all set for el Geta!

It almost looks like these two pictures are one!

The team got to enjoy a change of scenery yesterday, with the training session taking place at the Bernabéu, instead of Valdebebas, and at night, instead of in the morning or even the afternoon, to prepare for tonight’s game against Getafe (22h).  Two canteranos, Tomás Mejías and Jesús Fernández, joined the first team, which was missing Iker, Dudek, Sergio, Khedira and Gago.  Iker and Dudek are presumably getting a rest (no explanation was given as to why they were absent), while Sergio is suspended for this game, and the latter two are injured.  And the luckiest kid in the world – José Mourinho Jr. – was also out on the field, though he watched most of the session from the bench.

And someone got a haircut!

Twenty footballers were called up for the game.  Sergio is out due to suspension, Kaká (left hamstring problem), Gago and Khedira due to injury and Iker and Dudek due to the coach’s decision.

Goalkeepers: Adán, Tomás Mejías, Jesús.

Defenders: Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Albiol, Garay.

Midfielders: Granero, Lass, Alonso, Di María, Özil, Canales, Pedro León.

Forwards: Adebayor, Higuaín, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema.

The team started their concentración right after the session was over.  The next training session won’t be until Friday morning, though the team will meet up on Wednesday to offer the Copa del Rey to the city of Madrid.  They’ll visit the city hall (situated right next to Cibeles), the site of the community’s government and the Almudena Cathedral.  The team, coaching staff and directors will leave from the Bernabéu at 12h to head for the city hall, where they will be honored with a reception at 12:15h.  After that, it’s on to the Puerta del Sol for an audience with the community government at 13h, and half an hour after that, the Copa will be offered to the Virgen de la Almudena.

Aitor Karanka spoke to the press before the training session, where he had to defend himself against speculation that he’s just a mouthpiece for José Mourinho: “I am not part of Mourinho.  It’s not necessary for Mou to tell me what I have to say.  The coaching staff is all in tune with each other, because we all think the same.  If anyone else speaks, he would say the same thing.  I’m much happier than I was eight months ago, after being able to work with him and getting to know him as a person.”  Go Aitor!

Karanka also said that there would be no orders to pass the ball to Cristiano so that he can win the pichichi award and perhaps break the record of 38 goals scored in a single season currently held by Hugo Sánchez and Zarra, but it would be nice because it would be a result from the effort of the entire team.

The team also got a visit from Cirque du Soleil, whose protagonists are in Madrid until June 5 performing “Corteo” (several of the players, including MFC, have already seen the show).  The troupe got to watch the training session and meet the players and coaching staff.  Xabi looks a bit upset to be separated from the rest of the A-team.  Is Esteban trying to usurp Xabi???

Several of our players won Fútbol Draft awards (for players aged 16-20) yesterday.  They will be presented with the awards on May 24 at the Bernabéu.  Sergio Canales formed part of the “gold XI,” while Nacho and Juan Carlos made it to the “silver XI” team and Álex, Pablo Sarabia, Jesé and Álvaro Borja Morata Martín are represented on the “bronze XI” team.

Meanwhile, Juanfran was victimized by the Real Madrid photographers.  Here are two photos from a report the club did on him yesterday.  Spot the common characteristics with these photos.

Fun fact: each time Madrid signs a player with German origins, they win a title.  This happened with Netzer in 1973-74 (Copa), Breitner in 1974-75 (Liga and Copa), Stielike in 1977-78 (Liga), Schuster in 1988-89 (Liga, Copa, Supercopa), Illgner in 1996-97 (Liga), Metzelder in 2007-08 (Liga), and most recently, Khedira and Özil in 2010-11 (Copa).  What will Sahin (and presumably Altintop) bring?  (By the way, I can’t wait to hear Mou describe Altintop as “top”).  Let’s hope they continue the tradition, but change things up a bit by helping to bring home La Décima!

A couple more moments from the game against Sevilla.  I loved how the entire coaching staff encouraged Cristiano via clapping and double thumbs up (I love the action, not the gesture), and later on, Cris had his very own Ozi moment.

And prior to the game, the very mature Sevilla crowd chanted, “Marcelo has lice, Marcelo has lice.”  So Cris decided to check out Marcelo’s hair for himself, but of course did not find anything.  And later on, Cris laughed when the crowd decided to focus their attention on him, accusing him of being a diver, but I just wanted to show you this moment for Xabi.

Meanwhile, Canal +’s cameras caught Levante’s players discussing the comfort level of the seats of the banquillo during their game against Athletic in San Mamés.  Rubén Suárez remarked to his teammates, “(the seats) aren’t comfortable!  The best seats are those of Madrid.  In Madrid, they have lumbar support and heating… puff…”

And a picture of Miguel Torres, because we’re playing him tonight and my eyes will definitely be on him.