate." Adebayor left Arsenal under a dark cloud despite becoming one of Arsene Wenger's key men during his time there, after admitting that he would welcome a move to AC Milan and falling out with the club's supporters. Although the player moved to City to the despair of the Gunners, Adebayor admitted that if he could have, he would have stayed at the Emirates for the rest of his career. "It was another level there. Bergkamp, Henry and Van Persie were there - it made me improve as a footballer. I became a key figure in attack and it shows that I was a success," he continued. "(Arsene Wenger taught me) to arrive on time at training, to be professional, how to mentally recover, to act professionally with the other players in the dressing room." Asked if he felt angry about his exit from the North London club, he replied: "To be honest, yes. I left frustrated. I loved the club. When I was young, one of my dreams was to play for Arsenal because my idol, Kanu, played there. I thought I would stay there for the rest of my career. "[Manchester City] was a difficult experience. Mancini has a way of approaching the game. It's life - you have to accept it. I don't feel any resentment."

Rosell: Barca will ignore Jose, Wenger Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says his club will respond to criticism from Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger on the pitch. Real Madrid boss Mourinho has been typically spiky in the media about his rivals all season. Wenger, meanwhile, has made headlines with his outspoken views about Arsenal's Champions League exit to Barca, particularly Tuesday's second-leg defeat. Rosell, however, feels no need to respond to such public criticism. "I'm happy my coach and players speak on the pitch," he said. "(Lionel) Messi does his speaking on the field and that's what Pep (Guardiola) does too, in his way." With Barca seven points clear of nearest rivals Real Madrid and seemingly heading for a third successive title under Guardiola, Rosell remains cautious. "Winning is important but you take it step by step," he said. "There is no point making calculations now. "In football you cannot say anything until the mathematics proves it. With so many games left, seven points is nothing." Rosell remains determined to preserve Barca's heritage, by continuing to put faith in youth development and keeping the club's most famous emblems just as they are. "We will not sell the stadium name," he insisted today. "There are things that can be discussed more or less and there was talk of the Qatar Foundation being involved but that will not happen. "Barcelona not only care about winning titles, but by how they earn them. "This does not happen anywhere else in the world, it is part of our culture, it is essential and we want to keep showing that." Rosell would be happy to draw Tottenham in the Champions League quarter-finals. "If we play against Tottenham it will be perfect because I'm in love with London, but any team will be fine," he said.

What's So Special About Jose Mourinho? He hasn't lost a league game at home in nine years and is eyeing an unprecedented third Champions League title with a third team. Real Madrid's maestro may be the best coach in any sport, anywhere by Grant Wahl José Mourinho has a problem. When fans approach the world's most famous coach—and they do so in great numbers, from Madrid to London to Los Angeles—they are seldom satisfied with a typical autograph. They want something unique. Distinct. Dare it be said: special. "I'll sign JOSÉ MOURINHO," says the Real Madrid manager after a practice in the Spanish capital. "But most of the people say, 'No, no, no. You will sign THE SPECIAL ONE!' " Mourinho sighs, the edges of his trademark smirk curling into a faint smile. "Everybody wants me to be The Special One. But I don't worry. There could be a worse nickname." Besides, it's his own creation. In 2004, during Mourinho's first press conference as Chelsea manager, he grew exasperated by the skepticism over his arrival from his native Portugal. "The English press was speaking to me like I was coming from the moon," he says. "Who are you? Do you have the quality to work in England? For God's sake, give me a chance. I won the Champions League with Porto. I'm a special one. Don't kill me on my first day! "But they got it as if I was saying"—here he adopts the voice of the Almighty—"I am The Special One." And so it went. Such is the force of Mourinho's personality that more than three years after he left England, his puppet alter ego still stars in the popular BBC satire Special 1 TV. These days even Mourinho's critics—and there are many—would have to admit the accuracy of his audacious nickname. In January, FIFA named him the 2010 World Coach of the Year, the result of a remarkable trophy haul at Inter Milan that included winning the Italian league, the Italian Cup and the crown jewel of global club soccer, the UEFA Champions League. In seven full seasons as a manager with Porto, Chelsea and Inter, Mourinho, 48, has won 14 major trophies, including two Champions League titles and six domestic league championships. Where does Mourinho rank among the world's soccer coaches? "He's at the top, there's no doubt about that," says the legendary Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho's friend and rival. "You have certain criteria in terms of top management, and that is longevity of success—which is very difficult today—and what you win. You have to regard his achievements as really first-class." Now, nine months after taking over Real Madrid, Mourinho faces his most pressure-packed test yet: to return the most decorated club of all time to its past glory, not just in Spain (where archrival Barcelona has won four of the last six La Liga titles) but also in Europe (where Real Madrid has not advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals since 2004). "Real Madrid wants to be again the best—of the present and of the future," says Mourinho. "That's my challenge." If he can burnish his own résumé in the process, so much the better—no coach has won European crowns with three different teams. Real meets Lyon at Madrid's Bernabéu Stadium on March 16 in the second leg of their home-and-home round of 16 series; the teams tied 1--1 at Lyon on Feb. 22. As Mourinho has risen to the summit, he has expanded his horizons, analyzing the management styles at Microsoft and Apple, reading Colin Powell's autobiography and Phil Jackson's books, studying John Wooden's Pyramid of Success. He wants to come to the U.S., both to observe NFL coaching staffs and, eventually, to manage the U.S. national team or an MLS club. "A football coach who only understands football is not a great coach," says Mourinho. "We have to be good in other things. I never forget: My players are men. Men with different personalities, different cultures. To deal with this is very important in building a team. I think I have, maybe, a gift." Mourinho can't help himself. He is by turns smart, vain, funny, needy, tough and as thin-skinned as a pinot grape. But who's to argue with him? He has a gift. No coach today compares. Phil Jackson may have won 11 NBA titles, but he always had the best players. Mourinho conquered the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, teams with nowhere near the talent and payrolls of their top rivals. Joe Torre and Mike Krzyzewski may have reached the pinnacle four times, but they did not have to connect with their players in five languages. Mourinho speaks Portuguese, English, French, Italian and Spanish, fluently. Bill Belichick owns three Super Bowl rings as a head coach, but even he can't match Mourinho's most remarkable record: He has gone nine years without losing a league game at home, 148 matches with four different teams. Nor do any American coaches face the crushing weekly pressure of European soccer, the only game that matters on the Continent. In the political tinderbox of Real Madrid, where a single defeat can spark a crisis, Mourinho might not even survive the season. But there is a reason his $12 million annual salary is the highest of any coach on the planet. He's the best in the world. Milan, May 2010. The news is out. Mourinho is leaving Inter Milan for Real Madrid. Outside the Bernebéu after the Champions League final, an Italian TV camera captures Mourinho ducking into a luxury sedan. The car advances, then abruptly stops. Mourinho emerges from behind the smoked-glass windows and walks 20 yards to Inter defender Marco Materazzi, the hardman best known for absorbing Zinédine Zidane's head butt in the 2006 World Cup final. Mourinho and Materazzi embrace for five, 10, 20 seconds. Both men's shoulders are heaving. Two of the toughest men in soccer are sobbing like Dick Vermeil. Ask people what makes Mourinho unique, and one common response is this: His players almost universally adore him. Didier Drogba, the prolific Chelsea striker, says he felt "like an orphan" after Mourinho departed West London in 2007. "He's a great man," Drogba says. "You can see how close players are with him. He has a way of getting into players' minds as a manager—and as a man, the kind of man who's ready to give you all his confidence and trust because he expects that you'll give it back." Drogba, too, shed tears when Mourinho left, one of the few times, he says, that he has cried in his adult life. Materazzi's native language is Italian. Drogba's is French. Mourinho has a rule: When he addresses his teams, he does so in the language of the team's country, the better to integrate the players into the club and the culture. (At Inter he spoke Italian even though only four of his 24 first-team players were Italian.) But in private meetings with individual players Mourinho communicates whenever possible in their native tongues. "By speaking five languages I can have a special relation with them," he says. "A player feels more comfortable explaining emotions in the language where he has no doubts. So he has no problem to open his heart, to criticize, to be criticized." In other words, Mourinho's ability to connect is equal parts psychology and linguistics. To sit across from Mourinho and interview him is to be subject to a form of high-level seduction, though not in a sexual way. He'll lean close, elbows on knees, hands folded together, as though he's sharing a secret that nobody else knows. Is it a kind of performance art? Of course. But isn't most of sports? The details are in the delivery, and invariably Mourinho's players, to say nothing of the global media, buy what he is selling. If Ferguson is known for the scorching-hot diatribes of a drill sergeant, Mourinho is the sports world's version of a pickup artist. Manchester, England, March 2004. Who is this man? How dare he violate the sacred turf of Old Trafford? It's the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, and tiny Porto has just stunned the soccer world, scoring in the 90th minute to eliminate mighty Manchester United. Now Mourinho is bursting from the coach's box, racing down the touchline—fists pumping like pistons, coattails flapping in his jet wash—all the way to his celebrating players at the corner flag. Who is this man? He's an attention magnet, that's what he is. Unlike most managers, Mourinho broke into elite coaching not as a former star player—his brief career as a defender ended at age 24—but as an interpreter. He translated for English manager Sir Bobby Robson for five seasons, first in Portugal and then in Spain, at Barcelona. When Robson left Barça in 1997, Mourinho stayed on as an assistant coach under Louis van Gaal, earning the Dutchman's trust for his tactical acumen, player relationships and famously detailed scouting reports. (Mourinho had started analyzing teams as a teenager for his father, Félix, a former player and coach in Portugal.) "He works like a crazy man," says Drogba. "At Chelsea he was doing the same [scouting reports] for fourth division teams in the FA Cup as he was for Manchester United. It shows you how serious he is." By the time Mourinho took over at Porto in the Portuguese first division in 2002, he'd formed a guiding soccer philosophy. The decisive moments in most games, he argues, are transitions, the instants when teams spring from defense to attack (and vice versa) after a change of possession, when opponents can be off-balance. "These are periods of three or four seconds," he says. "If the players are of high quality, the game sometimes is nonstop. You must have a great balance. That's why I believe in having players with the tactical culture to analyze the game. All of them have to think the same thing at the same time. It's not basketball, because in basketball there are five players. Here there are 11." If the game is about transitions, then so too is Mourinho's career, which saw him move from Porto to Chelsea to Inter Milan, never staying more than three full seasons at one club, all the while dominating the headlines more than any of his players. "I had the luck of making history in those three clubs," he says. "At Porto it was winning the [2003--04] Champions League without money. We played Manchester United and Real Madrid, where the salary of one player was enough to pay the Porto team. Chelsea was also very special, because it was the first time Chelsea was champion [of England] in 50 years. In the ['09--10] Champions League with Inter we were far from being the most powerful team. We had to play four times in the competition against the best team in the world last season, which was Barcelona." Inter's stunning upset of Barça in the Champions League semifinals—a 3--2 aggregate win in which Inter held off Barcelona in the second leg despite going down to 10 men inside a half hour—convinced everyone that Mourinho, more than any other coach alive, had the chops to win with inferior players. It also further polarized the world's soccer watchers into two camps: one that hailed Mourinho as a practical genius and another that derided him as a defensive-minded killjoy. And it drew the attention of Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. In his previous term, from 2000 to 2006, Pérez had signed the so-called Galácticos, a Dream Team that included Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham and Luís Figo. Pérez started his second term in '09 by buying two more former World Players of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká, but Real Madrid saw Barcelona sweep to victory in the Spanish league. This season's new Galáctico was Mourinho himself, the miracle man who had vanquished Barça, Real Madrid's most bitter enemy. He didn't come cheaply. Real Madrid paid Inter a reported $10 million transfer fee and signed Mourinho to a four-year deal worth an estimated $48 million. Beyond the money, his hiring heralded a cultural transformation for the club. "What Mourinho brings is a newfound respect for the coach, a position that has always been criminally undervalued at Real Madrid," says Sid Lowe, the Madrid-based correspondent for The Guardian. "Now the coach is the most important guy at the club. Whether that will last, of course, is another issue." Indeed, Real Madrid's fans and directors are accustomed to winning with panache, a word that has rarely described Mourinho's teams. Jorge Valdano, Real's director of soccer, once called the style of Mourinho's Chelsea "s--- on a stick," and the two men have jousted in the Spanish media this season. For his part The Special One points out that he now has more entertaining and possession-oriented players. "With Inter we had no qualities to control the game by having ball possession all the time," Mourinho says. "At Real Madrid, I am adapting to the qualities of the players. We have people that can control the game not by defending but by having possession of the ball." None is more electrifying than Ronaldo, 26, a whooshing force of speed, skill and hair gel who's engaged in an epic battle with Barcelona's 23-year-old Lionel Messi. Through Sunday, Ronaldo had scored 34 goals in 39 games in all competitions; Messi, 39 in 35. Under Mourinho, his Portuguese countryman, Ronaldo has returned to the devastating form he showed two years ago with Manchester United. "I've always had great players, but I've never had a Cristiano Ronaldo," Mourinho says. "Last year Real relied too much on Cristiano to decide things. The best thing is not to make him feel responsible for the success or nonsuccess of the team. He's one more—with different qualities, of course. He can make the difference when things are very equalized, but behind him he has a structure. I think he's much more comfortable." In many ways the season's first six months have been a prologue to the Spanish Armageddon that could erupt over the next three. Real Madrid and Barça may well be the world's two best teams, and so Mourinho will be judged on how his side performs in the big games: the Champions League and head-to-head against Barcelona. The Catalans won round one on their home turf in November, a 5--0 humiliation that was the worst loss of Mourinho's career. Yet it remains one of only two Real Madrid defeats in 32 league and Champions League games, and the two rivals could meet as many as four more times this season: in La Liga (April 17), the Spanish cup final (April 20) and perhaps in a two-leg Champions League showdown. The rivalry represents more than just two cities, tracing as it does to the days when Real Madrid was a symbol of the Franco regime, Barcelona of Catalan resistance. For now Barça has the advantage: a seven-point lead in La Liga. And yet it would be folly to dismiss Mourinho, who knows as well as anyone that the one time he beat Barcelona in four tries last season was in the game that mattered most. London, April 2007. Talk about odd pairings. WWE Raw has come to England, and now Shane McMahon is interrupting his ring monologue: "Wait a minute, I know you! That's José Mourinho! The head coach, if you will, of the Chelsea football team!" A chorus of boos (and a few cheers) rains down on Mourinho, who's sitting between his two children in the front row. Mourinho smiles, wags a finger at McMahon. The coach is in on this. So maybe Shane-O-Mac butchered his name, pronouncing it HOE-zay instead of the correct joe-ZAY. Who cares? It's The Special One and pro wrestling! It's ... a perfect match. When Mourinho returns home from Real Madrid's Valdebebas training center, he's no longer the boss. That role falls to his wife of 21 years, Tami, and their kids: daughter Matilde, 14, and son José Jr., 10. "I have to do what they want," Mourinho says. "I have to watch the programs they want to see, the movies they want to go to. I have to go to the wrestling because they enjoy the wrestling." Mourinho's children have attended the American Schools in London, Milan and Madrid. He expects they will go to college in the U.S. And therein lies an opportunity for soccer in America. "We want to be close to our kids the maximum we can," he says. "So in a few years when they go in that direction, me and my wife are going to go in the same direction. I see myself coaching a [club] team, coaching the national team or helping develop soccer in the U.S. When I'm tired of winning things in Europe, it's something I want to do. I want to coach the Portuguese national team, and I want to work in the United States." Do the math. Matilde will be college age in four years, José Jr. in eight. The timing would set up well for Mourinho to take over the U.S. soon after, say, World Cup 2018. He already brings his teams to Los Angeles for preseason training every year. "I love it," Mourinho says of America. "The people have a very open mentality. Everybody is the same. Status doesn't count a lot. I like it very much in this way." If Mourinho eventually crosses the Atlantic, it would be the perfect coda to his international high-wire act. In the ultimate global sport, he has become the ultimate global coach, crossing borders, switching languages and winning championships wherever he goes. For The Special One, remember, the game is all about the transitions.

Makelele: Mourinho is cruel Former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has made some cutting remarks about former coach Jose Mourinho. Makelele was part of the Stamford Bridge outfit from 2003 to 2008 and played under Mourinho when the Portuguese held the club reins from 2004 to 2007. Speaking to El Confidencial, Makelele admitted Mourinho was a great coach but also had a penchant for being ruthless and hogging the spotlight. "He is a born winner, he knows how to use you and get the best from you, from this point of view he is a great coach," said the Frenchman who now plays for Paris St Germain in France's Ligue 1. "The problem is when he leaves you out. He is calculated, cruel and ambitious. He used to keep players away from the spotlight so he could take all the fame. "We used to get drunk together and joke about, but then he forgot about everyone and just focused on the new players. "He forgot about the players and he just took all the credit for himself. No-one was allowed to be more famous than him." Mourinho has never been one to pull verbal punches and it will be interesting to see what he has to say about these astonishing accusations.

Mourinho: I'm coming home to England Jose Mourinho is poised to make a sensational return to England at the end of the season, according to reports in the UK. The Real Madrid tactician has been linked with a move back to the land where he won two Premier League titles with Chelsea during his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge. Further fueling the speculation is the tension that has built behind the scenes at the Santiago Bernabeu this season due to the appararent lack of financial backing and Real's faltering title hopes - Madrid now trail Barclona by seven points in the the La Liga standings. As a result, English tabloid newspaper The Sun, has reported that the Special One is growing increasingly tired of life in Spain and misses the passion and excitement of the Barclays Premier League. His preferred destination remains a mystery but top clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and not forgetting Chelsea, are all expected to be keen to acquire Mourinho's services. However, Blues striker Fernando Torres has dropped the first hint as to Mourinho's ultimate desitnation, claiming the Portuguese maestro remains very much a wanted man at Stamford Bridge. "Mourinho is a big coach and is very much wanted at Chelsea," the Spaniard was quoted as saying. "I'll work with him anytime but I know it's difficult."

Raul: I don't want to face Real Schalke striker Raul admits he would prefer to avoid more Spanish opposition in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Especially what would be an "emotional" return to former club Real Madrid. Raul helped Schalke dump La Liga side Valencia out at the last-16 stage, winning the second leg at home 3-1 for a 4-2 aggregate victory. "I'm very happy. For Schalke to be in the quarters is a very important step. Now we can enjoy two more games against a great opponent because, whoever it is, they will be among the best in Europe. We will try to make it difficult for them and dream of the semi-finals," Raul said in Marca. Last night's success means Schalke join Barcelona, Tottenham and Shakhtar Donetsk in the next round, with the final four places to be decided next week. Among those hoping to progress through to the quarter-finals are Raul's old side Madrid, who are currently locked at 1-1 with Lyon following the first leg in France, but the veteran hitman admits he would rather not face the team he represented for over 15 years before moving to Germany last summer. "I would prefer for us not to face any Spanish team. I don't want Madrid because it would be too emotional to return to the Santiago Bernabeu wearing another shirt," said the 33-year-old, who won the Champions League three times with the Spanish giants but was also part of the Madrid side that has failed to get beyond the last 16 in six successive campaigns. He added: "For me it's a special competition. I've gone many years without getting past the last 16 and to be in the quarters will be special. We are performing at a great level in the cup competitions and where we haven't been consistent is in the Bundesliga. "Hopefully we can achieve two or three wins so as not to suffer towards the end of the season." Schalke are currently 10th in the Bundesliga, five points above the bottom three.

What did Mourinho tell you? To do the best I could, to enjoy playing, to play as I know how and to make an effort. I’m no longer a 16-year-old boy who needs instructions. I know how to be a professional. Who has helped you the most? Lass. I helped him when he came to Arsenal. I showed him where the clothes were kept and the rules of the club. He’s returned the favor by doing the same for me here. And Benzema as well, because he’s a great guy and we share a past in France. Ramos, Cristiano… everyone. Özil reminded me of how important punctuality is [jajaja!!!] and we work out together in the gym. Benzema has scored a lot of goals since you arrived. When I arrived, I said I was here to help Benzema, not hurt him. As long as I can stay here, I don’t mind if Karim scores 100 goals and I don’t score any. We’re here to win titles. I want the Champions, I want to win and individual things don’t matter to me. Give me a contract saying that we’ll win La Décima 2-0 with two goals from Benzema and I’ll sign it. Have you given him advice? I told him that in football, one day you can be the hero and the next day the most criticized one, so enjoy football. He’s working very hard and we all have a lot of faith in him. He arrives early for the training sessions to work out in the gym. Who do you connect the best with on the field? I don’t have any preferences. I have good discussions with Xabi because he speaks English well. I feel comfortable with Lass and also with Özil, Di María and Benzema. Does Özil remind you of Zidane? They have similarities. He’s a great player. He has a unique way of looking at the game. He has two eyes on his face and two more on the back of his head. Have you realized that you’ve already won over the Bernabéu? I realized it, I hear the stadium chant my name. It’s important to feel loved. Do you like being called Manolito? [Hmmm, no questions about Adenabor?] I’m an African man, I don’t care what I’m called. I know that Manolito is said with affection and shows friendship, so I like that. In France, I was called Nwanko Kanu. Do you think you’ll still be here past June? I hope so. I will do everything possible to stay here the maximum amount of time possible.

Manolito Adebayor at AS March 11, 2011 tags: adebayor, özil, benzema, lass, mourinho, raúl, xabi, zidane by unamadridista The Santiago Bernabéu is already chanting his name, and if Manolito Adebayor hasn’t won you over yet, this interview might help. In it, we find out that he cut off his dreadlocks because Real Madrid is a serious institution, that he considers Fernando Morientes an older brother, and that Mesut Özil reminds him of the importance of being on time. I love Manu’s mature, team-oriented and unselfish attitude (as well as his admiration for Raúl), which really comes out in his words (and hopefully in my translation too!). Let’s see if we can help him with his dream of winning a title so he’ll have something to fill his little hands with. Note: scroll down all the way for a “muy original” picture at the end. Are you happy? I was born happy. No one could be happier than I am now. Here, I’ve fulfilled a dream and I feel useful once again. Why did you change your look? I had dreadlocks for three years, and when I got the opportunity to play in Madrid, I knew that I would have to cut them off. I didn’t see myself triumphing here with them. This hairstyle is more adequate for an institution like Madrid. I’m doing everything possible to integrate. Here, it’s also warmer than it was in England. How are you feeling? There’s a great atmosphere. Everyone has treated me very well. I ask myself, “how can I return this wonderful treatment?” Well, by training as hard as I can and giving it everything I’ve got. Only in that way will I be able to properly express my gratitude. What was your childhood like? It wasn’t easy. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon (fun fact – in Spanish, it’s diamond spoon) in my mouth. It was very difficult. We all know how poor Africa is. I’m from Togo, one of the poorest countries on the continent. I took a risk going to France at the age of 15 and everything turned out like a fairy tale. I give thanks to God, because He’s always been by my side. Each time I go through a difficult moment, He helps me. My childhood wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t easy either. Now I am a professional footballer and I play for the biggest team in the world. What did your parents to? My parents were Nigerians who emigrated to Togo. That’s my country. My father was a bank manager, and my mother had her own small business selling things. In 2005, my father passed away. It’s a typical African history. I don’t regret anything in my past and I’m proud to be African. [A couple of questions about how he went to France, then the move to Monaco, where he was a teammate of Fernando Morientes.] How did Morientes treat you? I have a good feeling with him. He was my professor. He told me that he understood what I was going through, because the same thing had happened to him. He told me to never give up, to keep moving forward and that I had everything I needed to triumph. After we made it into the final of the Champions, the prince of Monaco invited us to his house to congratulate us. That day, Morientes took me aside and told me that I was fantastic, that I was going to get far and I would play in a bigger club. I felt that his words had come from the heart and I adopted him as an older brother. Morientes talked about how you asked him about Madrid. Of course! The first thing I asked him was if he could get me Raúl’s shirt! (Laughs). For me, it was a dream to be with someone who knew what it was like to play with Madrid. I think I overwhelmed him with questions. I asked him what it was like to win the Champions; what it was like to play in Madrid; what Zidane and Figo were like… I asked him to invite Raúl to one of our games and he did. One day, I ran into Raúl in our locker room. I couldn’t believe it! From that day, I began to fall in love with Madrid. I had a lot of affection for Morientes. He was very modest, he cleaned his own boots and shirts. He became my idol, an example to follow. Which Real Madrid player did you like the most? Zidane made me dream. After him, Raúl of course. He always scored goals and did his part. And not only during one or two years, but for more than 10. And he continues to do so. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon. I would like to talk with him. Have you spoken with Zidane? We share the same boot brand and I’ve met him. He knows how much I admire him. With Monaco, you lost in the final of the Champions to Mourinho’s Oporto. The world found out who Mourinho was from that final. It was a golden opportunity that we let slip by. Mou came out with a different system, surprising us. It was very hard to accept. And now Mourinho can make you win. I hope so. That’s why I came here. I’ve made a name for myself and I’ve played on the top level for many years, but my hands are empty. For me, the most important thing is winning titles. When I went to Arsenal, I never imagined that I wouldn’t win anything. Here, I have to do everything possible for that to happen. We have a lot of possibilities in the Copa del Rey. We also have possibilities in the Champions, but that’s further away. In the Liga, there’s a seven-point difference and it’s not easy, but it’s not over yet. Imagine if Barça fails against Sevilla and we win everything including el clásico. We could make up six points. [Talk about his time at Arsenal.] Tell me about the tragedy you lived through with the national team. It was the worst moment of my life. It’s something that made me grow up. Now I know that in the blink of an eye, you can lose your life. For me, the most important thing is to enjoy life. I was born happy and now I’m even more so. I could be dead and instead I’m alive and playing in Madrid. What else could I ask for? Nothing. Do you speak with Kodjovi Obilale, the goalkeeper who’s now in a wheelchair? In Africa, we call our friends “brothers.” He was my brother before that, but all of us who were on that bus have gotten even closer since the tragedy. Obilale and I speak every day and anything he needs from me, he has. What happened to him could have happened to me. He was only two rows ahead of me and now he can’t even walk. You no longer play with your national team. Will you return one day? At the moment, my decision has not changed. It’s difficult to understand how it’s possible that my Federation doesn’t help Obilale after he received three bullets while representing his country. That was your worst moment. Was the best when Madrid called you in January? Yes, but it was also very stressful. When they told me that City and Madrid had agreed on terms and that I had to travel to Madrid, I couldn’t eat for 48 hours due to stress. I wasn’t even playing with City and Madrid signed me. I thought it was a joke until I arrived at Valdebebas and I met Mourinho and Zidane. That’s when it hit me and I started believing.

Mourinho lauds Granero's work rate Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has praised Esteban Granero as the most hardworking player at the club. Granero, started his career on the youth ranks of Real but having failed to break into the first team, left the club to join fellow La Liga outfit Getafe in 2007. As with most of the young players that are allowed to leave the club, Real included a buy-back clause in the transfer deal, and after Granero impressed in his two seasons at Getafe, the Spanish giants exercised that option and brought the midfielder back to the Santiago Bernabeu. While Granero managed to play a signficant amount of matches last season, his time on the field has been limited under Mourinho this year, as he struggles to get a game with many big name players at Real all competing for spots. His coach, however, has praised Granero for this work ethic, and expressed his pain at not being able to reward his player's training ground performances. Speaking in an interview on Real's television channel, Mourinho revealed: "It pained me to leave Granero in the stands against Real Sociedad because nobody works as much as he does." "He is physically fit, intelligent and has a great heart. He always wants to help the team." While Real this season have regularly played with two wide attackers supporting a central striker, Granero is more suited playing in an attacking central role. Mourinho has since suggested that it is this tactical setup that does not allow Granero more game time. "Granero's natural postion is in a 4-4-2 system within a diamond schematic. There is no one better at Real Madrid to play in that position." The Spaniard did however manage to start Real's most recent La Liga encounter against Racing Santander and put in an encouraging performance in a 3-1 win. With the fixture list starting to pile up as the season reaches it climax, and Real still competing for silverware on three fronts, Granero will be hoping his manager will be able to reward his endeavour with more appearances on the pitch.

Mourinho lauds Granero's work rate Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has praised Esteban Granero as the most hardworking player at the club. Granero, started his career on the youth ranks of Real but having failed to break into the first team, left the club to join fellow La Liga outfit Getafe in 2007. As with most of the young players that are allowed to leave the club, Real included a buy-back clause in the transfer deal, and after Granero impressed in his two seasons at Getafe, the Spanish giants exercised that option and brought the midfielder back to the Santiago Bernabeu. While Granero managed to play a signficant amount of matches last season, his time on the field has been limited under Mourinho this year, as he struggles to get a game with many big name players at Real all competing for spots. His coach, however, has praised Granero for this work ethic, and expressed his pain at not being able to reward his player's training ground performances. Speaking in an interview on Real's television channel, Mourinho revealed: "It pained me to leave Granero in the stands against Real Sociedad because nobody works as much as he does." "He is physically fit, intelligent and has a great heart. He always wants to help the team." While Real this season have regularly played with two wide attackers supporting a central striker, Granero is more suited playing in an attacking central role. Mourinho has since suggested that it is this tactical setup that does not allow Granero more game time. "Granero's natural postion is in a 4-4-2 system within a diamond schematic. There is no one better at Real Madrid to play in that position." The Spaniard did however manage to start Real's most recent La Liga encounter against Racing Santander and put in an encouraging performance in a 3-1 win. With the fixture list starting to pile up as the season reaches it climax, and Real still competing for silverware on three fronts, Granero will be hoping his manager will be able to reward his endeavour with more appearances on the pitch.

Alonso lauds motivational Mourinho Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has praised Jose Mourinho's ability to motivate and connect with his players. Alonso, who moved to Real in 2009, has in the past shared excellent relationships with his managers, having been one of Rafa Benitez's favourites at Liverpool, as well as playing almost every game under Manuel Pellegrini last season. However, Alonso believes that despite current coach Mourinho's tactical prowess, what makes him stand out from the others is his ability to interact with his players on a personal level. Speaking to Realmadrid TV, the midfield maestro revealed: "He prepares for a game really well and he makes good decisions during matches." "But what's really different from him is that from an emotional point of view, he is really strong. He makes each player the best they can be." "For key moments, such as in knockout games or finals, you have to be well prepared and have the psychological edge over the opposition. He knows how to connect with us and that motivates us greatly for any challenge." While the Portuguese coach has often courted controversy thanks to his outspoken nature, Alonso's declaration is just the latest in a line of comments by players who have spoken of their positive relationship with Mourinho. Alonso had further praise for team-mates Esteban Granero and Mesut Ozil, both of whom starred in Real's last game, a 3-1 win against Racing Santander. "Esteban is a phenomenom. He will definitely be a major player for us in the future." "Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in awhile. He has the gift of a perfect touch in tight spaces that makes him special." Real continue their pursuit of leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday when they host Hercules at the Santiago Bernabeu, a day before their rivals make a tricky trip to Sevilla. DISQUS...

Alonso lauds motivational Mourinho Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has praised Jose Mourinho's ability to motivate and connect with his players. Alonso, who moved to Real in 2009, has in the past shared excellent relationships with his managers, having been one of Rafa Benitez's favourites at Liverpool, as well as playing almost every game under Manuel Pellegrini last season. However, Alonso believes that despite current coach Mourinho's tactical prowess, what makes him stand out from the others is his ability to interact with his players on a personal level. Speaking to Realmadrid TV, the midfield maestro revealed: "He prepares for a game really well and he makes good decisions during matches." "But what's really different from him is that from an emotional point of view, he is really strong. He makes each player the best they can be." "For key moments, such as in knockout games or finals, you have to be well prepared and have the psychological edge over the opposition. He knows how to connect with us and that motivates us greatly for any challenge." While the Portuguese coach has often courted controversy thanks to his outspoken nature, Alonso's declaration is just the latest in a line of comments by players who have spoken of their positive relationship with Mourinho. Alonso had further praise for team-mates Esteban Granero and Mesut Ozil, both of whom starred in Real's last game, a 3-1 win against Racing Santander. "Esteban is a phenomenom. He will definitely be a major player for us in the future." "Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in awhile. He has the gift of a perfect touch in tight spaces that makes him special." Real continue their pursuit of leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday when they host Hercules at the Santiago Bernabeu, a day before their rivals make a tricky trip to Sevilla. DISQUS...

Kakà reaches 3M followers! Share …and almost 6M on Facebook! Kaka reaches, today, shortly after 16 pm, 3 million followers on Twitter. A record for a football player! Kaka is currently the second sportsman (in activity) most followed on Twitter, behind the NBA player Shaquille O’Neill (3.5 million followers). He is far ahead his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Mourinho united Real Madrid squad" Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol has given Jose Mourinho the thumbs up for uniting their squad. Albiol is confident that his side can achieve more under Mourinho this season. Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "I am grateful to the coach for having given me the chance to play." "I have been able to get back into a rhythm and prove that I am prepared for anything. "We are all very happy with Mourinho. I think what really matters is that he got us all to row in the same direction. He has what players think is crucial, and that is to tell you how it is to your face and to push you. "He always has us on the brink so that we are always focused and plugged into the team. You have to be prepared at all times." "I can't wait for the Copa final because it is being played close to my home," added the Spain international. "I used to be ball boy at Mestalla and I remember seeing great Champions League matches there with teams like Arsenal and Leeds United. It is a very special stadium." Real Madrid will play arch-rivals Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey in April at the Mestalla, which was where Albiol began his football career.

Fernando Gago on Liverpool's radar Real Madrid's Fernando Gago could be ready to leave the Santiago Bernabeu and join Barclays Premier League side Liverpool. Gago, who joined Real from Boca Juniors in the January transfer window of 2007, made an impression in his debut season, which be built on in the next two campaigns, commanding a regular first team place and winning two La Liga titles. However, since 2009, the Argentinean defensive midfielder has struggled to establish himself as an automatic starter in Real's lineup, facing stiff competition from the likes of Mahamdou Diarra, Lassana Diarra, Xabi Alonso, and more recently, Sami Khedira. According to reports in The People, Gago, having only made seven appearances in all competition this season so far, is prepared to leave Madrid in search of first team football. The reports have also named Liverpool as a likely destination for the Argentine, who at the age of 24, still has considerable youth on his side, and could develop into an important player for any side should he be give the chance to play regularly. Gago, will however, have to decide if he will be able to force his way into the centre of Liverpool's midfield, an area they are not lacking in players, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Lucas Leiva and the much-maligned Christian Poulsen all vying for a spot. DISQUS...

Real Madrid eye bid for Otamendi Real Madrid could look to bolster their defence by signing Porto star Nicolas Otamendi. According to reports from A Bola, manager Jose Mourinho is looking for a new defender, given the uncertain future of Pepe, and rates the Argentine to be a good replacement. The 23-year old has caught attention in recent years, moving from Velez Sarsfield to Porto in 2010. Furthermore, Otamendi was highly rated by ex-Argentina manager Diego Maradona, who selected him over Javier Zanetti in the squad that played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Although he has yet to earn a starting place for the Portuguese side, the club does rate him highly, and will not let him go for cheap should the La Liga giants decide to make a move for their player. Currently, his contract with Porto will only expire in 2015, which could force Mourinho to splash the cash in order to get his man.

Mourinho happy with Real's calmness Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has praised Karim Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor after his side's 3-1 win over Racing Santander. Following Barcelona's win on Saturday night, which stretched their lead at the top of the La Liga table to ten points, Real were keen to cut the deficit down again, but had to do it without leading goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who suffered an injury in their midweek 7-0 victory against Malaga. Instead, it was Benzema and Adebayor who came to the fore, scoring the goals that earned Real an important victory. Mourinho has since praised both players, revealing that despite not regularly employing the usage of a front pair, Benzema and Adebayor adapted well and combined to guide the team to victory. "Having two forwards allows us to have alternatives. We have players who are adapted to play both ways, and tonight we responded very well," Mourinho was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "Karim and Adebayor provided good solutions." The Portuguese coach also attributed the win down to his side's ability to keep calm under pressure. "We came out strong tonight and we had some early chances. The opponent felt like it had very few possibilities because we played a fantastic match." "I liked the fact that we stayed calm." Mourinho also revealed that while he did not expect Barcelona to slip up in the title race, he was focused on winning as many games as possible, including their rival's visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on April 17. "I play my games and I try to earn as many points as I can. We win if we play well and are better than our opponents." "I don't expect them [barcelona] to slip up, but I do hope we win [against them] at home." Mourinho further singled out midfielder Esteban Granero for praise, whilst also justifying his decision not to bring on winger Pedro Leon, who has only made five appearances in the league all season, instead choosing to give youngster Alex Fernandez his debut. "Granero is a player that has to be taken into account. He is intelligent, he learns and is very useful to the team." "Pedro Leon stayed on the bench. I think playing for four minutes was of great value for Alex." "But for Pedro it wouldn't have been significant. I wanted to make Alex happy. He had a marvelous night." Real next host Hercules in the league on March 12, before an important week where they encounter French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in their decisive UEFA Champions League knockout match on March 16, following up with the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid that weekend.

Kakà is out for 15 days Share According to RealMadrid.com, Kakà is injured on his left knee and he won’t be able to play during 15 days… Following Real Madrid’s 26 February match against Deportivo Coruña, Kaka felt pain on the exterior of his left knee and subsequently an X-ray diagnosis was performed to evaluate the extent of the injury. Following a complete evaluation including an MRI, which was compared to previous studies on the player, a slight edema on the exterior of his left knee was detected and diagnosed as Iliotibial band syndrome. Treatment includes fitness work in the gymnasium and on the pitch, as well as complementary physiotherapy. The player is expected to miss 15 days and his progress will be monitored.

Kakà responds to the rumours Share Kakà finally answers about “El Pais” rumors on his Twitter account: @Kaka You can deny now that you have achieved the goal. RT @ el_pais: The top story on our website: Kaka gets tired of Mourinho. Thanks Sole for the traduction from spanish ;] So, what do you think? Kakà is very polite, as always, but he didn’t really explain this weird situation...

Galliani: We can't afford Kaka wages AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani admits a return to the San Siro for Kaka hinges on the Brazilian taking a pay cut. Kaka was a huge hit at Milan before his mega-transfer deal to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. Since then, the midfielder's career at Madrid has been largely dogged by injuries. Speculation in the press is growing that the 28-year-old could look to revive his fortunes on the pitch with a return to the club where he first made his name in European football. "Kaka's return to Milan? Ricardo earns too much, because in Spain they pay less taxes," Galliani told RaiDue. "I am sorry that he has problems in Madrid, but to come back to us he would have to drop a lot his salary. "We can afford the wage of only one [player like] Ibrahimovic." Meanwhile, Kaka has been hit by a fresh injury blow this week. The midfielder faces a further fortnight on the sidelines after suffering another knee injury. He had only recently returned to first-team action following eight months out, and he felt another niggle to the same knee which underwent surgery during the match against Deportivo La Coruna at the end of last month. Scans have uncovered an oedema - an accumulation of fluid - on the knee.