February 29, 200817 yr Cannavaro to Realmadrid.com"I am calm because this Real Madrid never gives up"Fabio Cannavaro is a very experienced player and knows that the moment the team is going through right now will soon be over. In an exclusive interview, the Italian centre back said the squad is more united than ever and that it will do its best to win on Saturday.How is the atmosphere in the drsssing room?We aren't happy when we lose, but we must realize that we are a quality team capable of overcoming any problem. Our comeback will begin this weekend.How will the match against Recreativo Huelva be like?We have to think about winning the League, and in order to do so we must win all of our games. Barcelona are only two points behind, so we must do our best to win in Huelva tomorrow.Is the squad nervous?I'm calm because this Real Madrid never gives up and always wants to win, no matter what. The only thing we lacked in our previous away games was a positive result in the end. I think we have to keep playing this way.The injuries sustained by the team are the talk of the town, but the good news is Robinho will be able to play on Saturday...This happens everywhere. It's normal for there to be injuries in football. This Real Madrid is built to try to win a League, a Champions League and a King's Cup. We have many games in one season, so I think the number of injuries we sustain is normal.Was your game in Rome the best of the season?Yes, but we didn't win. It's a shame. You get a bitter feeling when you lose an away game after playing so well. But we have to think that we can do even better at home if we played so well in Rome. I think we will do better.How was it for you to play in Italy again?It is always strange for me to play in my country because I grew up and became an important player there. I don't like to play against Italian teams.What kind of a club are Roma?They are an important club that have signed very important and quality players for the first time in a few years. They have also started to work more with youngsters; Totti, De Rossi and Aquilani came from their youth system. I think they are the first team in Italy to properly use their youth categories and I believe that's one of the keys to their success.What did you think of Totti? Is he as important as Raúl?He is a crucial man in Roma's game because he is the centre of every play they create. He is a world champion and their most important player.People say Roma are a very offensive team, but they just defended after scoring their second goal...That's what a team that wants to win does. It's natural for them to change their game once they are winning. You can't keep attacking because your opponent might find a way to score.What wil be the key to win at the Bernabéu?To be patient and calm. It will be a complicated encounter. We can't afford to be anxious about scoring in the opening minutes because things will be more difficult later on. We have to see how the game unfolds and then try to score. Roma are a very dangerous side in counterattacks, so we must be concentrated all the time.How important do you think the fans will be?They will play a crucial role. Together we can win. Just like last year: 'Together we can'.You've been here for one and a half years. How important do you think the Champions League is for the Club?This Club is built to be able to win everything. They have more European Cups than anyone else and they need a tenth to become even more perfect. The fans, the Club and us players know a Champions League game is always special.You are one of the most experienced men on the squad, someone to look up to. Who did you look up to when you were at Napoli?That's easy. Maradona was amazing, the best in the world. There were also players like Ferrara, veterans who always helped and retired when they were well over 34 years old.Are Italian and Spanish football very different from each other?Yes. Italian teams are used to fall back once they are winning 1-0 in order to make it harder for their opponent to find room in which to attack. There isn't as much touch football as there is here; Italians prefer the ball to reach the other goal as quick as possible.How do you look back on last year?It was an incredible experience. It's amazing for anyone, but especially for me because I am a defender; I've always tried to stop strikers and prevent them from scoring. It's incredible to be nominated with people like Zidane and Ronaldinho. I played very well in the World Cup, so I think they gave me the awards because of that.
February 29, 200817 yr Recreativo vs. Real MadridGoalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek.Defenders: Pepe, Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Miguel Torres, & Marcelo.Midfielders: Gago, Diarra, Robben, Balboa & Drenthe.Forwards: Raúl, Robinho, HiguaÃn, Baptista & Soldado.
March 2, 200817 yr RECREATIVO: Sorrentino; Bouzon, Beto, MartÃn Caceres, Poli (Ersen Martin, 76’); Varela, Barber, Carlos Martins, Aitor (Quique Alvarez, 62’); Camunas (Zahinos, 69’) and Sinama Pongolle REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro (Robinho, 73’), Heinze, Torres; Drenthe (Pepe, 58’), Gago, Diarra, Robben (Higuain, 76’); Baptista; Raul.GOALS:1-0, min.16: Martin Caceres1-1, min.27: Raul1-2, min.73: Robinho1-3, min.88: Robinho2-3, min.90: MartinsREFEREE: Iturralde Gonalez. Booked Bouzon (17’), Robben (69’), Cannavaro (72’), Martin Caceres (80’), Sinama (86’), and Ersen Martin (88’). Real Madrid fitness trainer Jordi Garcia (45’), Beto (51’), Ramos (55’), and Quique Alvarez (67’) sent off.NOTESS: Matchday 26 of La Liga played at Nuevo Colombino Stadium. Attendance: 20,000.
March 4, 200817 yr Cannavaro: Maldini And Baggio The Best EverReal Madrid centre-back Fabio Cannavaro has revealed that he feels that his side's teamwork has improved this season over last, especially in defence. However, he insists that young buck Sergio Ramos has some way left to go if he's to match some of his old colleagues...The Italian World Cup winner told Radio Marca that he's happy to be involved in first team affairs at the Bernabeu, and that he feels that the level of teamwork is increasing significantly."I expected to play a lot, and I always have done," he said."SOmetimes it's not so good because you need to rest and recover, but because my colleagues are injured there's no other way."The defence this year has imprvoed on last year's as we play as more of a team."I try to be a good partner and help the younger generation through. In their day, Maldini and Costacurta made me who I am."Once I retire, I'd love for my temamates to say 'Fabio taught me this or that...'"Givingan exact example, he said, "Sergio Ramos has a lot of strength and always seems to play strong, but he goes into everything so strongly. He needs to learn to control that temper."He has extraordinary qualities, but lacks much to be like Maldini. For me, Maldini is the best footballer I've met, along with Roberto Baggio."Roma Match ApproachesLooking ahead to the Champions League second leg tie with AS Roma, he said, "This match is crucial because we want to continue in the Champions League."The crowd wants a tenth title, and we want to get it. I have Ligas, Scudettos, Cups... but I lack the Champions League."An Italian team in the final? I'd prefer that this didn't happen, and not Barcelona either."Return Of RobinhoRobinho could make his first start since succumbing to injury recently against Roma, much to the veteran stopper's delight."Robinho is a spectacular player with lots of quality," enthused the ex-Juventus man."When he wants to move in on goal or score, he succeeds. This is the guy that breaks the game."If we win the Champions League, I'll lose the Golden Ball to him!"And the blackest moment for this team was when he was injured. He is a crucial player for Real Madrid."And The FutureLooking ahead, Cannavaro offered little insight into what's to come."I'm in no hurry to renew my contract," he shrugged."I still have this year and then one more on my deal."
March 5, 200817 yr Real Madrid vs. RomaGoalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek.Defenders: Cannavaro, Marcelo, Pepe, Salgado, Heinze & Torres.Midfielders: Diarra, Guti, Gago, Baptista, Drenthe & Balboa.Forwards: Higuain, Robinho, Soldado & Raul.
March 6, 200817 yr REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado (Torres, 64’), Pepe, Cannavaro, Heinze; Baptista (Soldado, 84’), Gago, Diarra (Drenthe, 60’), Robinho; Guti; RaulROMA: Doni; Cicinho (Pannucci, 86’), Mexes, Juan, Tonetto; Taddei, De Rossi, Aquilani, Mancini (Vucinic, 64’); Perrotta (Pizarro, 75’); TottiGOALS:0-1, Min.72: Taddei1-1, Min.74: Raul1-2, Min.90: VucinicREFEREE: Kyros Vassaras (GREECE). Booked Heinze (13’), Taddei (19’), De Rossi (34’), Perrotta (54’), Cicinho (66’), Guti (80’) and Aquilani (82’). Pepe sent off (70’).NOTES: Return leg of the last 16 of the Champions League played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Attendance: 80,000.
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