Real Madrid vs Racing Santander Preview

Real Madrid will welcome Racing Santander to the Santiago Bernebeu after winning 26 of their last 29 home games.

Jose Mourinho, fresh from leading Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles last season, took over Madrid this summer and is unbeaten in his first 10 matches, winning eight.

Even the early-season criticism about a lack of goals seems now to be a thing of the past, with Madrid scoring 10 in their last two league matches against Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga.

That 4-1 win over Malaga also lifted Madrid to the top of the Primera Division standings, and they boast both the best attack (16 goals scored) and best defence (three conceded) in the league.

Madrid are well clear in their Champions League group as well after beating AC Milan 2-0 on Tuesday to make it three wins out of three in Europe.

It could hardly be better for the Whites as they chase their first silverware since 2008, and the decision to bring in the hugely successful Mourinho looks to be paying dividends.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a confirmed fan of his fellow Portuguese, saying in AS: "Mourinho is fantastic. Thank God he came. It`s always great to work with someone with so much experience and who has won so many titles throughout his career. I always said I would love to be coached by him, and my team-mates are just as happy.

"Things are going very well for us right now. It`s normal people get upset when things aren't working, but we`re very pleased with the way we`re performing. We`re scoring goals and winning matches."

Aside from Madrid`s impressive current form at the Bernabeu, Mourinho also boasts an incredible personal record of not having lost a home league match in eight years at Porto, Chelsea, Inter and now Madrid.

On top of that, Madrid have won 32 times in 42 meetings with Racing in the capital, while the Cantabrian side are currently 16th in the standings with just two wins and seven points from their opening seven games, so everything points to a home win this weekend.

Racing coach Miguel Angel Portugal, who was Madrid`s technical director before returning to his former position at El Sardinero last November, admits the nine-time European champions look in formidable shape.

Asked what has changed under Mourinho, Portugal said: "Everything they do is with a tremendous security. First, from the goalkeeper and the defence, and then it spreads to the rest of the team. Everything Madrid do now is with belief and trust.

"It`s very difficult to stop them, but just as complicated, or even more so, is to cause them damage."

Nevertheless, Portugal still hopes his players can make life tough for his old side - although he has warned of the dangers of conceding an early goal against Ronaldo and Co.

"A team like Racing cannot play nice football at the Bernabeu, if you do you`re dead. That doesn`t mean that when we have the ball we don`t need to do certain things and keep it so we`re not always defending," he said.

"The intensity that we put into our play is going to be crucial to counteract their great quality."

He added in AS: "We need to make sure they don`t score early on because if they do they will play very comfortably for the rest of the game and they will kill you."

Mourinho seeks to tie down Pepe

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is hopeful that defender Pepe will commit his future to the club in the next few weeks.

The Portuguese boss sees the former Porto stalwart as a key member of his squad.

The 27-year-old has also expressed his desire to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu despite difficult negotiations surrounding his contract.

Pepe's current deal expires in 2012 and Madrid are willing to offer him a three-year extension.

However, the player has demanded a wage increase as he is currently one of the lowest earners on Madrid's list.

The centre-back has reportedly demanded £85,000 a week while Madrid are only prepared to pay up to £60,000.

Both Chelsea and Barcelona have expressed an interest in the Portugal international, however, Mourinho is anxious to secure the future of his fellow countryman as soon as possible.

He said: "Real Madrid are trying not to lose, and Pepe cannot be lost by Real Madrid.

"The club know. In a few weeks I will fix everything and Pepe will stay here.

Mourinho won't take cup lightly

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said he intends to win the Copa del Rey ahead of Tuesday's opening cup tie at Murcia.

During Monday's post-training press conference, Mourinho confirmed he plans to field several first team players including Cristiano Ronaldo for the clash with Murcia.

"If players don't have the talent to play a Cup match against a good team like Murcia, then they don't have the talent to play for Real Madrid," he was quoted as saying on the club's official website.

"If a player tomorrow doesn't show just how good he is and has a bad match, he can't honestly think he will be called up for the next one. It is impossible.

"Murcia haven't lost a game and they lead their competition and tomorrow play at home. Some people don't really appreciate the Copa del Rey, but I do. I won it in Portugal, in England and in Italy. Now I want to win it in Spain."

Injured full back Sergio Ramos is one of 18 players named by Mourinho to travel to Murcia. Ramos failed to recover from an ankle injury in time to face Racing Santander at the weekend.

Under Mourinho, Real have been in impressive form of late - including scoring 16 goals in the last three games.

Ronaldo has already netted 13 times this season to bring his record to 44 goals in 46 games for the club.

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he looks like a chicken in his new haircut

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I want his scarf

you girls

arent u a girl?? ;D

Will Mourinho leave Real Madrid?

There are question marks over Jose Mourinho's commitment to the Real Madrid cause after recent remarks he made.

The trophy-laden manager has a history of moving on from a club after accumulating his fill of silverware, and admitted to Real's website that the La Liga giants were no different for him.

Speaking to his club's official website, he said: "Staying on with a great club for such a long time is hard in the culture in which we live."

He contrasted his experiences in Spain with his time as Chelsea boss, saying: "It is much easier in England. There you find people who stay on for years having not won a thing.

"It is hard here because the need to win is always present. If I stay for four years it means I have done things right and that we are all happy, and I would be thrilled to continue."

Mourinho left Inter Milan after leading the Serie A side to a glorious treble that included winning the Champions League, and has been linked with the Manchester United top job after Sir Alex Ferguson retires.

Mourinho can't see Fergie walking

Jose Mourinho maintained that “only a special manager” can succeed Sir Alex Ferguson when the supremo finally steps down.

The decorated Manchester United manager will turn 69 in December and rumours as to whom his successor will be when he finally quits have been swirling around for years.

Despite the likes of Barcelona incumbent Pep Guardiola and Everton boss David Moyes mooted as potential candidates in several quarters, Real chief Mourinho is adamant that Ferguson will not turn his back on the Red Devils anytime soon.

According to reports in The Mirror, Mourinho said: "Football without Alex Ferguson? I'm not sure that will happen any day soon,"

"The man lives and breathes football and Manchester United is his club."

"His hunger and desire to win the biggest trophies remains so I cannot see the day he considers walking away from football approaching."

"Like Real Madrid, the Manchester United job is special and only a ­special manager is good enough to take the job on if and when it does become available."

"Of course, jobs like that don't ­become available every day so the interest will be vast."

"Like Madrid, it's a job everyone will want."

Sir Alex's prodigy Wayne Rooney recently garnered all the headlines when he dropped a bombshell by stating his desire to leave the club before performing a remarkable u-turn and signing a new five year deal after talks with his mentor.

Nevertheless, despite the Madrid giants being linked with United sensation Rooney in the immediate aftermath of his announcement to leave the club, Mourinho insisted that he never envisaged the forward jumping ship.

He opined:"Could I ever see him leaving? Never."

"He is Manchester United through and through and he is working with one of the best coaches in football."

"He's a great player but he belongs to United. I wasn't surprised to see him stay, I expected it."

"There was no way Alex Ferguson would have considered selling him, not to anyone."

"If you take the decision to leave a club like United, there are not many options open to you. Few clubs come any bigger."

Focusing on his current task at hand, the former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach reiterated his desire to continue his winning mentality with his new Spanish employers.

"Madrid is a special club and came to me at special time in my career," he commented.

"After winning my second Champions League and after my ­success at Chelsea and Inter, the Real job and the challenge to be successful was very ­appealing."

"I came to a team that had had no success for two years and faced the challenge of a very special Barcelona team and some of the great clubs in Europe in the Champions League.

"Despite everything and all the success I have enjoyed, my desire to continue winning remains."

"I love a challenge and this is a huge challenge for me."

"Madrid didn't win the Champions league for 10 years, the Spanish Cup for 19 years and haven't won the Championship for three."

"So there is a great deal of work to be done. I love the pressure and that is immediate at a club like this because failure doesn't sit comfortably with anyone."

Despite achieving glory in every club he has trained, the Portuguese master countered that his hunger and enthusiasm for coaching has not waned one bit and is keen to stay in management for at least another 15 years.

"I still have at least 10 or 15 years left in football management," he said.

"Naturally a day will come when my circumstances change and I will want to lead a quieter life."

"But it is not something I will be giving any consideration too for a long time to come."

The Real Madrid boss will next take his side to San Siro to face off against Serie A giants AC Milan in their UEFA Champions League mid-week clash.

Real response satisfies Mourinho

Real Madrid chief Jose Mourinho admitted he was only concerned about the three points in their 3-1 triumph against Hercules.

The plucky promoted outfit, who had already claimed shock scalps against Barcelona and Sevilla this campaign along with holding Villarreal to a draw, opened their account in the third minute thanks to a David Trezeguet finish.

But Mourinho's troops regained their composure and Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria drew them level on 52 minutes before Portuguese dazzler Cristiano Ronaldo took centrestage, plundering twice in the last eight minutes to seal the victory for Madrid and more importantly, kept them a point ahead of arch rivals Barcelona, who whipped Sevilla 5-0.

While expressing his displeasure at his side's defensive sloppiness, the former Chelsea gaffer was satisfied with their response after going a goal down.

Speaking to realmadrid.com after the encounter, Mourinho elaborated: "The first half was very complicated because our opponent was aggressive."

"I didn't like Hercules' goal because I talked to my players about efforts such as the one it came from."

"We were practically alone playing football during the second half. We increased our defensive efforts."

"The most important thing is we took three points that keep us at the top of the table for another week."

Mourinho lavished praise on his counterparts but added that his side's gung-ho approach after their early setback paid dividends.

He said: "Hercules are having a good run in the championship and they have players who are very good at playing this sort of game."

"Their fans were very supportive of them, adding intensity to their game, which relied on fast ventures in attack."

"We took risks and everything tastes better when you risk and also win. We had to win this game."

The self styled "Special One" also reserved special mention for French striker Karim Benzema and rampaging full back Marcelo."

"Benzema didn't score, but he created three goals: the first, the third and a possible fourth Cristiano could have netted," he added.

"He was an extra help in attack and became a new problem for Hercules to solve. He completely changed the game's dynamics."

"He may not have scored, but his influence on our game was enormous. "

"This performance will be good for his morale. I am very happy for him."

"Marcelo has been playing fantastically well since the start of the season."

"He has more time to recover because he hasn't been called-up by Brazil. This is better for us but worse for Brazil, who miss out on having a full back of his quality."

"This may help him play the whole season at this level."

arent u a girl?? ;D

of course I am . Very pretty girl.

you know something about his new girlfriend or is he staying with wife?

Ronaldo hails Mourinho's spirit

Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about his relationship with new boss Jose Mourinho - a man who he has not always liked.

During Manchester United's title triumph over Chelsea back in 2007, there were more than a few unfavourable remarks and reviews made by the "Special One" about his Portuguese compatriot.

Some of the more standout opinions Chelsea's Mourinho had about his then rival club's star player included "immature", "disrespectful" and "ill-educated".

But football can be a funny old game and both men now find themselves having to work together for a common goal - bringing the La Liga title back to Real Madrid.

In their brief time working together so far, they have certainly made an impression this season.

Overcoming a slow start, Ronaldo has fired Real to the top of the La Liga standings with an incredible 10 goals in his last four league games. After only a short time together, Mourinho is already considered as good as United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in Ronaldo's eyes.

"Mourinho is a good coach with a very clear philosophy. Now you can say, already, he is the father of Real Madrid," Ronaldo was quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying.

"He and Sir Alex are so very different but at the same time very similar.

"They share the experience, the winning spirit of victory. Of course, one of them is much older and they have lived through two very different stories.

"But I loved the time I spent working with Sir Alex and have great memories. We built a friendship and now I feel the same feeling with Mourinho. For me they are the two best coaches in the world.

"This year you can see that several things have changed: discipline, aggressiveness, style of play and the willingness to work hard and together towards the same goal. This season is very different from the past. Madrid this year is not last year. We are totally different. "

Mourinho, Ronaldo and the rest of the star studded Madrid team play at the San Siro on Wednesday night where they will put their perfect Champions League Group G record on the line against AC Milan.

there were rumours that he had cheated on her and that she filed for divorce but they denied it and posed with the magazine Lux to deny the rumours...

Mourinho applauds Real effort

Jose Mourinho praised the "mental strength" his Real Madrid side showed to nab an injury-time equaliser against AC Milan.

Pedro Leon struck deep into stoppage time to earn Real a 2-2 draw at the San Siro to preserve the Spanish club's unbeaten record under Mourinho.

Real had earlier taken the lead on the stroke of half-time through Gonzalo Higuain but were caught off guard by a brace from veteran Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi. The 37-year-old thought he had secured a famous victory for Milan with his second goal coming in the 78th minute, only for Real to push forward to grab a dramatic equaliser.

"A coach can only take risks when his team is psychologically ready to assume them," Mourinho told the club's official website after the game.

"The most important aspect of the game was that my team assumed its coach's risks with ten minutes left on the clock. My men showcased courage and mental strength by starting the game with a defence comprising Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe and Carvalho, and by later playing with Pedro Leon, Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Di Maria together on the pitch.

"We are still undefeated and we didn't lose a game tonight we didn't deserve to lose. We've reached the next round and we are one point shy of becoming group leaders."

The "Special One" may have had special praise for his team's comeback but he was less than impressed with referee Howard Webb's decision to let Inzaghi's second goal stand which he thought was offside.

"Howard Webb is a very good referee. I'd be happy to have him on the pitch in all my games, but he made a mistake awarding Milan's second goal. We all make mistakes. He is a fantastic referee," Mourinho said.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Real manager was the centre of attention on Wednesday as the match marked his return to the San Siro since he left Inter Milan in the summer to manage the Spanish outfit.

Mourinho, who is not one to shy away from making a headline or two, wasted no time in reminding the San Siro crowd who had gathered to support Inter's city rivals AC Milan just how successful he had been in Italy. A three finger salute in reaction to boos directed at him by the crowd reminding everyone of Inter's 2009/10 Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia Treble.

Jose should do something for the defence...

there were rumours that he had cheated on her and that she filed for divorce but they denied it and posed with the magazine Lux to deny the rumours...

his wife is not atractive. But it is good, that he is not cheating her.