These boys really are boys, if Thursday’s photo session and training session are used to evaluate them. I didn’t think anything could top last year’s session, with the faces, the sneezing and the “assists,” but it did. Anyway, both the photo and training sessions are covered in this post, along with a Cristiano interview and some things about the Madrid-Getafe relationship!
The photo session
On Thursday, the team posed for this season’s official photos (let’s hope this was the first and last time for this season, as we can all remember how the photos needed to be retaken in the middle of past seasons, whether it was due to a change in the coach or the president…). Included in the official foto de familia were the 23 first team players, the coaching staff, president Florentino Pérez, honorary president Alfredo di Stéfano and the football director of the team, Zinedine Zidane. I love how the players joked around, with Esteban Granero patting Kaká’s face, and then making him into a temporary pirate, as well as Pipita holding up two fingers, with Mesut correcting him into the four favored by Sergio Ramos! I wonder if Sergio spent some extra time on his hair these past few days, knowing that this session was coming up…
Zizou looks great in his suit, no? And I wonder what was going through Mou’s mind as he watched his 23 chosen ones – probably a job well done, since he got everyone he wanted and got rid of everyone he didn’t want. We also got a glimpse of the three long-term injured players – Khedira, Sahin, Altintop – for the first time in a while (Khedira is not expected to make it to the Getafe game). Prior to the session, the players chatted with Di Stéfano, with Higuaín especially attentive of his compatriot. And I love Iker’s expression below.
The team took individual photos (of course with their thumbs up), a group photo and FP also posed with the captains (Iker, Sergio, Marcelo, Higuaín), the five new signings for this season (Sahin, Callejón, Altintop, Varane, Coentrão) and the five canteranos on the first team (Iker, Granero, Arbeloa, Adán, Callejón – I hate that there’s only one real canterano in the group, as in he didn’t have to leave before he became valued and gets regular playing time).
Plus, we got an overload of The Perfect Profile, from the training session and the photo session!
The training session
Álvaro and Marcelo continued posing after the photo session, while Jesús’ shirt got dirtier…
With only two days to go before the game against Getafe, all of the available players were back at Valdebebas training. Gonzalo Higuaín and Ángel di María joined the group, which included four canteranos: MFC ABMM, Álex, Joselu (who for some reason looked just like Javier Portillo in the training video – anyone else think that?) and Jesús. Those footballers who had played two games with their national teams (the four Spaniards, Benzema and the two Argentines) continued with their recovery work, while the other players exercised at a more intensive rate. The goalkeepers did their own specific work. The team will be back in training this evening.
By the way, I hear that Madrid will be wearing their red kits in their Champions League debut against Dinamo next week! Can’t wait to see how that looks!
Cris speaks to Marca…
Marca spoke to Cris at the premiere of his film the other day, and here are the most interesting parts (i.e. the answers I loved).
on the Ricardo Carvalho drama: I think everyone is allowed to make mistakes. He was wrong, I’ve been wrong, we’ve all made mistakes. Another thing is the relationship between Pepe and Carvalho, which is perfect. I spoke to them on Tuesday and I didn’t see any problems. Everyone saw that the other day. If the two of them didn’t have a correct relationship, it would be a problem for the team. We need all the players to understand each other and to get along well during the season.
on the cantera: Morata is very good. We have the opportunity to work with them once in a while throughout the year and they have a lot of quality. Madrid has a good team for the future, not only Morata, but also Juan Carlos, Jesé… there are five or six boys that can become important in a few years because they have a lot of talent.
on new star German player Mario Götze: I’m sorry, but I don’t know who that is. For me, the best German player right now is Mesut Özil.
on Mourinho: El míster Mourinho is first of all my friend, second of all my coach and third of all a person that I admire, one that I’m happy to get to work with and one from whom I learn things every day.
on Cristiano, the brand: I believe I maintain a good connection between Cristiano the footballer and Cristiano the brand. I never mix the advertising work with my work. If anyone observes me each week during the year, they’ll see that my level is always good and that I’m always a professional. Both these parts of my life are well-integrated. It’s true that I like doing advertisements, that I enjoy these things, but I have it very clear that the priority in my life is football.
on the abuse he gets from rival fans: I try to ignore all the provocations because that’s not football. Those who do these things are not good people. I try to concentrate on my team and on the game, and speak on the field. The truth is, I don’t care what the people say.
Madrid’s site also has Cris saying, “I can’t say I have a best friend on the team, because the relationship with everyone is fantastic. We’re like a family.” I love that Cris is being diplomatic, but we all know that he has a soft spot for Marcelo, Pepe and Kaká, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
Random Madrid & Getafe-related things
I love this quote from Getafe president (and Real Madrid socio) Ángel Torres on “Al primer toque” the other night: “Real Madrid has a more physical potential this season. They have a very direct football, and technically they have very good players. Barcelona plays from memory although after five years there are a lot of people who are beginning to get bored by them. It’s true that they’re in the midst of a very good cycle and that they’ve run over Madrid, but I believe this year, with the reinforcements, Madrid will begin functioning.”
Speaking of Getafe, Peter Lion won’t be able to play against us, but Pablo Sarabia will. They’re just two of the very many players who have made the journey from Madrid to Getafe: Rubén de la Red, Esteban Granero, Jordi Codina, Miguel Torres, Adrián, Roberto Soldado, Dani Parejo, Pedro Mosquera. Only Juanfran Moreno (who signed for Castilla and has debuted with the first team) and now Peter Lion have gone the opposite way.
For more on former Castilla captain, law student and friend of PF Juan Mata Pedro Mosquera, go see this interview Defensa Central did with him. Highlights below:
on missing Real Madrid: yes, you do miss it. Madrid is the club that made me grow as a person and as a footballer. I owe everything to Madrid and I’ll always be grateful. In addition, it’s an incredible club. There aren’t many teams like Madrid and you always miss it.
on a possible return: there is always that option, but I’m very happy with Getafe and I think it will be a lack of respect to think about another club. At the moment I’m happy here but I will never close the doors to anything.
on playing in the Bernabéu: it’s an incredible sensation. I arrived in Madrid when I was 12, and I would pass by the Castellana (the avenue that the stadium is located on) and say, “let’s see if I’ll get to play there one day.” Now I’ve achieved it and it’s a great sensation and a reward for all the hard work.
on the cantera: Morata is a good player, he has an eye for the goal and he’s showing that. Juanfran has a lot of abilities as well. I believe that both of them, if given a chance on the first team, will respond. I have no complaints about the policies towards the canteranos. The club treats their cantera very well. Having opportunities is another thing, because Madrid is a big club and it’s logical that they sign players to respond to the expectations that the fans and the club have. In that sense, if you do well in Castilla, the opportunity will come, but it’s very difficult.