Wind is blowing again in favor of Mourinho

Mourinho was cheered again when was heard his name at the Barnabeu stadium, last Wednesday, in the match against Barcelona. There were no whistles. Nor when he came off the bench, something that made again after several games hidden in his chair. He feels safe again and no wonder: the wind has changed, now blowing in favor of him. The statements of Sara Carbonero (Casillas' girlfriend) in Televisa Deportes (Mexican TV channel) explains clearly all his previous attitudes. We will not say that justify them, but for many people it will. But of course it explains them and we understand better his hysteria, the attempt to make Adan the starting goalkeeper, his antipathy toward Iker Casillas.

Mourinho and Casillas

Because now it is hard to think that Iker Casillas was not who had been behind some or many of the things that have been known from inside the locker room. Sara Carbonero is a journalist, of course, and has the right to tell what she knows, but she is the captain's girlfriend what severely compromises him. Impossible to say whether he approved what she said, or even he instigated her to do it, but the harder it is to think that she can enjoy better sources or, if that were the case, she has not talked about all the information with Casillas.

So we can understand many things: Adan in the starting lineup in Malaga, the same against Real Sociedad, Mourinho has always spared no praise for Casillas... No, it was not that Mourinho had utmost confidence in Adan as we saw in the last match facing Barcelona, but it was a punishment to Casillas. Mourinho had a theory that has been proven successfully. Suddenly the executioner is seen as a victim of the indiscretions of the captain, so the Bernabeu has returned to support the coach. Mourinho can pick up the papers, regain authority and perhaps wait for happy days in the Spanish Cup and the Champions League. This has changed.

Cristiano Ronaldo: From sadness to bliss in five months

"I'm sad." Cristiano Ronaldo surprised with these statements in the press zone after the 3-0 match against Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, when he scored two goals (the firsts in the current Spanish League) and did not celebrate any. In front of the media explained why. Today, 18 matches after that confession (one whole round), the situation has changed completely.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo felt unloved by the white club after not being supported in the UEFA Awards (Emilio Butragueño and the manager Pedro Lopez accompanied him) and talked about it with Florentino Perez, with whom he had a tense meeting. The President alluded to Messi, asking Cristiano Ronaldo to bring the money to sign the Argentine what left him sad. But the Portuguese star has passed from sadness to bliss in five months with extreme professionalism. Since then he has supported the team with 29 goals (19 Spanish League goals, 6 in Champions League competition and 4 in Spanish Cup matches) in 28 games, is more committed than ever in the team and the Bernabeu fans cheer him (asking for the Golden Ball). As an example, the first leg of the Spanish Cup quarterfinal match against Valencia: Guaita saved two shots from Cristiano and the Bernabeu shouted: "Cristiano, Cristiano¡". That day, as he confessed, was one of his happiest days in white.

The Portuguese, who in three and a half seasons has scored 179 goals in 177 matches, is still without renewing. He has a contract until 2015 and does not plan to extend it. "I want to finish my contract, then I do not know what will happen," he told FIFA.com. While Real Madrid does not resolve the situation, the fans are in no doubt: 81% of them think that renewing Cristiano Ronaldo is essential.

Today Cristiano Ronaldo will have another chance to increase his record. He has not trained for the last two days, but was called up by Mourinho to face Granada at Los Carmenes Stadium -10 pm CET- (Kaka was left off the list). Mourinho knows he does not need rest at this moment, happiness cures all.

Jose Callejon: "Messi insulted Karanka"

Jose Callejon met the media in the press room at Real Madrid Sports City. The Real Madrid Academy player analyzed the match against Granada, his home town’s team: “It will be a very difficult match. They’ve made some great signings and like any team that plays against Real Madrid they will give 200 % to come away with a win. They really need the points, but are confident and we want the points to catch up with the leaders in the League. In the last few matches we have seen quite an improvement and we will try to keep it up”.

Jose Callejon at press conference

Real Madrid reserve player commented on the Mourinho’s gesture at the end of the latest clasico of applauding all of the players as they headed for the dressing rooms: “It was significant because it was a very good game and we saw a lot of football. The world’s press agreed that it was a superb game between two great teams. We made a great effort because they went ahead first. The semi-final is still wide open and we did our level best to make sure that it would be”. On the subject of relations between the team and the manager, he was very frank: “There will always be controversies; there are those who will try to destabilize the team and say that we are not committed to him. I believe he is the best manager for this club and we have always demonstrated that we are behind him one hundred per cent”.

He had this to say about the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona: “We have seen an improvement compared to previous matches. It isn’t easy to play against Barcelona, but we will give it our best shot in the return leg. 1-1 is a good result, from our point of view. The semi-final is still wide open and we are confident going into the game at the Camp Nou”.

Varane: Real Madrid's talisman and called up for France

Raphael Varane reached his best against Barcelona in the last Classic, but he has being the Real Madrid talisman since he joined white team in the 2011 summer. Of the 32 games he has played since he arrived two seasons ago, has lost only two plying for Real Madrid. Against Borussia in Germany (2-1) and against Celta in a match of this year's Spanish Cup (2-1). The rest have been 25 wins and 5 draws, representing about 80% of wins.

Raphael Varane vs Barcelona

Real Madrid also can claim that when the French central defender plays from the starting lineup, its chances of staying with clean goal, rise a lot. With Varane, the white team has run without conceding a goal against eleven times, five of them this season.

It is normal to be the center of attention this week. In fact, the Real Madrid defender, Raphael Varane, was called up yesterday by the French coach Didier Deschamps, to play France's friendly against Germany next week. This is the second call of the footballer, 19 years old, to play for the team managed by Deschamps, who called Varane for his first game on the bench of the "Bleus" against Uruguay.

The performance of the French defender who scored the goal that levelled the match has been the focus of the international sporting press. In France, L’Equipe singled out its countryman: “Varane stopped Barcelona. He was the man of the match. He had a great game in defence and his equalizer keeps Real Madrid’s hopes of qualifying alive after drawing against Barcelona”. According to France Football, “Varane, imperious in the centre of the defence stopped Barcelona and left his mark on the semi-final of la Copa”. Le Monde added: "The Young Frenchman Raphael Varane enjoyed himself in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, scoring with his head in Jose Manuel Pinto’s net from a good cross from Mesut Özil".

The rest of the world also praised the Madrid defender. “Varane rises to the top in Clasico. A new star was born at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. A defensive rock who stole the show in his first ever Clasico appearance with the supreme talent that he showed throughout the 90 minutes”, said ESPN on its website. In Germany, Kicker stated that “Varane saves Madrid with his head”, while in Italy La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote: “Near the end, a cross from Özil and header by Varane: deserved reward for a great performance from the French defender".

Messi insulted Arbeloa and Karanka after the last Classic

Leo Messi did not have his best day at the Bernabeu in the last Spanish Cup match. And not only within the field, where after many Barcelona games he was not decisive. After the match had two major clashes with Alvaro Arbeloa and Aitor Karanka as several Spanish media reported.

Alvaro Arbeloa and Leo Messi

According with what has been told in the Spanish media, some members of the Real Madrid squad are quite upset with Leo Messi, both for his behavior on the field and off. The game last night was the straw that broke the camel to the point that Xabi Alonso berated on the Santiago Bernabeu field some actions of the Argentinian star.

However, things did not end on the pitch. As was reported by 'Punto Pelota TV' and has been confirmed by MARCA newspaper, the four-time Golden Ball went to the Bernabeu parking after the game, looking for Alvaro Arbeloa. Messi insulted the Real Madrid player (called him dumb, among many other things) who could not believe what was happening. His wife, Carlota, who is in a state of pregnancy, was with the Spanish international player in the car and did not understand anything. "What's wrong with him?", asked her husband according to eyewitnesses. Keeping calm, Arbeloa said: "Shut up and get on the bus". An employee of Barcelona had to go to take Messi and bring him along with the rest of the Barcelona team.

Also, other Spanish media reported another incident of Messi with a white club member, in this case Aitor Karanka. According to the media, the footballer talked to the white second coach in these terms: "What's up with you? Shut up, you're the Mourinho's dummy." Barcelona, of course, has denied any incident with Leo Messi.

Oh la la! Varane

Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo. Varane was the big winner of the night. The French player rose above the other players and had a brilliant performance that establishes himself as a top central defender. At 19, Varane not only passed the test of the Classic, but was confirmed as a world-class player. The child of Zidane, who was his great supporter for the signing with Real Madrid, became an adult in the best possible scenario and with the most dangerous rival. To top it off, scored the tying goal. The finishing touch to a big night.

Raphael Varane

Five years later, the Real Madrid fans rub their hands with the birth of another central defender that will mark a time in the White team. The December 23, 2007, at the Camp Nou, Pepe made ​​a game just perfect against Barcelona and showed a hierarchy that nobody had not seen on a football pitch for a long. He was perfect at crossings and forceful in anticipation. Not only won the clash with Eto'o, won the fight against the whole Barcelona. That night, Real Madrid won 0-1 at the Camp Nou, a Baptista's goal, but the sensation was Pepe. Don Jose, as he was called by the media after his superb performance.

Real Madrid 1 - 1 Barcelona (Spanish Cup, 1/2 Final, 1st Leg)

Intense, exciting and a treat for the spectators. The Clasico did not disappoint anybody and left the tie wide open for the second leg. The goals came in the second half. Fabregas put Barcelona ahead within five minutes of the restart, but Real Madrid’s players, despite the blow they had received, showed how important it is to defend their badge and played a great match that was completed by Varane’s great headed goal in the 81st minute. Which team goes through to the final will be decided at the Camp Nou.

Raphael Varane celebrates his goal against Barcelona

The Clasico, the best match in the world, made its return to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The Whites, who had not lost either of their last two clashes with Barcelona, played the first leg of the cup semi-final with the invaluable help of a devoted home crowd. The beginning of the match left clear signs of the ambition with which the Real Madrid team had gone out on to the pitch. In fact, before the end of the first minute of play, Cristiano Ronaldo came away from midfield with the ball and could only be stopped by a Pique foul on the edge of the area. The Portuguese’s free-kick forced Pinto to show his best.