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Casillas to Marca "Schuster is modest and very excited with this new challenge" Iker Casillas wasn't able to make his debut with this season's Real Madrid on Friday. He was injured throughout the team's entire first week of training, but he is fine now and ready to do what Bernd Schuster asks of him. He gave his first impressions of the new Real Madrid in an interview to Marca. Have you recovered from your injury? Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. Will you make your debut against Hannover 96? I will if the coach wants me to... I am anxious to play because my injury had me doing strengthening work on my leg all week. Now is Dudek's turn to compete with the mighty Casillas (César left to join Zaragoza and Diego López is now playing for Villarreal). Do you consider yourself to be untouchable? I've never felt that way. I understand why Diego López decided to leave and I wish him all the best. I don't decide who has to play. It's not my fault; I don't thwart anyone's aspirations. You are a very nice guy. Don't you feel bad when you see a teammate benched in every game? I can't complain with my situation because I am privileged enough to play, which is what I most enjoy in life. I don't know if I would be able to withstand being benched. There was a time when I stopped playing that much and I didn't like it, but we must always be respectful with our teammates. Dudek is your roomate. Do you get along? We more or less manage to communicate thanks to Spanglish. It is actually very funny. He teaches me some English and I teach him some Spanish. What has he taught you? I'm afraid I can't really tell you some of the things he's taught me (laughs). No, seriously, he is adapting to the team very well and working very hard to learn the language as soon as possible. He is a great guy. Do you think Barcelona have made better signings? They've signed bigger stars, like Henry, Abidal, and Touré, but Saviola is a great striker, Dudek is very experienced and Metzelder is known all over the world. Pepe has pleasantly surprised all of us. Are you surprised with Barcelona for letting Saviola go? Do you think it is a nice 'gift' on their part that can be very useful for you this season? I have always considered him a great striker. He's here to prove Barcelona made a mistake with him. People say Barcelona are the new galacticos... It seems like it, but four years ago we had some incredibly impressive players and things didn't work out. We didn't respond to what was expected of us and things got complicated. It was a bad time for us. Are you also involved in Schuster's touch football scheme? People are talking too much about touch football. People define us as a touch football team and things aren't really like that. Things are expected to change, but we can't start preparing solely for touch football right after the holidays. The priority here is to win and then to play good football. Last season we had to win at all costs, playing well or playing badly, and we manage to take the title thanks to our impressive drive and hard work. The Club believes we have to change our style, but we have to do more than just playing touch football. I was asking if you will also have to improve on your touch. The coach wants us all to be a part of the new system and he doesn't want the keepers to simply know how to make saves. In some ways, he wants the keepers to behave like a fifth defender. What has surprised you the most about Schuster? How natural he is. He is very modest and very excited with this new challenge. I hope we all do well.

Cicinho to AS "I'll even play as goalkeeper if Schuster asks me to" Cicinho has made it clear that he wants to do whatever it takes to help the team, and he is willing to play no matter where Schuster positions him. In an interview with sports daily AS, the Brazilian pointed out that he would love to win a plethora of titles, saying, "What I saw at Cibeles with the League title was incredible and I would like to repeat that experience." What was your meeting like with Schuster a couple of days ago following the statements you made? The coach told me that the only reason he played me on the left was because he didn't have any other player for the position. I also let him know that I will play wherever he needs me to play. I just won't perform as well on the left or playing as a right forward. It's only fair that he knows that. Capello played me on the left side for 20 minutes against Sevilla. Would playing in a more advanced position bother you? Not at all, but the reality of it is that I won't perform as well. Madrid signed me for how I had been playing as a right-back, but if the coach asks me to play as goalkeeper, I'll do it. I know I am part of a team. Do you see yourself warming the bench? It's not like playing is a live or die situation. I want to fight for a spot, as long as it's on the right. That's where I am strongest. The competition will be good for Madrid. Did your statements bug the squad? No one told me anything. Madrid are back on the offensive for Kaká. We want him to come and I know that Kaká wants to be in Madrid. All Milan have to do is let him walk. It's been a while since we have spoken. If he doesn't come this season, he'll just come another. Is he worth €100 million? Yes. He, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho... They are all worth it. When you have the money, you have to do stuff with it. Madrid should lay it all out for Kaká. The only problem in getting him is that he is very grateful to Milan. Of course! Real Madrid is a lot of Real Madrid! That's right. And people say I want to leave. They're crazy! Do you have an offer to sign for Roma? It looks like it. I have a great friend there, the keeper Doni. When we speak he sometimes hands the phone over to Totti. He asked me how I was and I told him I am happy. That said, if Madrid don't need me, there wouldn't be a problem if I left. Would you leave? I spoke to my wife about the possibility and in a very serious tone she replied, "You'll be going alone" (Laughs). She likes it here. How did Robinho look to you during the Copa América? He's in the best form of his life. He played great during the last four Madrid matches when we were making those huge turnarounds. He was able to maintain that rhythm with the national team. I was surprised that he scored so many goals. He has worked hard to improve. What differences are there between Schuster and Capello? Schuster constantly talks about the ball and chats a lot with us. We are very happy with him. You already know what winning a title is like. What's the next goal? Winning them all in one season. What I saw at Cibeles with the League title was incredible and I would like to repeat that experience. We have already told the newcomers what it was like and they are already going crazy about winning another.

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RONALDO: 'I'm satisfied' LECCO - Here's the comment of the first goal, Ronaldo, on the pitch for 65 minutes: "I'm happy, for the time being it's going well. We must still improve a lot, but it's normal, it was just the first test. From the personal level I'm satisfied: it was my first game after the long holidays, I scored and I'm happy about this. These games help to find the right rhythms. The understanding with Kaka and Seedorf? Perfect."

Friendly: AC Milan 4:0 Lecco - match report Ronaldo and Kaka were on target in Milan’s first friendly of the summer, a comfortable 4-0 win over Lecco. The Rossoneri are the last Serie A side to get their pre-season training started and Il Fenomeno scored their opening goal of the 2007-08 campaign. Clarence Seedorf’s through ball allowed Ronaldo to spring the offside trap and beat the goalkeeper with a precise right-foot finish. Seedorf was in fine form and also set up the second for Kaka before completing the scoring himself. Cristian Brocchi got in on the action for the third, tapping in the rebound from Kaka’s parried effort. There was a definite Selecao feel to the side, as Brazilians Marcos Cafu, Serginho, Kaka and Ronaldo combined brilliantly. In the second half Seedorf hit the upright and Massimo Oddo also appeared to be in good form with some promising crosses. “This team knows itself so well by now. We played with a good tempo and some fine football,” commented Carlo Ancelotti. “I liked the style of the goals too. It has been a useful week. Kaka and Ronaldo have such quality that you can see it even though they are tired from the lack of match fitness.” Milan: Dida, Cafu, Bonera, Kaladze, Serginho, Gattuso, Brocchi, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kakà, Ronaldo

Friendly: AC Milan 4:0 Lecco - match report Ronaldo and Kaka were on target in Milan’s first friendly of the summer, a comfortable 4-0 win over Lecco. The Rossoneri are the last Serie A side to get their pre-season training started and Il Fenomeno scored their opening goal of the 2007-08 campaign. Clarence Seedorf’s through ball allowed Ronaldo to spring the offside trap and beat the goalkeeper with a precise right-foot finish. Seedorf was in fine form and also set up the second for Kaka before completing the scoring himself. Cristian Brocchi got in on the action for the third, tapping in the rebound from Kaka’s parried effort. There was a definite Selecao feel to the side, as Brazilians Marcos Cafu, Serginho, Kaka and Ronaldo combined brilliantly. In the second half Seedorf hit the upright and Massimo Oddo also appeared to be in good form with some promising crosses. “This team knows itself so well by now. We played with a good tempo and some fine football,” commented Carlo Ancelotti. “I liked the style of the goals too. It has been a useful week. Kaka and Ronaldo have such quality that you can see it even though they are tired from the lack of match fitness.” Milan: Dida, Cafu, Bonera, Kaladze, Serginho, Gattuso, Brocchi, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kak

Totti calls Real Madrid's Cicinho: Come to Roma tribalfooball.com - July 30, 2007 Roma captain Francesco Totti has phoned Real Madrid fullback Cicinho urging the Brazilian to join him in Italy for the new season. Roma are ready to make an offer for Cicinho and Totti, says Corriere dello Sport, spoke with him over the weekend. "I see him as an excellent addition for the team," said Totti. "So, I really hope he arrives."

Roma to bid for Real Madrid's Cicinho tribalfooball.com - July 30, 2007 Roma are set to bid for Real Madrid fullback Cicinho. The Brazil international has been a long-term target for Roma and now, flush with funds from Cristian Chivu's sale to Inter Milan, will make an offer for the right-back. Real's Italian agent, Enzo Bronzetti, told Il Romanista today that he expects the Giallorosso to soon make a bid for Cicinho.

Real Madrid's Raul keen on Birmingham talks Birmingham City are making a sensational move for Real Madrid hero Raul. The People says Brum boss Steve Bruce has Steve McManaman to thank for making the move a possibility. Former Liverpool, Real and England winger McManaman is on the board of Grandtop International Holdings, the Hong Kong-based company who have just spent £15million to buy a 29.9 per cent stake in the Blues and are preparing to shell out a further £35m to gain full control. And Carson Yeung, the billionaire head of GIH, wants to use McManaman's extensive contacts in the game to lure the top talent to St Andrews. The first name on that hit-list is Champions League top scorer Raul, who became firm friends with McManaman when the pair played together at the Bernabeu. And the 30-year-old former Spain captain is willing to listen to his pal's offer after learning new Real boss Bernd Schuster will let the club's old guard go.

Real Madrid's Higuain has dig at Barcelona tribalfooball.com - July 30, 2007 Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has had a dig at Barcelona's spending. The young Argentine, who played a key role in Real's late season title success, declared: "Barcelona has reinforced well, but Real Madrid are the best, the current champions. In individual quality I do not know if they are better than us, but I am sure that we are better as a team. "We have shown to be a squad that all works for eachother." Higuain added: "Javier Saviola is very happy. He's a fellow Argentine and I'm helping him settle here."

Higuaín press conference "We've proved to be a united team" Higuaín joined Real Madrid six months ago and he is happy with being a part of the team. He is working very hard in the preseason, during which Schuster is positioning him on the right wing. What did Schuster say to the team after the first game? He was happy with our performance. He said they defended well but that we managed to play a good game. We have to loosen up a bit, but he thought it was important that we all asked for the ball. It seems he has positioned you on the right wing... There are many strikers on the team and I don't mind playing as a winger. I prefer playing as a striker, but all I really want is to help the team any way I can. Are you comfortable in that position? I'm never uncomfortable on a pitch and I will do as the coach says. I will play wherever he wants as long as it helps the team. The coaching staff put you in pairs to share rooms. What do you think of that? I think it is a good decision. I never shared a room before at Real Madrid, but I did it all the time when I was at River Plate. What do you think of Saviola? He is very happy here. He is a fellow Argentine and I try to help him any way I can. What do you hope to achieve this year? To play more and to score more goals. I also want to win more titles. Would you consider leaving the team if you didn't play much? I'm very happy here. This is the best team in the world and I have never thought about the possibility of leaving. Does the team need more signings? We already have a good enough squad, but we would welcome new signings. We are going to do our best in order to achieve our goals. It seems José Antonio Reyes has signed for Atletico Madrid... We hope he does well wherever he plays. I got along very well with him and I'm sad not to have him as a teammate anymore. I wish him to be very successful. Barcelona have brought in strong reinforcements. They have, but Real Madrid is currently the best team in Spain and defending champion of the Spanish League. What does Real Madrid have that Barcelona doesn't? I don't know who has better individual players, but we work better as a team. We've proved to be a united squad.