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At the Rome premiere of "Iron Man" - April 23, 2008

Casillas: This Defence Is The Best Yet Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas feels that the current defensive squad members at the Bernabéu may just be the best he's worked with, and one of the best in the world... While the Spanish international admitted that the current back line started slowly, he added that it "may well be the best defence in the world." He said, "Since I've been here I've not had squads in which everyone can occupy different positions in the central side, as do Torres, Sergio and Heinze. "I feel more covered than ever." The defence has helped Madrid climb towards the title, but the stopper does not feel that it's been secured just yet. "We've not yet won, but we've taken a huge step," he said looking back on the match in Santander. We're prudent, calm, and thinking only of winning on Sunday and being champions as soon as possible." Putting aside talk of Barcelona needing to give Madrid a guard of honour if they wrap up the title soon, he added, "This season is different. The atmosphere is good because we depend on ourselves. Last year we didn't have that advantage." That advantage, according to Iker, was partially borne of the 3-2 win at Recreativo earlier in the season - a turning point. "The key moment of the league was in Huelva," he insisted. Zamora Trophy Rumours abounded that Casillas is to be benched after the title is secure so as to guarantee his winning the Zamora trophy for best goalkeeper in a statistical sense. "I was surprised when I heard about this, as we've not discussed it," he bristled. "I'd like it - I respect that trophy for what it is - but I prefer team prizes." One of those is the Champions League, which he "envies" having to watch on TV. "I'm jealous, thinking that it could be Barça-Madrid," he revealed. "We've already done in Spain what Real Madrid deserve to do, now we must do it internationally."

Milan To Bid For Unsettled Ramos According to the Corriere dello Sport, AC Milan are ready to take advantage of Sergio Ramos’ recent dispute with Real Madrid by launching a transfer bid for the player. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best young defenders, however his future at Madrid has come into doubt after he criticised the club for failing to support him after he was sent off against Real Mallorca. "In truth, I was surprised not to hear any of my partners, or anyone from the club, say anything about the issue,” said Ramos last week. "I don't expect anything from anyone. I'm happy with myself and I'm just trying to learn. "Nobody is stupid and everyone knows very well what I mean. I felt a bit alone, but now it's time to look forward." Milan have long been admirers of the Spanish international, and it is believed that they see him as the long-term successor to the legendary Paolo Maldini, who is set to retire at the end of the season. The Rossoneri are prepared to offer Ramos a £4.5 million-a-year package to entice him to San Siro. Upon hearing about Milan’s ardour, Ramos said: "The interest of Milan makes me happy."

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'Speed Racer' Press Conference

'Speed Racer' Press Conference

Schumacher junior enjoys karting debut :clap: Michael Schumacher's nine-year-old son Mick enjoyed his first kart event in Spain. To keep the press away Schumacher's son entered the competition under the name of Mick Betsch. Betsch is Schumacher's wife (Corinna) maide name. The event was held in Sils, a little town near Girona in the North-East of Spain. Mick was not guided by his father Michael, but by his grandfather Rolf who once guided Michael at the karting tracks around Europe. Mick Schumacher qualified himself in fifth position and finished the first race in tenth and his second race in eighth position wearing the typical Schumacher helmet but instead of using the recognizable red colours he wore the helmet in blue.

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Motorsport: Pass properly or don't bother, says Coulthard LONDON - Red Bull driver David Coulthard has expressed frustration with Formula One rivals who refuse to admit their mistakes. The 37-year-old Scot has yet to score a point this season after collisions in two of the three races, tangling with Ferrari's Felipe Massa in Australia and Briton Jenson Button in Bahrain. Coulthard said today that he was disappointed Honda's Button had blamed him to reporters after the race before apologising privately later. "After the incident with Felipe Massa in Australia as well, I'm a bit weary of arguing about these collisions, because I think other drivers have got to take responsibility for their actions as well," said Coulthard. "If it makes them happier, I'll say it was all my fault," he added. "But on that basis it will be all my fault if they try the same thing again, because I can't see them when they're in my blind spot, we have high cockpit sides, and they're not far enough alongside. "Either pass me properly or don't stick your nose in there," said Coulthard, who will be in action again in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Massa collided with Coulthard in Melbourne while trying to overtake the Scot on the inside as they headed into a corner, pitching the Red Bull off the track. The Brazilian said afterwards that he had nothing to apologise for because he had done nothing wrong. Coulthard messed up an overtaking manoeuvre on Alex Wurz in Australia last year, with his car narrowly missing the Austrian's head as it flew over the front of the Williams, and he said he had shouldered the blame immediately. "The thing that's most disappointing is that when I screw up I admit my mistake, but when other people cause an accident with me, they seem not to," he said. "I feel it's a bit unfair that I'm made out to be some sort of crasher when I've done 230-plus grands prix and generally kept my nose pretty clean. "I don't want to crash with any of these people - but I'm not just going to move over and say "after you, Claude". So I will not change my approach."

Honda’s Button takes on triathlon challenge :clap: With a three-week break between races, Honda’s Jenson Button would be forgiven for taking a little time off ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. Button, however, has been hard at work training for the Barcelona race and on Sunday even took part in an amateur athletic competition. The ‘Sevenoaks Triathlon’, which took place in Kent, England, comprised a 400-metre swim, a 27-kilometre bike ride and an eight-kilometre run. Button, who regularly competes in triathlons, participated alongside physio Mike Collier at the British event and finished 16th out of the 250 competitors with a time of 1:31.21. “I really enjoy competing in triathlons, probably because I have total control over my race and the result,” he told his official website. “In F1, it's very different as it's a big team event but in a triathlon you are in control of your own destiny. I love training and anything physical so having to push myself to the limit in three different and very intense skills is very rewarding.” Button’s next triathlon outing will also be on British soil, at the Nokia Royal Windsor Triathlon on 15 June.

Honda in good shape - Button Honda may only be making one more major upgrade to this year's car in the summer before focusing completely on 2009, but Jenson Button believes the penultimate major improvements introduced at last week's Barcelona test will stand the team in good shape for this weekend's race. "Our performance over the first three races showed a steady rate of improvement which was encouraging for the whole team and has given us renewed confidence in the car," Button said. "Although I was not able to complete much mileage at the test this week due to the weather, the team had three days evaluating the new upgrades, so I am confident that we are in good shape." "The circuit here is very familiar so we will make the best use of our time on track to fine-tune the set-up of the car," he added. "We hope to be challenging for a top ten qualifying position again which would put us in position for a strong race."

On the set of “The Ugly Truth”

Oddo: We Are To Blame For Struggles Massimo Oddo says that Milan have themselves to blame for their poor season, although he does point out that the referees have not helped with the situation. The Rossoneri have had a dreadful campaign, and with just four games of the season remaining they are four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, and thus in grave danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League. The key reason for Milan’s predicament has been their awful record at San Siro, as they have won just six there all season, the same amount that bottom-of-the-table Reggina have won at home. “It's our fault,” admitted Oddo. “We have only won six times at San Siro - that's relegation form. This makes me think that we have not been able to exploit home advantage. “The teams we face tend to close us down and we have not been successful in finding a way to unhinge their defences.” Oddo did believe though that Milan had also been penalised by referees. “They haven't killed us, but they have played their part,” he complained. “They have made mistakes, as have we.” A report printed in the Gazzetta dello Sport in February revealed that Milan had lost eight points up until that point due to officiating errors.

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Kaka Wants Double Present Kaka is hoping for two special gifts as he celebrates his birthday: a derby win, and the captain’s armband. AC Milan will face local rivals Internazionale on May 4 in a crucial clash that could either boost or dash Milan’s hopes of earning Champions League qualification, and could either solidify or upset Inter’s hopes of retaining the Scudetto. The Rossoneri have lost their last three derby encounters, including a 2-1 Serie A defeat back in December. And Kaka, who turned 26 today, hopes his side can rediscover their winning ways against the Nerazzurri, recalling the satisfaction he has felt when on the victorious end of such clashes. “Winning the derby has a very special taste to it,” said the Brazilian. “When I first arrived we used to win it all the time, but now for the past two or three years things have changed. “We’ve got to turn that trend around, as a great deal of our future is tied up in beating Inter.” Wonderful It has now been five seasons since Kaka moved to Italy from Sao Paulo as a promising 21-year-old. In that time he has established himself as arguably the best player in the world, having been awarded both the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or titles last year. And with Milan legend Paolo Maldini likely to retire at the end of the season, and strong rumours that Gennaro Gattuso will leave Italy following an indifferent campaign, Kaka is among the favourites to be named the new Rossoneri captain – an honour he would be delighted to accept. “One day I would love to wear it,” Kaka told Milan Channel. “I am currently learning from Maldini and if one day it does happen, it would be wonderful for me. “The team is very close to Milan and when you have played together a long time you know everything about each other. That is the secret of a winning side – we all learn from one another. “For example, I try to treat Alexandre Pato the same way the others treated me when I arrived, I try to protect and coddle him a little bit. He will learn too.” Tired Kaka is one of several Milan players this term to have suffered injury problems, an issue which has decimated the ageing squad at times throughout the season. And the Brazilian insists that the problem lies in the hectic schedules the top clubs must endure. “There are too many games,” he said. “Players get tired physically and in terms of motivation, as isn’t easy to be constantly focused. “The injuries reflect this schedule.”

Pato: I Want To Go To Olympics AC Milan's newest golden boy Alexandre Pato has announced that it would be fulfilling a dream of his to represent Brazil in the Beijing Olympics this summer. The teenage sensation has been an absolute smash since joining the Rossoneri from Internacional last summer, and he is hoping to perform similar heroics for his country on Chinese soil. “I want to go to the Olympics,” revealed the hyper-talented 18-year-old. “I dream of winning a gold medal for Brazil, but it depends on Milan.” “In the future I am counting on winning lots of trophies in Rossonero and a World Cup with the Selecao. I also want to become the best player in the world.” The powers that be at Milan will not have been too enthused to learn of Pato's olympic desires, just as they were resistant to the same claims made by Kaka last month. Although the Olympics conclude before the start of the 08/09 Serie A season, the Rossoneri are still hoping to secure fourth place this season which would necissitate them to secure qualification to the Champions League proper by undergoing a pre-season preliminary phase.