Interview: Luis Figo

LUIS FIGO: "THIS SEMIFINAL WILL REMAIN IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL"

Luis Figo

Luis Figo played for Barcelona and Real Madrid during his brilliant career, winning a pair of Spanish League titles with each of them and one European Cup with the white team. 

What are your memories of the classics?

These are matches that you always remember. They are played every year, but are remembered for the history behind them. There is great rivalry between them, both in the football sense and socially. That is why there is so much rivalry.

In matches so tense, do you feel the force of the fans?
But it is important to note that it is only a football match and people have to understand that. The stronger team that day, the team that will win.

What team is the favorite to the semifinal of the Champions League?
You can not think what has happened in previous matches. You should look to the next. Both reach the semifinals at a high level. In my opinion are the two best teams in the world at this time. For that reason, this semifinal of the UEFA Champions League will remain in the history of football.

Did Madrid finish the Barelona's cycle by winning the final of the "Copa del Rey"?
Football is always something cyclical. When I was at Real Madrid, we had a few years when we won all. And now it seems that is what is making the Barcelona. It is something that depends on the generations that come.

Guardiola's Barcelona is the best team in the world today?
I think Barcelona is playing the best football of the moment. It has a very definite philosophy and his players, who have some amazing skills, know how to play together and adapt the system. That is why it is so difficult to win them.

You know José Mourinho very well. What is your opinion about him?
It is a very successful coach. His teams do things well by the way that he makes them play so I think his presence will help to Real Madrid. Mourinho has achieved ​​a lot of wins playing a certain way so I think that he will keep winning.

Kaka met his newborn daughter

Kaka went to Brazil to meet his newborn daughter, Isabella, and visit his wife, Carolina Celico. Isabella, the first daughter of Brazilian soccer star Kaka, who plays for Real Madrid and Brazilian national team, was born on Saturday night at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, said the player's wife, Carolina, in her Twitter page: "Again with a normal and wonderful birth. I enjoyed every pain, every minute. It was worth", said the wife of Kaka in the network.

Kaka with his newborn daughter and his wife

In Brazil, Kaka spoke with the press of his country: "I'm happy. I feel good. Mourinho has been outstanding, has been very honest with me. He is helping me a lot in this difficult time. The way he is using me, I will soon be available to help the team".

The midfielder also spoke of his future: "My thought is to stay, play and succeed at Real Madrid. Also, it is clear, I want to return to the Brazil national team". "It was a big week. My birthday, two goals, the birth of my daughter, Easter. The final part of the season is being very good. We have won a title and now we will face against Barcelona twice. I hope that everything goes equal or better than in the Spanish Cup", he added.

He concluded by referring to problems in his left knee that took him to the operating room: "Now I feel fine and I hope not return to have a knee problem, what has bothered me this season".

European Cup 1960: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

On Wednesday April 21 marked 51st anniversary of the first playoff in the European Cup between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It was also in the semifinals, also the first game at the Bernabeu Stadium and the second at the Camp Nou. It was long ago. But at that time a Rea Madrid vs Barcelona was more than just a football match.

On April 21, 1960, Madrid hosted the first leg semifinal between the four-time European champion, Real Madrid, and the Spanish champion, Barcelona, with Helenio Herrera, Ramallets, Kocsis and Evaristo. The white club lived the first great age (and best) of its history, but opposite was a Barcelona that snatched the league this season and the previous one, getting the right to play the top European competition.

European Cup 1960. Di Stefano celebrates a goal against Barcelona

Times were different. In fact, Spain was the only country with two representatives in the tournament and Barcelona made ​​its debut this season in the European Cup, which had set up four years earlier. The Catalan club won the League on the last day (both finished tied on 46 points, but Barceona had better numbers of goals). Europe was the scene of Real Madrid's revenge).

Because in Europe there was not so much equality as in the League. Real Madrid won 6-2 on aggregate, with respective 3-1 victories in both the first leg and on the return. In the first match played in Madrid, a second goal by Di Stefano gave his team a comfortable income in the final minutes. In turn, played on April 27 in Barcelona, there was no option for Barcelona. Gento and Puskas (two goals) led Real to its fifth final, the legendary Hampden Parkmatch against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Puskas, genius Magyars, scored against the Germans four goals more to reach the figure of 49, adding all competitions. A record that Leo Messi overtook on Saturday, scoring the second goal in Barcelona's win over Osasuna. But Messi has taken three games more than the great "Pancho" Puskas.

Wolfgang Stark will referee Real Madrid vs Barcelona (UCL)

German referee Wolfgang Stark will be responsible for refereeing the first leg of the semifinals of the Champions League on Wednesday that will face Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

He was born November 20, 1969 in Landshut, Stark refereed this season the match Lyon vs Real Madrid (1-1) for the first leg of the last-16 knockout round. German referee did not note a clear penalty made by Gourcuff, which caused great anger in the Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourino, who did not hide his anger and attacked Stark at press conference after the game: "I am very angry, the referee must view the penalty. The action came five meters from the referee and the assistant. Four eyes were not able to see what everyone saw".

Wolfgang Stark. Lyon vs Real Madrid

Stark has refereed Real Madrid six times, with a record of three wins, one draw and two defeats. In matches of the group stage of the Champions League. Real Madrid beat Marseille, Rosenborg and Juventus and lost against Juventus and Lyon. The only draw came this season in the last-16 round duel against Lyon.

Last season, he directed the second leg of the last-16 knockout stage of the Champions League that Inter, then coached by Mourinho, won against Chelsea 0-1. The English team claimed two penalties, one especially clear by Walter Samuel on Drogba. The Ivory Coast striker was sent off after committing a foul on Motta. Chelsea also claimed a red card for Stankovic.

On the other hand, Guardiola not only commands his players to attack on the pitch. He has put on the breastplate, has taken the shield and sword and has begun to distribute hits with a single target: to put pressure on referees and Real Madrid.

When Guardiola uses irony is incisive. So when the press said the possibility that the referee Pedro Proença (Portugal) was commissioned to referee the match on Wednesday, his answer was blunt and direct: "Mourinho should be very happy". Pep only talked about his passion, football, now he changes the speech and talk about the referees.

League (Day 33): Kaka reactions

KAKA: "WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING"

Kaka celebrating his two goals against Valencia

Congratulations. You played a great match at Mestalla Stadium. Two goals and two assists. Have you thought about your family?

Yes, the goals are dedicated to my daughter who is about to be born. This will happen today or tomorrow. I needed to play a match like this. It has been good for my self-confidence.

Real Madrid has made a great performance against Valencia. What is the key to the team has played so effectively against the third team ranked in the League?
A team that plays a game like this after the wear of the Spanish Cup final, proves too much. I have to thank my teammates because they have supported me. We are a fantastic group. We played well in the first half and were able to take care of business. We maintained the rhythm in the second, but Valencia took more risks and we ended 3-6. It was a great match for me and for Real Madrid".

What Mourinho said to you after the game?
Nothing special. I needed an opportunity like this and play well with Real Madrid for my personal confidence.

See yourself playing in the upcoming match against Barca?
The important thing is to enjoy this match. Mourinho has told us that from Monday start thinking of the Champions League. So I say the same thing. On Monday we will begin to think about Barcelona.

Is there a chance of winning the League?
We have to wait for the defeats of Barcelona. We will keep fighting.

League (Day 33): Mourinho reactions

MOURINHO: " THE SECOND SEASON SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THE FIRST"

Jose Mourinho. Valencia Press Conference

Jose Mourinho spoke to the press shortly after Real Madrid’s shellacking of Valencia and expressed his satisfaction with the victory.

"Some people may lose focus after unforgettable matches, but that wasn’t the case today. We took this match very seriously, but the three points are all that matter so that we can continue fighting as long as we are mathematically still alive".

"A few weeks ago we lost to Sporting, but overall we feel good. What I say about Kaka applies to the whole team. If we can finish the season well and with the feeling that we can beat any team, we will be extremely confident heading into next season. If Barcelona win the League, it will be by of the points they have earned, not by the ones we have lost".

"Kaka played a great match in a position that I like a lot. It’s a position that he is used to. We need him and he needed the confidence that he gained from this match. People can see just how talented he is during the home stretch of this season and he will start next season off in completely different fashion. I am very happy for him. And his daughter is due to be born in a few days".

The coach did not talk about Wednesday's Champions League match, third in the series of duels against Barcelona: "We will be at Valdebebas tomorrow, but not to train or think about football. We will begin preparing for the Champions League on Monday. On Sunday I spend with my family. Football is over for me this weekend".

And he insisted on a better future: "The second season should be better than the first. There must show what the coach and the team have learned, with two or three changes in the summer. I hope so. But we have won a title, we are in semifinals of theChampions League and fighting in the League".

He also praised Nacho Fernández: "Nacho debuted with the first team today in what was a difficult match, and he looked like a war veteran. That is what I want from young players who are prepared, especially from a psychological standpoint. Hats off to him as well as all his teammates".

Spanish League: Day 33

VALENCIA 3 - REAL MADRID 6

Something has Mestalla stadium and Real Madrid has a lot. Three days after the Cup final, the champion returned to the Stadium of its success, via tribute hall, to complete another show, but completely different in style and modes. The team was relaxed instead of anxious, A team concerned with attacking football and unaffected by the result, in the best sense ofthe term. So play version B of Madrid, as Valencia could see itself. Valencia maybe studied the wrong videos, the last two.

Valencia vs Real Madrid

And Real Madrid, as its coach, has two sides, although they could be more. The first introduces us to a team that is enlarged in the effort and solidarity, defined by direct football and Cristiano Ronaldo. You know, the Spanish Cup Champion. The second is constructed in the absence of Cristiano. Without him, the attack movements become more combined due to the simple reason that his peers play more balls.

This happened yesterday. After two Spartans games, Real Madrid was presented at Mestalla stadium with only two regular starters in the starting lineup: Casillas and Carvalho (Understand regular starters as the heroes of the Cup). With the rest of the squad available, Mourinho fielded, in accordance or resigned, a team with more talent than work, which brought in the midfield and ahead; Granero, Canales, Kaka, Benzema and Higuain. Peculiar concentration of "gamers", midfielders, strikers and other people of good living.

The result was optimal. If anything characterized the team was its ability to connect and have fun. For 65 minutes, Real Madrid got the feeling of enjoying the game and the proof is that white team (black yesterday) scored six goals and solved with astonishing ease a match where everything seemed against.

Such was the complicity among the three strikers of Real Madrid that they handed out the medals and diplomas: Higuain scored three goals and added two assists, Kaka scored two goals and assisted on two others and Benzema, who got a goal, participated in all dangerous actions, including a shot against the bar that almost breaks it.

There were goals from all kinds. Naughty goals, gifted goals, goals touched up the goal line and an exquisite goal, the second of Kaka after dribble Stankevicius and shoot with effect to the far post. And it all happened in the first 65 minutes, and Valencia, surpassed (Banega, Maduro and Topal remain unlocatable) opposed a Soldado's goal after good play of Jonas.

However, coinciding with the arrival of Cristiano replacing Higuain, Real Madrid missed the match and became obsessed with the seventh goal. The result was immediate: Valencia scored twice. Jonas and Jordi Alba took advantage of Mata's passes to honor the scoreboard, even tighter (but undeniable) if the referee had blown for a penalty on Soldado or if Jonas had not met with Casillas.

Higuain came back with Kaka revived and Benzema inspired. No one expects Real Madrid will repeat this team against Barcelona. Satisfied, had completed a crazy week and passionate at Mestalla.

Summary

Stadium: Mestalla
Attendance: 50,000
Goals: 0-1, m.23: Benzema. 0-2, m.31: Higuaín. 0-3, m.39: Kaká. 0-4, m.43: Higuaín. 0-5, m.53: Higuaín. 1-5, m.60: Soldado. 1-6, m.62: Kaká. 2-6, m.80: Jonas. 3-6, m.85: Jordi Alba.