Raúl: fan favourite

AS readers vote for the Real Madrid captain to win the AS football award

AS readers unanimously voted for Raúl as the Best Sportsman in the football category of the AS Sports Awards. The captain humbly received the award and expressed his support for the Spanish national team, adding, "I wish to play for Spain again."

Raúl is the greatest active football symbol for Madridistas and non-Madridistas in Spain.

This season, the Real Madrid captain is proving once more that he is an extraordinary player. He is the all-time top scorer of the European Cup (56 goals), the all time top scorer of the Spanish national team (44), the top scorer of the League still active today (193), and has an unequalled track record: 5 Leagues, 3 European Cups, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 2 Pichichi Trophies, 2 Champions League Top Scorer Awards, 1 Silver Ball, 2 Bronze Boots... Who could ask for more?

Raúl

"I want to thank everyone for this award and dedicate it to those who have always supported me and expressed their warmth and admiration throughout the years. This is a very important award for me and it makes me very proud." After these brief words, everyone at the venue started chanting "Raúl in the Spanish team," to what the player replied, "We all have to support the Spanish team and its coach. I wish to play for Spain again, but we must now congratulate them for the great job they've done."

Raúl was then asked a couple of questions by the audience, the first enquiring about which is his favourite goal. "The first I scored at the Bernabéu against Atletico Madrid. It was an amazing feeling to hear the roar and the support of the crowd. It was a childhood dream come true."

He was also asked about the Club's youth system. "There will be many more Raúls, Gutis and Casillas at this Club because it works very well with the youth system. We have to support the young players and demand they work hard in order for them to get the chance of making history at Real Madrid."

Real Murcia vs. Real Madrid

KEEPERS: Casillas, Dudek.

DEFENDERS: Pepe, Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Metzelder, Torres.

MIDFIELDERS: Diarra, Gago, Guti, Drenthe, Robben.

STRIKERS: Higuain, Saviola, Robinho, Van Nistelrooy, Raul.

WOW! He is very-very sexy)))

he looking good, aww love him

congratulate to Raul!!!

Thank all for the pics!

1- MURCIA: Notario; De Coz, Ochoa, Arzo, Peña; De Lucas, Movilla, Abel (Bruno, 90’), Richi; Baiano (Goitom, 73’) e Iñigo (Alonso, 80’).

1- REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelo; Guti, Gago, Diarra, Robinho (Robben, 75’); Raúl (Higuaín, 75’) and Van Nistelrooy.

GOALS:

0-1, min.6: Robinho header.

1-1, min.48: De Lucas header.

REFEREE: Daudén Ibáñez. Booked De Lucas (28’), Baiano (33’), Pepe (51’), Movilla (69’), Van Nistelrooy (82’) and Abel (85’). Sent off Guti (82’).

NOTES: Matchday 13 of the Spanish League played at the Nueva Condomina. Attendance: 32,000.

Raul, Mamen & kids @ basketball & tennis events... !

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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!

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SO BEAUTIFUL...My favourite pic!

Raúl on Radio Marca

"We have a great squad"

The Real Madrid captain was a guest on Radio Marca, where he talked about the team, the Premiership, the Spanish national team and the Spanish League.

How do you feel about the start of the season?

We are happy for the moment because we are leaders in the League and in our Champions League group. We still have a long way to go and the team has to improve, but I think we've had a good start. We've played very good football at times, despite having a different coach and new players.

You still haven't found a basic lineup.

Some players haven't been able to participate as much as they want due to injuries. The squad is very large, so there's room for everyone. We play every four days. The entire team will have to be fit in the next few months, which will be tough.

Is the team stronger than it was last year?

The squad is much more balanced and we have more options from which to choose. This makes us all do better because there is more competition on the squad.

What are the differences between Capello and Schuster?

Their football concepts aren't that different. We suffered last year because we didn't have possession often. This year, the plan is to set the pace for every game, keep possession and dominate. But we have to hurt our team with that possession; sometimes you keep possession but don't achieve anything.

What is the team's goal?

There are 10 or 12 games in the Champions League and you may be eliminated in one of them. It will get stronger in March and April. If we are strong in the European competition by then, we will also be strong at home. Real Madrid have never won three titles in one year, but it is our duty to try. I would love to win the King's Cup. There are very competitive teams out there that have top players.

What do you like about the League this year?

I like Marcelino's Racing Santander very much. Very few people thought they would do well; indeed, many thought they would suffer this year, but they are showcasing excellent football. They are our next opponent in the League and the game will surely be complicated. I also like Getafe's patience; they have finally started doing much better with the style they've had from the start. Villarreal are having a brilliant season. We defeated them 5-0, but after the game I felt the final score could have been more equal. Players like Rossi give them a different spark. The so-called smaller sides have a big say in this edition of the championship.

Are Arsenal the best team in Europe?

They are one of the best. I also like Manchester United. But when Arsenal have a good day they constantly steal the ball and play in their opponents' half of the pitch... You can't take your eyes off them. Young players need the coach's support.

Some countries, such as Portugal, are producing excellent talent.

They have good players, like Manchester's Nani and Anderson. They want to do well, but they need to be in the right place, with a coach that makes them feel protected. We have Bojan here in Spain. He has something different. I had something similar with Valdano back when I started out; he knew how to handle my situation. But at the end of the day it comes down to what you do. For example, Messi plays equally well in every match.

Some very harsh tackles aren't being booked this year.

It's a complicated issue. The pace of the games over here increases every year, but there has always been harsh tackles. We must trust the referees. Some late tackles may injure a player, no matter how good he is. We should be professional and know which tackles we should attempt and which we shouldn't. The thought of kicking somebody for the sake of hurting him never enters my head and I find it hard to believe that it enters anyone's head.

What if Schuster decides to coach England?

I hope he doesn't. It is very flattering for him to be suggested as coach. England are having a horrible time. I guess Schuster is flattered, but I don't think he will leave because he is very excited about coaching Real Madrid and winning titles for this club.

The best news of the weekend was that Spain won the futsal World Cup.

I want to congratulate them for it. There is very little difference between futsal and football. You acquiare techniques that are helpful in the other strand of the sport. I started with futsal when I was a kid.

What do you think about Atletico Madrid?

They are scoring many goals. I liked them when we faced them and I'm sure they will fight hard for the title and to qualify to play in the Champions League next year.

Who are favourites to win the title?

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, and Valencia, who I think have one of the best squads in Europe. Also, many of Valencia's players are Spanish. Sevilla may not be the side they were last year, but they at least have ten chances in every game. They've lost matches having three times more chances than their opponents. I think they can do better at scoring.

You look more comfortable this year and to be in better form.

We are pressurising in attack and recovering many of our values. Our coach wants us to have strong starts both at home and as a visiting side. It is our duty to play like that at home. Away from Madrid we like to have the first chance and to keep possession from the start. That allows the game to lose intensity and us to dominate. We should have been more ambitious after scoring the opening goal against Murcia. Nevertheless, I wanted to score, Ruud wanted to score... Murcia played well and closed ranks. We simply didn't have our day.

What happened with Guti?

He is a great player. He simply made a mistake and we shouldn't dwell on it any longer. It's not the first time someone does that. He was hurt after the game. I've known him for 15 years. It was an absurd situation. He is a very important player for us and he is playing at a very high level.

What did you think about England not making it to the Euro 2008?

Real Madrid has also had great players and failed to work well as a team in the past.

You won a complicated League last year.

Someone should do a movie about the last few games of the previous campaign, starting with the game against Sevilla (with Guti's amazing passes) and the victory over Valencia... We believed we could win the title and we did.

Who do you connect better with, Van Nistelrooy or Ronaldo?

We scored many goals at times with Ronaldo. It's a matter of what the team as a whole does. I connected very well with Ronaldo, but he is a more powerful and individual player than I am. Ruud is also decisive, but he is more of a team player. I connect well with him; we score goals and assist each other.

Have you assumed the fact that you won't play in the Euro 2008?

I hope I do and I work hard to go. I think I will have options to make the team if I continue doing this well, but having been out for such a long time and the good job the other players are doing makes my return more difficult. The national coach will do what's best for Spain.

You look very happy.

Things are working well at the club, the dressing room... We have a young squad and we all get along. Those of us who have been on the team longer try to set an example. We may win or lose, but we all believe we have to do our best on the pitch and that we should always be united.

Raul: I Hope To Go To Euro 2008

Real Madrid stalwart Raul Gonzalez gave a lengthy interview today, touching on football at home and abroad, for club and country, and in the past and present...

Raul dreams of an unprecedented treble for Real Madrid - starting with the Champions League final in May.

He told the official Real Madrid website, "There are 10 or 12 games in the Champions League and you may be eliminated in one of them. It will get stronger in March and April.

"If we are strong in the European competition by then, we will also be strong at home. Real Madrid have never won three titles in one year, but it is our duty to try.

"Arsenal's Champions League threat? They are one of the best. I also like Manchester United. But when Arsenal have a good day they constantly steal the ball and play in their opponents' half of the pitch... You can't take your eyes off them. Young players need the coach's support."

However, his Champions League musings betrayed not merely a desire solely to win Europe's biggest contest, but rather one for a new era of success extending even to less prestigious competitions.

"I would love to win the King's Cup [Copa del Rey]," he admitted.

"But there are very competitive teams out there that have top players."

Indeed, such competitiveness extends to the domestic front, where Raul admires some of the more unsung teams of the competition.

"I like Marcelino's Racing Santander very much," he said.

"Very few people thought they would do well; indeed, many thought they would suffer this year, but they are showcasing excellent football. They are our next opponent in the League and the game will surely be complicated.

"I also like Getafe's patience; they have finally started doing much better with the style they've had from the start.

"Villarreal are having a brilliant season. We defeated them 5-0, but after the game I felt the final score could have been more equal. Players like Rossi give them a different spark. The so-called smaller sides have a big say in this edition of the championship."

But so, too, will his own side, despite the difficulties posed by travels.

"We are pressurising in attack and recovering many of our values," noted the veteran forward.

"Our coach wants us to have strong starts both at home and as a visiting side. It is our duty to play like that at home.

"Away from Madrid we like to have the first chance and to keep possession from the start. That allows the game to lose intensity and us to dominate.

And as for the Spanish national side, Raul holds out hope.

"I hope I do and I work hard to go," he said.

"I think I will have options to make the team if I continue doing this well, but having been out for such a long time and the good job the other players are doing makes my return more difficult.

"The national coach will do what's best for Spain."