Mou has spoken, so everything is in place for tonight’s Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb (20:45)! Well, except for the players – they’re due to meet up today, as they were allowed to spend last night at home, instead of the team hotel.
Sunday’s session was marked by the teasing that José Callejón received. As mentioned earlier, he had to return to Motril to fulfill his duties as a citizen of Spain, as he was randomly selected to serve as the substitute president in a voting center in his hometown. So, as soon as the game against Valencia ended, he headed to Motril by car, where he arrived around six in the morning. At eight in the morning, José went to the voting center, where he confirmed that the president was present and able to carry out his duties, and that he wasn’t needed.
So he hurried to Granada, where he took a flight at 09:15h in the morning to return to Madrid “for work” as he himself described it. He arrived only 15 minutes late for the training session, at 11:15h, where his teammates greeted him with applause and teasing, which José took in stride, blowing kisses to his teammates.
José’s platonic love Gonzalo Higuaín led the teasing.
Higuaín: Idol! Citizen, animal! Citizen! It’s about time! Good morning! Citizen! Beast!
Granero: Model citizen, chaval!
Pepe: Have you paid the 60 euros? [Referring to the fine that players who arrive late are subjected to.]
Sergio: Calleji, did you pay it?
Pepe: 60 euros, no?
Iker: everyone, let’s go do our thing, let’s go. [Of course.]
By the way, Álvaro Arbeloa also fulfilled his duties as an model citizen, as he voted.
As for the rest of the session, it started with the players at the center of the field, listening to Mou’s chat. Twenty players worked out, divided into three groups: the starters, the substitutes and the goalkeepers (Iker and Antonio, plus Isaac from Castilla). Ricardo Carvalho trained with the group of subs, while Ángel di María was out on the field doing recovery work. Arbeloa worked out in the gym along with Kaká.
On Monday, there was good news as Ángel di María rejoined the group, forming part of the 21 players who trained, with Tomás Mejías taking the place of Isaac. Marcelo, Arbeloa and Kaká didn’t train.
Nineteen footballers were called up for the game, with Fábio Coentrão returning to the fold after missing out on the Valencia game due to injury. Carvalho, Kaká, Di María, Marcelo and Arbeloa missed out due to injury.
Goalkeepers: Iker, Adán, Mejías.
Defenders: Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Albiol, Coentrão.
Midfielders: Özil, Sahin, Xabi Alonso, Altintop, Callejón, Lass, Granero, Khedira.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín, Benzema.
Guess who?
If it wasn’t obvious enough by the tattoos and boots, the answer is the below picture on the left: Pepe, being picked on by Ángel and Pipita (he seems to be enjoying it though). Meanwhile, Sergio practiced some karate kicks, using Mesut’s back as a target.
In his press conference, Mou had this to say:
on the “controversial” celebration with Callejón: Valencia should be flattered by our celebrations. The goals wouldn’t be celebrated like this in a normal game and against a normal adversary, if it’s a game where you think you’re going to win easily. We celebrate like this when it’s a big victory for us, when we have suffered. We celebrated with emotion and respect. The critics say that if we don’t celebrate our goals, we’re arrogant and if we do, we’re also arrogant. We have the right to celebrate goals.
on the upcoming game: I’ll have to make changes to my team not because I think the game is easy, but because I have some very, very tired players. I have to make the changes, it’s not the question of a choice, it’s compulsory, the players are very tired… I can’t reveal the starters because not even the players know yet, and they’re always the first to know. Until now, the four players who have come out to speak to the press in the Champions League have started [hinting that Nuri Sahin would start].
on his players: Lass plays very well. He has a great character and he’s a starter on this team. Tomorrow, he’ll play once more. Kaká still has some negative sensations and we don’t want these sensations to turn into anymore more. Carvalho is fine mentally. He won’t be ready for the derby, but we do believe he’ll be ready the week after that. Di María is reintegrating into the team bit by bit. He might be ready by the derby. I don’t know if Ramos will return to playing as a fullback, it depends on the situation and the circumstances. He’s playing phenomenally as a centerback.
We also heard from Nuri Sahin, who explained that although he’s taking Spanish classes, he doesn’t feel ready to give a press conference in castellano yet, so he spoke in English.
on his teammates: the best players in the world [here] are normal people. From the outside, it appears that they live on another planet, but here everyone has their feet on the ground.
on Mourinho: my first contact with him was through the phone and we spoke about the future. During my first days here, he helped me a lot and from day one until now I’m part of this group.
on whether he’s ready to play: I don’t feel any pressure. I’m happy that I can play in this stadium and for this club. Pressure and afraid are not words in my life, I like to play and I had to wait a very long time to play and now I’m ready, and pressure, no, I don’t have any pressure.
Later that day, Iker, Sergio, Álvaro and Raúl headed to the Ciudad de Fútbol for their Monday sporting director classes, and Sergio helpfully tweeted a photo of the four of them there. He’s the worst dressed again, although Raúl’s jeans aren’t doing him any favors either. Meanwhile, Álvaro showed off ANOTHER Muhammad Ali top; how many does he have? And Iker is completely right – there aren’t many things as pleasurable as having a cup of hot Cola Cao before going to bed (preferably accompanied by a few biscuits, like Iker is doing here). I think I’m going to go have some Cola Cao right now (it’s actually good at any time of the day)! I’m much like Iker in that sense, since I also prefer the original Cola Cao!
As for Castilla, they beat Lugo by the bare minimum 1-0 on Sunday, but that was all they needed to become the new leaders of their group! Both Castilla and Real Madrid are leaders! Jorge Casado scored in the 85th minutes to bring victory to the Di Stéfano, much to the delight of the 2,800 people there, including Juan Carlos. The last time Castilla led their group was more than three years ago, and they remain unbeaten at home.
The only negative note came in the form of Álex’s sprained knee. But he was cheered up by this tweet from MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín: “my last tweet of the day is for a special someone. He looked sad today and I don’t like to see him like that. Ánimo Álex!” They are so cute, and should be kept together forever and ever.
