Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid are in “better shape than ever” with a seven-point LaLiga lead and a Champions League tie against Manchester City to look forward to.
Real travel to mid-table Osasuna on Saturday afternoon knowing victory will take them 10 points clear ahead of second-placed Girona kicking off at Getafe.
“It’s a hugely important game that will demand the best of us, especially going into the international break,” Real boss Ancelotti said at a press conference ahead of taking charge of his 900th top-flight match in Europe’s top leagues.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
“We want to finish this part of the season strongly. We’ve done pretty well so far and we’re heading into the break in a good position.
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Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Jim Crawford has backed his players for walking off after one of their team-mates was allegedly racially abused.
The Football Association of Ireland has reported the incident, which prompted the abandonment of Monday’s friendly clash with Kuwait’s Under-22s side in Austria, to FIFA and UEFA and reiterated its zero tolerance stance on discrimination.
Crawford said: “I fully support the FAI’s stance to take this matter to FIFA and UEFA and hope now that the correct and appropriate action is taken.
FAI Statement | Ireland U21 v Kuwait U22
— Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball)
“I’m proud of the stance our players and staff took to stand by one of their own. No-one should be subjected to raci…
Barcelona s Lionel Messi said his side will use the Champions League final win over Manchester United in 2009 as motivation for the re-match.
The two powerhouses met in the 2009 European final which Barcelona won 2-0 in Rome and they are set to lock horns again in Saturday s Champions League decider at Wembley.
Despite the fact that the English side no longer possess the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in their squad, Messi said talk that Sir Alex Ferguson s side was weaker now in comparison to the team two years ago, was misguided.
They won the English championship (Premier League) and they are in the Champions League final, Messi told reporters at Barcelona s open media day on Monday.
They can t be very weak if they have achieved all that…
The wally with the brolly
So, the Wally with the brolly is back in the English game as a manager. Steve McClaren has been appointed as the new boss at Championship side Nottingham Forest. Former manager Billy Davies was sacked yesterday after leading the club to two consecutive play-off campaigns ending in failure.
Rumoured
It had been rumoured that McClaren may have been first choice for Aston Villa but that fan unrest had led them to look elsewhere. I m afraid that McClaren s pitiful spell in charge of the England national team has left his position as a manager as untenable to a large group of English football fans.
Of course, that is hugely unfair. McClaren enjoyed great success as a coach at Derby and alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. …