The new Real Madrid jersey (2011-2012)

Real Madrid has already prepared the jersey will look next season. Adidas, the sportswear firm which wears the white club, has made some modifications with respect to the present jersey. The most significant is the wide blue band on one edge of the neck, which extends beyond the connection with the left side edge, a thin edge that is white. The white jersey keeps the same line that this season. It continues with the three blue stripes on the sleeve, a classic detail at Real Madrid and also distinguishes Adidas.

Real Madrid home jersey (2011-2012)

The shirt for next season waives the flap on the neck. In one sleeve will bear the shield of the LFP (League Association) and the Champions logo will be on the other at European Cup matches. As usual, in the left side at the front, Real Madrid will wear its shield of and in the right the logo of the sports brand.

The shirt is already in Adidas' stores and several players from Real Madrid will wear it today at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The club hopes that this new kit will be a hit among its followers. Adidas also is convinced it will be a success.

Update: 05/25/2011

Higuain advances his recovery

Higuain will not watch on television the Spanish Cup final against Barcelona on 20 April. Neither the "Classic", the league game at the Bernabeu to be held four days earlier. The Argentine striker has worked hard in the last two weeks and has evolved dramatically in the recovery of the herniated disc injury. In fact, it is expected to give him the discharge end of the month.

Dr. Fessler, who operated him in Chicago, diagnosed four months out, leaving him almost no options to help the team this season. But the starter of Argentina national team and Real Madrid (when he was injured on November 29 had 10 goals in 17 matches), has rebelled against his fate and the club doctors are stunned with his progress.

Higuain at Valdebebas

Higuain is working eight hours a day in Valdebebas (with double shifts, morning and afternoon), once he passed the early stages of rehabilitation. He began work on the pool and went into the machine of weightlessness with muscle strengthening exercises of the spine to achieve stabilization in the surgical field. A week ago, the club's media have already published some revealing pictures of the progression of Higuain; Running in short stretches, dodging cones in a zig-zag and touching the ball without feeling pain.

Higuain reflected his feelings in a Realmadrid TV interview : "The other day someone told me that these rehabilitations are made faster if you have a target. Dreaming when you return, how to score, how to celebrate, the illusion of people around you... That improves the player physically and emotionally".

Mourinho is delighted with Higuain's work. He knows he will dispose of him in the Spanish Cup final on 20 April and in the "Classic" League match on the 16th. And even at the quarterfinals of the Champions (6-13 April). But first, the Lyon should be eliminated.

Özil returns magic to Real Madrid

"He is wonderful. Özil has a tremendous quality and all the Real Madrid enjoys his football". Who said this expression was Raúl in an interview published yesterday by Kicker magazine, where he surrenders to the talent of Germany midfielder and joins the legion of Real Madrid fans who begins to see Mesut Özil as the man who can revive the magic that was smothered in the absence of Zidane.

Özil finally crowned in "El Sardinero" Stadium continues inserting pearls in the necklace of genius: the electric movement to assist Adebayor in the 0-1, the unpredictable pass with the outside of the foot in the 0-2 and the anthological play without goal, with a double dribble in a meter, that Toño (Racing goalkeeper) saved with a leg.

Özil in Santander

A catalog of dribbles and passes, full of Zidane's aroma, that Beckenbauer had already announced in the summer: "He throws killers passes which are suits for his fellows". and according to Özil himself, are products of his Turks genes. Added to this, he begins to play strong all the moments of a match, a lack that was felt but never worried him: "I am not a robot ...".

An integration process that is taking English as tool, but soon will be the Spansih. Özil is receiving intensive instruction (five hours a day, three days per week) that complemented in the first days with a curious method. He papered the walls of his house in "La Finca" with post-it filled with Spanish words, among which there was the fetish phrase in the locker room at the Bernabeu: "Unity is strength".

Since then, apart from his fellow Khedira, has made friends with Marcelo, Pepe, Higuain, Di Maria and Cristiano. With the first, he usually tends to go out to dinner (the food is one of his passions, but has hired a cook) and with the Portuguese star shares hobbies: playing Texas Hold'em poker and ping-pong.

His adaptation to Spanish culture is such that in his house (a villa of 650 sqm with swimming pool and football minicamp) there is a classic in Spanish folklore: a table football with the players painted with the colors of Real Madrid and Barcelona. He also has a room to accommodate shoes and sneakers, the only one of his confessed vices.

A house where he has hosted friends and family, including his brother Mutlu and his father, Mustafa, the first telephone conversation with Mesut after his performance in Santander. Özil always listens to him carefully: "He is my biggest critic and I value his opinions".

Where he will not find negative reviews is in Jorge Valdano's words: "Özil will shine the next decade in Real Madrid. He enjoys even the adversaries" As it was Zidane ...

Galliani: "Kaka is expensive, but if he reduces his salary ..."

Adriano Galliani, Milan's vice president, spoke of rumors circulating about a possible return of Kaka at Milan, and far to disprove anything, has only fed speculation.

Kaka

"Ricardo earns too much, because in Spain teams pay less tax. I am sorry ha has problems in Madrid, but to return with us the salary should be lowered enough", he said today in remarks to the Italian press. "We can only afford the salary of one Ibrahimovic" he added.

For several days rumors were heard about a possible exit from Real Madrid, due to his disappointing performance since joining the club. One of the destinations where he was placed is Milan, especially according to a declarations from his father who was asked about that possibility, leaving the door open for the possible departure of his son to San Siro.

But Milan has not only been related to the future of the Brazilian. There has been talk of Chelsea, which could exploit the 'generous moment' by Abramovich, and the City, which could benefit from 'Adebayor effect'.

League (Day 27): Mourinho reactions

MOURINHO: "HAVING TWO FORWARDS ALLOWS US TO HAVE ALTERNATIVES"

Jose Mourinho

"We have played well in some previous road matches. We came out strong tonight and we had some early chances. The opponent felt like it had very few possibilities because we played a fantastic match and were always ahead. I liked the fact that we stayed calm."

"Having two forwards allows us to have alternatives. We have players who are adapted to play both ways, and tonight we responded very well. Karim and Adebayor provided good solutions."

"We used this same system against Malaga. Di Maria played inside and Cristiano joined Higuain. I decided to use this system, but I could have used the other as well. We wanted to have a more compact midfield. I didn't think we needed to use two defending midfielders. But once Cristiano returns, the natural move is to have the team use its system."

"I do not expect Barcelona to slip up. I focus on my league, I play my games and I try to earn as many points as I can. We win if we play well and are better than our opponents. If the match is more level and decided by small details, we don't. I don't expect them to slip up, but I do hope we win at home."

"Pedro Leon stayed on the bench. I think playing for four minutes was of great value for Alex, just like it would have been for Casado. But for Pedro it woulnd't have been significant. I wanted to make Alex happy. He had a marvelous night."

"Granero is a player that has to be taken into account. He is intelligent, he learns and he is very useful to the team."

Link

Spanish League: Day 27

RACING 1 - REAL MADRID 3

No one was quite sure how Real Madrid would handle the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Jose Mourinho on Friday stated that it wouldn’t affect the team’s ambition, but what he forgot to mention is that the Whites would also play exquisite football during the first half of the match. Racing Santander withstood the onslaught every way they could, and after taking their foot off the gas in the second, Real did concede a goal, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Whites from celebrating 109 years of history in style.

Marcelo

Real Madrid took El Sardinero by storm. The Whites put together one play after the next and kept Racing on their heals throughout the entire first half. By the time the 15th minute ticked off the clock, Real had taken five shots on goal with one striking the crossbar. With memories of Riazor taking shape, Ozil made sure to quell Madridista nerves, and on 22’ he magically combined with Benzema and Adebayor, who punched in the first goal of the night.

Racing were against the ropes and Real smelled blood. Four minutes later, Ozil found Benzema with a brilliant deep pass and the Frenchman placed it perfectly into the back of the net. In a show of precision football and teamwork, the first half came to a close with the Whites in the driver’s seat.

The hosts advanced positions and pressured after the restart. With the ball frequenting their feet more often, Racing moved in on Casillas. Alonso tackled Giovani in the box on 51’, but Pinillos telegraphed the spot kick straight into Iker’s hands. Real Madrid took their foot off the gas, making it more difficult to create scoring chances. Racing continued to move forward and on 70’ cut the lead to one with a goal by Kennedy. Five minutes later, however, the Whites put the nail in the coffin when Di Maria connected with Benzema from distance and the striker fired home to make it 1-3.

With business taken care of, Canales stepped in for his first action in El Sardinero since leaving Racing. Di Maria then provoked a penalty in the Whites’ favor, but Adebayor was unable to strike gold. Of note, Castillas’ Alex Fernandez stepped in for an unforgettable final five minutes in what was his first team debut.

Summary

Stadium: El Sardinero

Attendance: 18,444

Goals: 0-1, min 23. Adebayor. 0-2, min 26. Benzema. 1-2, min 71. Kennedy. 1-3, min 76. Benzema.

Link

Preview: Racing vs Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo and seven others in the Real Madrid will miss the match; also Adrian and five more in Racing de Santander. There will be no "jamón serrano" in the VIP box, by imperative of Alí Syed, "the undefeated", and public to fill the Sardinero Stadium; Marcelino (Racing coach) effect is not enough to overcome the 60 euros for the cheapest ticket. What you will not miss is the match.

In one month, Real Madrid lost five points in Pamplona and A Coruña, evidence that costs climb the "north face" of the League. And in three days has lost six players, evidence that no template is sufficient. Today team comes out to play 10 points behind Barcelona and 8 injured players: Cristiano and his possible release, Kaka who is felled possibly run out, the multipurpose Arbeloa, Garay, Higuain and three midfielders to defend, Khedira, Lass and Gago. Among all, 36 goals and 15 assists. And Real Madrid does not win nearly half of the matches played without Cristiano.

The plague forced Mourinho to improvise, possibly with Pepe as midfielder with Xabi and Granero; or Sergio Canales in the playmaker, behind Benzema. It is also not ruled out to play with a higher gear with Granero in the midfield and Benzema with Adebayor in the same eleven. Pedro Leon is out of the match, minutes, and confidence. So long in the bench sets him out of the season.

About Cristiano: "He is an important player and we will miss him, but his absence will not affect our ambition. I am convinced that we will accomplish our goal in Santander. We have good players who are focused on the task at hand”, declared Mourinho during Saturday’s press conference.

Racing is in a better mood. In the VIP area, Ali Syed uses only his hands to celebrate triumphs. Undefeated in six games. And in the field, Marcelino offers the best average of his career: two points and 1.75 goals per game. He already won once Capello's Real Madrid, 0-3 with Recreativo de Huelva which signed six players in the last two days of August. Marcelino is a good coach and will pretend the absences of Cisma, Arana, Henrique and Adrian, despite the last two had been starters all the matches with him.

Giovani, only signing of the winter market, rises from lever to starter. He has already played more in the League than the rest of the season in the Premier and will try to straighten a waning career since he left Barcelona. Today he will be next to Rosenberg who has failed 19 times in the hand to hand against the goalkeeper in this season, Kennedy and the eternal Munitis. Marcelino's message sounds brave.