Kaka promises more after ending barren run

February 8, 2010

Real Madrid’s Brazilian superstar Kaka believes he is yet to show his best form since his 68.5-million-euro move from AC Milan after scoring for the first time in three months in his side’s 3-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Kaka, 27, was a prolific scorer with AC Milan but has found goals hard to come by since joining Real in the summer with the goal against Espanyol only his fourth league strike of the season and his first since he netted in the 3-2 derby win over Atletico Madrid back on November 7.

Kaka had his season interrupted by five weeks out with a groin injury picked up before Christmas, but the Brazilian international believes he is starting to get match sharpness back.

“I am feeling better and better and you can see that on the pitch,” said Kaka. “First of all I had the groin injury that stopped me playing like I wanted to but now I am better and feeling good.

“It is always important to score and, besides helping the team, it gives you confidence.”

Kaka scored Real’s second goal on 29 minutes following up after Raul’s initial shot was saved and could have had another in the second half only to be denied by the post.

“After a month and a half out it is difficult to ask for more (from Kaka),” said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini. “He will get back to his top level soon and is a very important player for us.”

Cristiano Ronaldo completed his two-match suspension against Espanyol and Kaka said that while Ronaldo is an important part of the side, Madrid were far from a one-man team.

“Cristiano is a key player but the team can’t depend on one player,” added the Brazilian. “We are playing better with each game and we want to continue in this vain.

“We can’t drop any points and we just have to keep winning and hope Barcelona drop points.”

Unbeaten leaders Barcelona stayed five points ahead of Real after beating Getafe 2-0 on Saturday despite playing 65 minutes with ten men.

Along with the form of Kaka, Real were boosted by the return to fitness of Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain, who made his first appearance after three weeks out with a leg injury.

Higuain scored in the final minute to make it 3-0 with his 12th goal of the season and believes Barca could drop points with some difficult games coming up notably next weekend at Atletico Madrid who beat them 4-3 at the Vicente Calderon last season.

“Last year Barcelona slipped up there (at Atletico Madrid) and dropped points,” said Higuain. “Up until now they have not lost a single match but now the tricky games are coming up and we will see what happens.”

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: 5 million, atletico madrid, Barcelona, confidence, five points, groin injury, kaka, MADRID, man team, manuel pellegrini, match, Milan, month and a half, pitch, prolific scorer, raul, real madrid, ronaldo, sharpness, three months, Vicente Calderon

Galliani refutes Kaka claims

February 6, 2010

Adriano Galliani has refuted claims that Milan sold Kaka to Real Madrid knowing he was struggling with an injury.

The Brazilian playmaker has failed to make the expected impact at the Bernabeu this season following his big-money summer switch.

His cause has been hindered by a niggling groin problem which has prevented him from maintaining his high standards.

Reports in Madrid had suggested Kaka had been carrying the problem for some time, with Milan said to be aware that the 27-year-old could struggle.

However Galliani has strenuously denied such accusations, with the Rossoneri vice-president quick to point out that the Samba star never struggled with injuries throughout his time in Serie A.

“It’s absurd,” he said.

“Last season Kaka played 31 games in the Italian league and was a virtual ever-present. I don’t like the suggestion that we gave Real Madrid an injured player.”

Tags: accusations, adriano, bernabeu, Galliani, games, groin problem, italian league, kaka, MADRID, Milan, money, playmaker, Real, real madrid, rossoneri, samba, suggestion, vice president

Can Ronaldinho really get back to his best?

January 20, 2010

Ronaldinho is enjoying his best form in four years but he is still some way off the awesome performances he managed in the middle of the last decade (Noughties? ).

Sunday’s hat-trick in AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Siena featured a penalty and a close range header, but the third goal where he sent a perfect shot into the top corner from distance was a reminder of the Brazilian at his Barcelona best.

But only a reminder. He has lost a yard of pace and some of the passes he tries to make are baffling. Increasingly though, he is splitting defences open and playing with that really broad smile on his face, which has rarely happened since winning the Champions League with Barca in 2006.

It’s the Milan derby on Sunday and leaders Inter will be keeping an extra eye on the 29-year-old.

The main reason he is flourishing is rookie coach Leonardo’s new tactics, which have propelled Milan to second in Serie A after an awful start. Ronaldinho is now playing on the left of a front three rather than behind a front two meaning he has slightly less responsibility and if a pass isn’t on, a bog-standard cross towards Marco Borriello’s head will at least excite the crowd.

Another reason is the absence of Kaka. With both of them at the San Siro last season, at times it was like they were falling over each other.

He tried a bicycle kick on Sunday, something I’ve not see him do in ages. But it didn’t go in. I think that might be the difference at the moment between old Ronaldinho and new Ronaldinho.

Before, about 75 percent of his tricks came off. Now it’s around 40 percent. Bridging that gap will be difficult now he is pushing 30 and his fitness, despite the work of the famed MilanLab, is not quite what it was.

All top players have a purple patch. Will Cristiano Ronaldo ever reach the zenith of the last two seasons at Manchester United? Real Madrid team mate Kaka has not looked the same player he was in 2007. Wayne Rooney is probably in the middle of that patch now but how long will it last?

Even the likes of Zinedine Zidane were not great for a long, long time. The Frenchman was not that well-known in the early years of his career.

So Ronaldinho may have had ”his day” but current performances could put him back in the thoughts of Brazil coach Dunga.

Then who knows? Ronaldo, another Brazilian, looked to be past his best before lighting up the 2002 World Cup…

PHOTO: AC Milan’s Ronaldinho celebrates after scoring against Siena in their Italian Serie A soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan, January 17, 2010. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Source

Tags: ac milan, barca, Barcelona, bicycle kick, brazil, close range, hat trick, kaka, leonardo, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, Marco Borriello, Milan, perfect shot, purple patch, pushing 30, real madrid, ronaldinho, ronaldo, rookie coach, san siro, Stefano Rellandini, team mate, wayne rooney

Bilbao sink mighty Real Madrid

January 17, 2010

Real Madrid fell to their third defeat of the season losing 1-0 to a battling Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Saturday meaning leaders Barcelona can move five points clear with victory over Sevilla.

Spanish international forward Fernando Llorente headed the decisive goal after just two minutes and Bilbao survived an onslaught – with Karim Benzema, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo all going close – to hold on for an historic win.

Real dropped two points in their last away match with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna and fired blanks again in Bilbao and now sit two points behind Barca having played one game more.

Champions Barcelona face Sevilla for the third time in 11 days at Camp Nou later on Saturday knowing a win would see them go five points clear.

Sevilla eliminated Barcelona from the last 16 of the Kings Cup on Wednesday, largely thanks to a 2-1 win at Camp Nou, and hope to repeat the trick.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini replaced injured top-scorer Gonzalo Higuain with Benzema for the Bilbao game, leaving captain and club legend Raul out in the cold once again.

Xabi Alonso overcame a niggle to start in midfield alongside Lass Diarra with Kaka and Ronaldo providing the guile going forward.

Bilbao were far from intimidated, however, and hit the woodwork twice in the first minute.

Carlos Gurpegi thumped the left hand post and the ball came out to Gaizka Toquero who crashed his shot against the other upright from close range.

It was a warning, but Real didn’t take enough notice as they conceded a minute later.

A corner from the left took a slight deflection and Llorente powered a header past international team-mate Iker Casillas.

Real had kept three consecutive clean sheets so the goal was a shock and they responded in the best fashion with Benzema forcing a save from Gorka Iraizoz.

On 34 minutes Real thought they had equalised when Kaka’s threaded pass found Benzema but the Frenchman’s shot came back off the post into Iraizoz’s grateful arms.

In the second half Llorente almost unlocked the Real defence with a great turn and footwork to bamboozle two defenders but couldn’t get his shot off.

Ronaldo, constantly jeered by the home fans, almost equalised on the hour mark but Iraizoz thwarted him.

Real used up all the options with Guti, Esteban Granero and Raul on as substitutes and it was backs to the wall for the hosts.

Ronaldo was denied by a brilliant save in stoppage time and Bilbao held on for a much-needed final whistle.

Earlier Osasuna won their first league match since the end of November with two early goals inside a minute securing a 2-0 home victory over Espanyol on Saturday.

Osasuna had gone four games without a win or a goal in the league but had a terrific start against Espanyol scoring twice inside the first eight minutes through Juanfran and Walter Pandiani.

Espanyol hit the post and pushed hard but it was not to be as they fell to a sixth successive away defeat.

Valencia host derby rivals Villarreal in the highlight game on Sunday between two sides recovering from the disappointment of exiting the Kings Cup in midweek.

Villarreal are 12 points behind third-placed Valencia in the league and can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to have a shot at snatching one of the four Champions League slots.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: athletic bilbao, Barcelona, Bilbao, camp nou, clean sheets, close range, cristiano ronaldo, decisive goal, deflection, diarra, Esteban Granero, Fernando, Fernando Llorente, five points, kaka, Karim Benzema, kings cup, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, midfield, osasuna, raul, real madrid, ronaldo, San, san mames, SEVILLA, team mate, third defeat, Valencia

Real´s Higuain sidelined with leg muscle injury

January 13, 2010

Real Madrid’s Argentine international striker Gonzalo Higuain has suffered a tear in his left calf muscle and will be sidelined for three weeks, the club said on Tuesday.

The injury was detected after the 22-year-old underwent medical tests at a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, it said in a statement.

“We were all very surprised because nobody thought that he had such an injury. But this happens during such a long season with so many matches,” said Real keeper Iker Casillas.

Higuain has been a regular for Real this season, scoring 11 times in the league and two in the Champions League despite the arrival of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Kaka and France’s Karim Benzema.

Benzema, the top scorer in the French league the 2007-2008 season who has struggled to impress since he joined Real from French side Lyon in July, is likely to take Higuain’s place.

Real are currently in second place in La Liga, two points behind Barcelona.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, Barcelona, barcelona madrid, calf muscle, champions league, cristiano ronaldo, France, french league, french side, kaka, Karim Benzema, leg muscle, Lyon, MADRID, medical tests, muscle injury, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, ronaldo brazil, striker, top scorer

Van der Vaart tips Spain, Brazil as WC favourites

January 7, 2010

Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart has named the countries he expects to be in contention for this year’s World Cup honours. The Real Madrid midfielder didn’t mention his homeland the Netherlands among the favourites.

“Spain is one of the favourites along with Argentina and Brazil,” said Van der Vaart at a press conference.

“Spain is a very good team but the World Cup is different. At Euro 2008 they were lucky because the Netherlands had a bad day against Russia.”

The 26-year-old midfielder returned to Real’s starting lineup recently, partly because of the injured Kaka’s absence. The Brazilian midfielder is on the verge of a return for Los Merengues but Van der Vaart doesn’t fear his comeback.

“I can also play with Kaka, not a problem, that is a decision of the coach.

“I have the skill and quality to play for Real Madrid.”

Tags: absence, Argentina, bad day, brazil, conference spain, contention, dutch international, euro 2008, favourites, kaka, MADRID, merengues, midfielder, netherlands, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, russia, Spain, starting lineup, the Netherlands, Van der, verge, World Cup

Kaka back in action during training

January 1, 2010

Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Kaka touched the ball during a training session on Thursday for the first time since he was sidelined at the end of November with a hernia, the Spanish club said.

“Kaka appears to have recovered from his sports hernia and today got his first feel for the ball in several weeks. He and Cristiano Ronaldo teamed up during the second half of the session to work on various drills,” the club said in a statement.

Real will hold two more training sessions before it faces Osasuna in the league on Sunday in Pamplona and it is not yet clear if the 27-year-old will be called up for the squad for that match.

The Spanish giants have won all four of their matches in Kaka’s absence, leading some in the Spanish media to suggest that Real play better without the 65-million-euro (93.5-million-dollar) summer signing from AC Milan.

But Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who has replaced Kaka during his absence, is also in doubt for the match as is Spanish midfielder Guti.

Real went into the Christmas break two points behind leaders and champions Barcelona in the Primera Liga.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Barcelona, Cristiano, cristiano ronaldo, doubt, giants, hernia, kaka, MADRID, osasuna, pamplona, Primera, primera liga, Rafael van der, real madrid, real play, ronaldo, second half, sessions, spanish club, spanish media, training session

Higuain warns rivals of a rising Madrid

December 21, 2009

Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain believes Real Madrid are getting better all the time after they ended 2009 with a 6-0 demolition of Real Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Even without key duo Kaka and Pepe through injury Madrid were still far too good for sorry Zaragoza, and the game was over as a contest inside the opening 35 minutes after the hosts stormed into a 4-0 lead.

Higuain and Rafael van der Vaart shared those goals equally between them before big-money summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema added two more strikes in the second half.

Madrid have had their critics this season but last night’s win was their biggest since trouncing Sporting Gijon 7-1 at the start of the last campaign and saw them close the gap on leaders Barcelona to two points.

It also means Madrid have won eight of their last nine games, with their only slip-up coming against Barca at the Nou Camp, and Higuain feels things are now gradually coming together for the Spanish giants, who spent around 250million euros on new talent this summer.

“We are playing better every day,” said the Argentinian, who has scored 10 goals in his last eight league games for Madrid.

“I’m very happy with the result and with the performance of the team. We played a very good match and we hope to continue on this path. We were solid and we took advantage of scoring so early on.

“It was very important to defeat Zaragoza in order to be just two points behind Barcelona. We depend on ourselves to catch up to them.”

World-record signing Ronaldo also feels he is improving.

The £80million summer arrival from Manchester United missed two months of the season due to an ankle injury and was back on the sidelines for last weekend’s trip to Valencia because of suspension.

However, he was back in the side for the Zaragoza match and his second-half goal took his tally to 13 strikes in 12 competitive games this season.

“I’m working well and I will do even better with the help of my team-mates. I want to carry on like this until the end of the season,” he said.

“I’m doing better every day. Two months out is a long time and coming back was difficult. But things are going well for me, I’m scoring goals and I hope to continue like that.”

He added on his club’s website: “It was important to end the year with a victory, so we are happy about that. Now we have to think about next year, which we must start as well as we’ve ended this one.”

Tags: ankle injury, Argentine, Barcelona, cristiano ronaldo, getting better all the time, kaka, Karim, Karim Benzema, last campaign, league games, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, nou camp, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, real zaragoza, ronaldo, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, sporting gijon, summer arrival, summer signings, team mates, Valencia, world record, Zaragoza

Ronaldo, Kaka absent as Valencia test Real title mettle

December 12, 2009

Real must do without 164 million euros worth of talent for Saturday’s crucial title duel at Valencia as they bid to slice Barcelona’s five-point lead at the top.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the most expensive player in history at 94 million euros, misses out through suspension following his red card for violent conduct against Almeria last weekend while Brazilian Kaka, a 70 million euro signing from AC Milan, is also absent with a sports hernia injury.

“Cristiano is a key player for us and creates a lot of danger,” said Xabi Alonso. “However, we intend to be the same without Cristiano. We have to try and be the same team irrespective of who is playing.”

Real will certainly miss Ronaldo’s goals – he has scored 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions – so Madrid will have to look to their other key performers at the Mestalla Stadium.

Real are three points ahead of third-placed Valencia who have lost just once in the league and are unbeaten at home.

Barcelona are currently five points ahead at the summit – admittedly having played one game more – so this is a pivotal match for Real to win or risk the champions extending their lead further.

Valencia will be without David Silva through a knee injury but David Villa, the league’s top-scorer with 11 goals, is fit to face the team that tried to sign him in the summer.

“(David) Silva is just as good (as Ronaldo and Kaka) and plays in a similar position to those two,” said Valencia’s David Albelda. “If Ronaldo and Kaka don’t come all the better and if there are more of their players out even better.”

Barcelona have a tricky game of their own with a derby against Espanyol at Camp Nou on Saturday and can heap pressure on Real ahead of the Valencia game.

Espanyol were one of only two teams to win at Camp Nou in the league last season and could do with another derby win to improve on their league position of 14th.

Barca’s giant Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in the last three league outings to take his season’s tally to 10 and is reveling playing in Barca’s attacking-minded side.

“I am scoring so many goals for Barcelona because we are a team that attack a lot,” said Ibrahimovic. “We attack with five or six players and the mentality is totally different to Italy where not conceding is more important than scoring.”

Ibrahimovic could be without his strike partner Lionel Messi for the derby after the Argentine picked up an ankle knock in the 2-1 Champions League win at Dinamo Kiev which sent the holders into the last 16 of the competition.

It is Barca’s final league match before the upcoming FIFA World Club Championship in Abu Dhabi so the champions will be keen to sign off with victory to at least maintain their five-point cushion.

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid host Villarreal at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday in a match-up between two sides recovering from horrid starts.

Both these sides harbored top four aspirations in pre-season but Atletico had their worst league start in 56 years while Villarreal had their worst start in the club’s history.

“Both teams are in a similar situation and we have the squads to be much higher in the table,” said Villarreal’s Diego Godin.

Villarreal are two points better off than Atletico, down in 13th place, and neither side can afford many more slip-ups or risk missing out on Europe altogether.

After surrendering third to Valencia, Sevilla travel to Sporting Gijon on Sunday looking to resurrect their title charge.

Sevilla have drawn their last two home matches to fall nine points behind Barcelona although they have a game in hand.

Elsewhere high-flying Real Mallorca go in search of their first away win of the season at Osasuna on Sunday.

Mallorca have won all seven of their home matches to climb to sixth but remarkably have yet to win on their travels.

Fixtures

Saturday

Real Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao (1700 GMT), Barcelona v Espanyol (1900 GMT), Valencia v Real Madrid (2100 GMT)

Sunday – all 1600 GMT unless stated

Valladolid v Malaga, Getafe v Tenerife, Racing Santander v Xerez, Almeria v Deportivo La Coruna, Osasuna v Real Mallorca, Atletico Madrid v Villarreal (1800 GMT), Sporting Gijon v Sevilla (2000 GMT)

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, barca, camp nou, cristiano ronaldo, David Albelda, David Silva, Espanyol, five points, kaka, knee injury, league position, Mestalla Stadium, ronaldo, s david, swede, top scorer, tricky game, violent conduct, xabi alonso

Ancelotti does not want Milan reunion

December 12, 2009

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti may have his team leading the Premier League and are one of the favorites to lift the Champions League, but the Italian is hoping for a Round of 16 opponents other than the Milan duo of Inter and AC Milan.

The Blues will be among those seeded in next Friday’s second-round draw in Nyon, alongside Manchester United and Arsenal, after winning their respective groups.

With Chelsea having seven possible rivals for the second round – Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Olympique Lyon, Milan, Inter, Stuttgart and Olympiacos, the former AC Milan manager is hoping to avoid the Milan based giants’.

“I admit that I would prefer to avoid a head-to-head with (Milan coach) Leonardo in February at Stamford Bridge,” Ancelotti told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But if it happens, it’s no problem.

“Football puts you in this type of situation.

“It already happened to (former AC Milan star) Kaka, who faced AC Milan with Real Madrid in the group stages.”

Ancelotti, who twice won the Champions League, in 2003 and 2007, during his eight years in charge of AC Milan, is wary of the potential threat of two strong Italian sides.

“It’s obvious that if we get Milan the emotional aspect would be something special,” he said.

“Chelsea vs. Milan would be a very particular situation for the both of us.

“The only problem if we get Inter is that from a technical standpoint they are a great team. I believe that in the runners-up group they (Inter) are the best side.

“To eliminate Italian teams is going to be difficult.”