Real Madrid Zone

Ronaldo : "I've always dreamed of winning the Champions League with Real Madrid"

2014-05-18T13:44:00.001-07:00

“We're very close to achieving something special in the history of the club”, stated the striker.

Cristiano Ronaldo spoke of his desire to win the Champions League with the Whites in an official UEFA interview. “I'm very happy to form part of Real Madrid's history. I'm going to try and win as much as possible with this team and I've always dreamed of winning the Champions League with Real Madrid”, explained the Portuguese before the final against Atlético.

It will be your first Champions League final with Real Madrid and you'll be playing Atlético in Lisbon. How are you feeling about it?
It is going to be a very special match, and in my own country too. I'm very happy and excited. We know it's going to be a very tricky match because Atlético are having a great year, they're a very good team with a great coach. But we're going to try and win and play our best. The team is doing well and feeling confident.
Do you remember when you were a boy and you used to watch other teams lift the trophy?
As a kid I remember watching the big finals and seeing the players lift the Champions League trophy. It's a moment that all Madrid fans dream of, the Décima. We're all really excited, so we have to win.
How have you changed since winning the Champions League with Manchester United?
I've changed for the better, or course. I won the Champions league with Manchester United and now this is my fifth season with Real Madrid. I've always dreamed of winning this competition with this club.
It has been twelve years since Real Madrid last won the Champions League, what would winning the Décima mean for the club and for you?
It is a trophy we have spent years trying to win. As a result, from the very first day we arrive at the club we feel a positive kind of pressure geared towards winning the Champions League. This year it feels like we are just one small step away from doing it. Pressure is a part of football and of playing for Real Madrid. We are used to having to win all the time, but it is fine. I like the pressure because it makes me a better player. It is a special kind of adrenalin we feel.
In order to make that final step you will have to beat Atlético Madrid, a team you know well. How can you win against Atlético?
We have to play the same way we have in previous games. We’ve been successful doing that and have beaten huge teams. This will be a difficult challenge. Atlético Madrid is a very compact side and is very strong mentally. It is always difficult to predict who the winner will be in a final. It is a very different kind of match and I think it will be decided on the smallest of details.
How would you evaluate this season in the Champions League?
I think in terms of teamwork Real Madrid has shown itself to be an excellent side and one that deserves to win the trophy. On a personal level, it has gone well for me. I am the top goalscorer in the competition and I’m very happy about that. That wasn’t my aim at the start of the Champions League season, but things have gone well for me. My teammates have helped me a lot, and I’ll be trying to score again in the final.
This year you surpassed Di Stéfano’s scoring record in the European Cup, does that also have special meaning?
I think I am now part of the club’s history, not only for my goals. Obviously beating Di Stéfano’s record is a huge honour. I admire him a lot as a person. I never had the chance to see him play, but I have seen a few videos. Thanks to God, things have gone well for me and I am happy to be part of Real Madrid’s history. I am going to try and win as much as possible with this team, because this is my favourite club.

Valdano: Raul can be Real's Guardiola

2014-03-07T01:24:00.001-08:00

Former Real Madrid coach coach Jorge Valdano has told AS that Raul Gonzalez could soon return to Los Blancos as coach and make a similar impact to Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

After two years at Bundesliga side Schalke, the 36-year-old is currently at Qatari club Al-Sadd, but is set to retire at the end of the current campaign.

Former Barca defender Guardiola followed a similar path, gaining experience both elsewhere in Europe and in Qatar, before returning to the Camp Nou as a coach and going on to oversee the most successful era in the Catalan club’s history.

Valdano -- the coach who gave Raul his Madrid debut as a 17-year-old -- thinks that the striker would likely bring a more ‘German’ organisation to the teams he goes on to coach.

"It would not be a team comparable to Guardiola's," Valdano said at an event in Madrid organised by football magazine Panenka. "Raul admires more German teams than Brazilian teams. I believe he is really intelligent, he has the personality to stop a train, with Madridismo coming out of all his pores.

"He is destined to be the Guardiola of Real Madrid, but with an identity which is more of Real Madrid than Barcelona. I believe he is preparing for this, and he will do it with the same intelligence with which he managed his career as a player.

"He is very relaxed about it, but I am very impatient about seeing his Madrid. He will bring a sentimental depth to the club."

Raul left Madrid under something of a cloud in 2010, reportedly at the wishes of club president Florentino Perez and the incoming coach Jose Mourinho.

Ahead of last August's exhibition game between Los Blancos and Al-Sadd at the Bernabeu, Raul suggested that it would make sense to gain more coaching experience elsewhere before he eventually ended up back at the Bernabeu.

"To come [back] to Madrid is always in my head; when I believe that I can bring something to the club I would be delighted to return," Raul said.

"But for that, a transition is necessary, and an apprenticeship to know if I am capable of doing something which can help."

Almeria 0 - 5 Real Madrid Highlights

2013-11-23T22:26:00.001-08:00

Sweden 2 - 3 Portugal Hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo

2013-11-20T10:48:00.002-08:00

Real Madrid 2 - 1 Juventus (Highlights)

2013-10-23T14:26:00.002-07:00

Ronaldo reveals Juventus rejection

2013-10-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo says he rejected Juventus a decade ago because of Manchester United's more appealing history and Sir Alex Ferguson's presence.

Ronaldo made his name at Old Trafford after moving away from Sporting in 2003, before making a world-record move - broken by Gareth Bale this summer - to Real Madrid in 2009.

Former Bianconeri chief Luciano Moggi explained this week that Ronaldo was in Juve's sights before the Red Devils made their move, but Ronaldo insists he had never had any intention of moving to Turin over the Premier League giants.

"I cannot speak too much about this Juve link," he said when questioned by Italian media on Tuesday ahead of Madrid's clash with Antonio Conte's men.

"I know that there were many clubs interested in me and Juve were one of those, but the club that interested me most was the Manchester for its history and its coach."

"I have great respect for Juve and their history. They are a dream team for many, but tomorrow I'll have to do my job and score goals against them. They're a top club that must be respected but tomorrow I'll do my best."

Casillas: "I may leave Real Madrid"

2013-10-17T16:19:00.001-07:00

Answering a question about leaving the club, Casillas said:
"They always ask me the same question. Not now, but if nothing changes in 3 months, I may consider leaving. If I had wanted to leave in september, i should have said it to my president, but i decided to be a part of the club where i have been playing for years."

Answering an another question about Jose Mourinho, he said:
"We know what happened between us, this is between us, I am sure oneday we will meet and drink coke".

Real Madrid vs Galatasaray

2013-03-17T05:47:00.001-07:00

Real Madrid will be facing Turkish team Galatasaray to reach the Champions League semi final.
Galatasaray is one of the most famous Turkish team with an UEFA Cup championship and a Super Cup.
Galatasaray recently added great players to the team.Mourinho's three old students Drogba, Sneijder and Hamit Altintop are now playing for Galatasaray and they will be key players during these matches.
Other key player for Galatasaray is Burak YILMAZ who is currently is the top scorer of the Champions League with C.Ronaldo with 8 goals.
Galatasaray has a very experienced coach Fatih TERİM who worked for AC Milan and Fiorentina before.He has great succeses with both national team and Galatasaray.He won the UEFA Cup with Galatasaray.
The first match is at Santiago Bernabeu on 3-4 April 2013

Real Madrid 5 - 1 A.Bilbao (Highlights)

2012-11-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid [5 - 1] Athletic Bilbao
12' [1 - 0] Aurtenetxe (OG)
30' [2 - 0] S. Ramos
32' [3 - 0] K. Benzema
42' [3 - 1] I. Gomez
56' [4 - 1] M. Özil
72' [5 - 1] S. Khedira

Barcelona 2 - 2 Real Madrid

2012-10-08T03:18:00.002-07:00

Real Madrid 5 - 1 Deportivo La Coruna (Video)

2012-10-01T00:38:00.003-07:00

Real Madrid 2012 / 2013 Home Away Kits

2012-06-03T23:02:00.000-07:00

Casillas: "We want people to enjoy watching Real Madrid"

2012-05-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas gave a press conference at Kuwait's Regency Hotel ahead of tomorrow's friendly with the country's national team.

Mourinho

"This is the first time I visit this country, but we're not here as tourists; we're here to play and try to win the match. We know it's a friendly, but Real Madrid always have to elevate their prestige as much as possible. That's why we've travelled with the entire team. Everyone will play tomorrow to honour their names and the prestige of Real Madrid. They are a little tired because of the tough season we had, but everyone's in good form."

"We have respect for Kuwait's national team, but people should realise we just celebrated winning the league title, we had a seven hour flight and we've hardly trained for this. It's important no one sustains any injuries tomorrow because many of my men are already thinking about the Euro. We intend to play a good game and we'll try to win."

"We won the championship thanks to all the players on the squad, but Ronaldo is special because he scores goals in all sorts of ways and in every position. He and Messi are above the rest and, if there is any justice in football, Cristiano will win the Ballon d'Or this year."

"Real Madrid wanted to play in Kuwait and it would have been difficult to do so in the preseason due to short holidays and the weather. My men would have liked to be on holiday now, but they responded well to this venture for the prestige of Real Madrid. We're here to do a good job."

Casillas

"We intend to play a friendly that will have a party atmosphere. We want to give a great performance so that people enjoy watching Real Madrid play. We want to win."

"Ronaldo is one of the two most influential players in the world. He is an important pillar at Real Madrid and he is symbolising an era."

Real Madrid 4 - 1 Mallorca

2012-05-14T04:28:00.000-07:00

Mourinho : " It is impossible to improve on our numbers"

2012-05-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho was accompanied by his staff in the press conference ahead of the clash with Mallorca.

"We're all here today because we all work on the team. There are others who aren't here today that have also been part of a coaching staff that has given its all to help the players achieve success. We've all won and lost together. I said we would all either laugh or cry together in the end and we've eventually laughed because things went our way."

"I think we've had a very good season. We've grown as a team and as a group of people. We want to do better and improve. We've established difficult records and won the most important title. We've also been in the Champions League semifinals a second straight year, which means we're strong there also. We also had great respect for the Copa del Rey. We fought for the title. It's been a very good season and I believe it is impossible to improve on our numbers. We want to win the league title again next season, but we know it will be very difficult to earn these numbers again."

"I would give the team as a whole a nine out of ten, but I would award some players a ten. I think it will be very difficult to improve on our performance level next year. Even though there are some who say there is only one way of playing football, I believe there are many ways, and I think no one plays ours like we do. We will add qualities to make the team stronger and we will aslo work on psychology. It isn't easy to do better in the Champions League, but it's possible, so we'll try. We don't want or need a new squad. Two players will suffice to make the team stronger."

"We want to give a serious performance against Mallorca and enjoy ourselves. It would be great to add taking 100 points to our list of records this year, but we just want the fans to have fun."

"There'll be nothing to do if someone pays Higuain's rescission clause. Everyone knows I'd like him to stay, but that's what clauses are for. Gonzalo is one of the best centre forwards in the world."

"I believe all my men have worked towards winning the title and Kaka is one of them. He's been decisive in some games and he's also given less positive performances, but he's had a great season overall. My opinion regarding Carvalho is that he is too good not to be a starter. He's won the league title in Portugal, England and Spain with me and we'll decide what's best for him."

Real Madrid Celebrations at Cibeles (Video)

2012-05-10T06:22:00.002-07:00

Mourinho to Guardiola : "Nobody is perfect"

2012-05-10T01:26:00.000-07:00

Mourinho and Guardiola have had a number of public spats since the Portuguese's arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, and the Madrid boss has now taken another dig at his counterpart as the Catalan gets set to step down in the summer.

"It is not normal to sell an image of perfection, because at the end of the day nobody is perfect. I have never sold an image of perfection," Mourinho was quoted as saying by ABC.

The former Inter boss then went on to hail his own accomplishments in the game, while underlining the importance of beating Barcelona to the Liga title this term.

"No coach has won a league title in the three major leagues [England, Italy, Spain]. It was an objective that I had. It is an unbelievable achievement both professionally and on a personal level.

"My target in life is not to beat Barca. I have also lost to Barca and to lose to them doesn't make me any sadder than to lose against Bayern.

"Winning the Liga title this year was important in terms of interrupting their winning cycle, though."

Mourinho concluded by once more insisting that he is keen to stay in the Spanish capital.

"I have two seasons left with Real Madrid and myself and my family are happy to have that stability."

The 49-year-old coach has won a Primera Division crown and a Copa del Rey title during his two years at the Santiago Bernabeu side.

Mourinho : Higuain is not leaving anywhere

2012-05-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Argentina international has continually been linked with a move away from the Liga champions, and Paris Saint-Germain star Javier Pastore revealed earlier this weekend that Higuain has been in touch with him over a potential move.

Nevertheless, Mourinho has stressed that the 24-year-old is not for sale at any price.

"Higuain is staying here. He will stay at Madrid because I don't want him to go. He has an excellent contract here that runs for many more years," Mourinho stated to ABC.

"And Madrid have no intention to sell either. Even if clubs offer 40, 50 or €60 million, we will not sell him. My two strikers for next season will be [Karim] Benzema and Higuain."

Higuain has netted 22 goals in 34 Primera Division appearances this season.

Granada 1 - 2 Real Madrid Highlights

2012-05-06T01:55:00.001-07:00

Granada 1 - 2 Real madrid hoofoot.com 05/05/2012 ile hoofoot

Ramos: "I'm very happy"

2012-05-05T05:15:00.003-07:00

Ramos

"The act at Cibeles was beautiful. We have to be grateful for the weather because the sun finally shone through; Real Madrid deserve nothing less. I'm very happy; this is my third league title with Real Madrid. Titles are enjoyed and savoured differently as the years go by."

Arbeloa

"The best thing about this is making people happy. I'm very happy because our hard work has been fruitful, but celebrating with our supporters tops everything."

Granero

"We came here with the Copa del Rey last year, but the league title is very special. It is amazing to be with the entire Madridista family. We had a perfect run in the championship and we deserve the title. We have to try to keep up the good work next year to continue making people happy and return to Cibeles."

Di Maria: "We'll make these fans even happier in the future"

2012-05-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

Di Maria

"I am very happy with my first Spanish league title, but there's much more to come. I want the fans to enjoy this as much as we do. I'm sure we'll make them even happier in the future. I hope we win more titles every year and that one of them is the Champions League."

Kaka

"This is immense joy, especially after the blow in the Champions League last week. This is a great and very personal feeling, so celebrating is very important. The secret to our success is that we are a true team. Some play more than others, but the group is what really matters."

Callejon

"This is a dream come true. It's been very important for all of us and I hope it all stays like this. This is a great year and we're very happy. I expected us to win a title this season."

Casillas: "Our supporters deserve this"

2012-05-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

Casillas

"Our supporters deserve this, so it's all for them. We've fought very hard in this league championship, but we won."

Higuain

"We're very happy about winning the league title after months of hard work."

Ozil

"I am very happy. We won all together and this is my first league title with Real Madrid. It's time to celebrate."

Cristiano Ronaldo: "We've had a spectacular season"

2012-05-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

"I feel incredibly happy. This is my first Spanish league title and I'm delighted about it. We've had a spectacular season and the fans deserve this. The team also deserves the title because we've played phenomenally well. I am very happy."

"I wish to thank everyone here. We're having a lot of fun and we want to win again next year to return."

"There are two games left in the championship and we've achieved our objective of winning the league. I'm not too worried about not winning the Pichichi this year. We'll see what happens in the end."

Real Madrid is the Champion (Celebration photo gallery)

2012-05-03T01:12:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo interview after the Championship

2012-05-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo shared his happiness for winning his first La Liga title with the media.

“I am incredibly happy. This is my first league title in Spain and I am delighted. We’ve achieved our objective and we were all very excited about winning La Liga.”

“We all experience great joy for achieving our objective after fighting for ten months.”

“The league is even harder when you fight for it with a team like Barcelona, but you feel great when you beat one of the best teams around. We were better than them.”

“The league title is what I wanted most. I have two Golden Boot awards at home. It would be nice to win another, but I wouldn’t mind it if I didn’t.”