Real Madrid News

The legendary Mexican striker has claimed that the Rojiblancos have long suffered from an inferiority complex when it comes to taking on their illustrious city rivals

Hugo Sanchez has advised Atletico Madrid to enlist the help of psychologists in order to overcome their fear of facing Real Madrid.

The legendary striker, who played for both clubs during his illustrious playing career, is looking forward to Friday night’s Copa del Rey final clash between the two sides at Santiago Bernabeu.

However, given los Blancos have not lost a derby in any competition since 1999, he is tipping Jose Mourinho’s men to prevail, admitting that Atletico have a serious hang-up when it comes to facing their city rivals.

“The same thing happened when I played there,” he told Radio MARCA. “There was a lack of certainty and confidence. The Atleti players should work with psychologists.

“My prediction is 2-1, with a [Radamel] Falcao goal for the Rojiblancos.”

Sanchez acknowledged, though, that even if Madrid do lift the Copa, it will not be enough to banish the feeling that the Merengues‘ season, and indeed Mourinho’s spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, have been anything but underwhelming.

“People thought he was going to win them their tenth Champions League, but in the end he can only win the cup,” the Mexican pointed out.

“I think that Mou has come through, but more was expected of him. And if Real doesn’t win, there will be a lot of tension at the Bernabeu.”

Sanchez spent four seasons at the Vicente Calderon before crossing the city divide in 1985 to join Madrid.

The former England captain’s decision to close the curtain on his playing career signals the end of a chapter in modern football history

COMMENT
By Kris Voakes

He first stepped onto the football pitch as an unknown winger with a cocky demeanour and a right foot in which Manchester United’s secret weapon was hidden. He will leave it as the most famous sportsman in the world, the richest in the game, and the person who will forever be remembered as the one who embraced the modern media’s influence in football and showed his fellow professionals how to become megastars.

David Beckham’s decision to retire from football should not come as too great a surprise. Having just turned 38 and seen very little game time since signing a short-term contract with Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day in January, the former England captain could easily have stayed on for another year. But he wanted to end with dignity.

At the weekend, he was celebrating being part of PSG’s first title-winning side in 19 years knowing that he had at least played some part. Next year he may not have been able to say the same thing. With the mega-money outfit looking set to strengthen even further this summer, Beckham’s opportunities would only have been further reduced. It was the right decision.

BECKHAM’S CAREER STATS
Club Manchester Utd (Jan 93-Jul 03) Preston (loan) (Feb 95-Mar 95) Real Madrid (Jul 03-Jul 07) LA Galaxy (Jul 07-Nov 12) Milan (loan) (Jan-May 09 & Jan-May 10) Paris Saint-Germain (Jan-May 13) ENGLAND (Sep 96-Oct 09)	Games 394 5 155 118 33 13 115	Goals 85 2 20 20 2 0 17

However, football will be a poorer place for his departure. He began his first-team career during the season which was to mark the beginning of the sport’s TV boom period. The FA Premier League and the Champions League were both newcomers, just as Beckham was, in 1992-93, bringing untold riches into the game. By the time he became a first-team regular, it was clear he had the drive and the swagger to make the most of both his talent and his sex appeal.

When he met and married a Spice Girl, it was he that gained popularity by being with Victoria rather than the other way around, but he was soon to ensure that he would write his own headlines. With England representation came the Simeone affair of 1998, then the redemption that would follow with the captain’s armband, the leading of a new ‘Golden Generation’ and THAT free-kick against Greece.

All the while, he was winning trophy upon trophy with Sir Alex Ferguson and United. Until, that is, his relationship with the storied manager suffered one too many wobbles. ‘Bootgate’ led to him wanting out, and eventually saw him make a €35 million move to Real Madrid, where he would become the biggest emblem of all in the ‘Galactico’ era. Despite having his troubles with Fabio Capello after he announced he was heading for Hollywood, Beckham’s time in Spain ended with a league title which he went a long way towards winning.

Steve McClaren’s decision to end Beckham’s international career was premature at best, misjudged and mishandled at worst. He was back within a year and would become England’s most capped outfield player. He may not have won trophies with his country, reaching two World Cup quarter-finals and Euro 2004’s last eight at his peak, but he had given everything for the shirt.

His time at LA Galaxy came after he perhaps foolishly believed time was running out for him at the top. Two loan spells at AC Milan proved that he still had a lot to give and satisfied Capello enough to earn him more caps for his country, but an Achilles rupture while playing for the Rossoneri would end his England career for good. He returned to win two MLS Cup titles with the Galaxy and this season’s Ligue 1 with PSG, but Beckham was never quite the same when not representing his country. He fulfilled his role in America, blazing a trail which Thierry Henry and others have since followed, but he never looked happy when there wasn’t an England shirt waiting for him come international week.

It is fair to say that he will be remembered as much for his impact off the field as what he did on it, but many a modern footballer will be forever thankful for Beckham showing the way in making the most of his talent.

He was impetuous, but he was full of heart. He was cocky, but he was smart. He was a villain, but more so a hero. He was many things to many people, but football was a better place for having David Beckham in it.

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The former England captain has decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career despite the efforts of Paris Saint-Germain to persuade him to play on for another year

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old only moved to the French capital on a short-term contract in January but the Parisiens were keen for the former England captain to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes for another season.

However, even though Beckham played his part in PSG ending their 18-year wait for a Ligue 1 title, the midfielder has now decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career this summer.

“I’m thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level,” he said in a statement.

“If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy.

“I’m fortunate to have realised those dreams. Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love. However, I feel like I’m starting a new adventure and I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead.

“I’m fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it’s my time to give back.”

Beckham has established himself as one of the most recognisable faces in sport during a remarkable career that has spanned two decades.

He made his name at Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League with the Red Devils before joining Real Madrid in 2003.

Beckham lifted La Liga in his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu before shocking the footballing world by moving to LA Galaxy, with whom he won two MLS Cups. Perhaps more significantly, though, he played a massive role in boosting football’s popularity in the United States.

After two loan spells with AC Milan during his time in America, he eventually returned to Europe earlier this year with PSG, picking another domestic championship to become the first Englishman to win titles in four different countries.

In his homeland, though, he will probably best be remembered for his captaincy of the national team, and the trademark free kick against Greece which secured his country’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

“I’m honored to represent England both on and off the pitch,” he enthused. “I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from.

“I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.“

Beckham’s final two outings are likely to come against Brest, at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, and away to Lorient, on May 25.

The former England captain has decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career – despite the best efforts of les Parisiens to persuade him to play on for another year

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old only moved to the French capital on a short-term contract in January but les Parisiens were keen for the former England captain to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes for another season.

However, even though Beckham played his part in PSG ending their 18-year wait for a Ligue title, the midfielder has now decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career this summer, with the May 25 meeting with Lorient set to be his final competitive fixture in football.

Beckham has established himself as one of the most recognisable faces in sport during a remarkable career that has spanned two decades.

He made his name at Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League with the Red Devils before joining Real Madrid in 2003.

Beckham lifted La Liga in his final season at the Santiago Bernabeu before shocking the footballing world by moving to LA Galaxy, with whom he won two MLS Cups. Perhaps more significantly, though, he played a massive role in boosting football’s popularity in the United States.

After two loan spells with AC Milan during his time in America, he eventually returned to Europe earlier this year with PSG, picking another domestic championship to become the first Englishman to win titles in four different countries.

In his homeland, though, he will probably best be remembered for his captaincy of the national team, and the trademark free kick against Greece which secured his country’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

More to follow …

Our man at the Bernabeu has picked a bet for Friday’s final which has paid out in nine of the last 10 derbies between the pair

The last time Atletico Madrid beat their cross city rivals in any competition, fans were still buying their tickets in pesetas and a tweet was the noise you might expect from an owl.

14 agonising years have passed since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored in a 3-1 win for the Rojiblancos only for Atleti to be relegated come the end of the season.

Friday night’s Copa del Rey derby final, then, gives Atletico the chance not only to lift some silverware but end their interminable run without a win over their fiercest rivals.

The omens for Diego Simeone’s men are not good though, with Real coming out on top 2-1 when the two sides met in the league last month despite fielding a much weakened side because of imminent Champions League commitments.

Jose Mourinho’s side also triumphed 2-0 in the league meeting at the Bernabeu in December in a match where Atleti where bitterly disappointing.

All this therefore makes bet365’s price of 5/1 (6.00) for an Atletico win hardly appealing, with the odds of 1/2 (1.50) for a Madrid success clearly justified.

Goals of course look on the cards, but backing both teams to score at just 4/7 (1.57) is too small despite having an excellent chance of paying out.

However for those of us who have watched Madrid derbies over the years there is one feature that has been constant; early goals. Backing a goal before 24 minutes at 5/6 (1.83) looks a nailed on selection with this bet paying out comfortably in nine of the last 10 meetings between these two sides.

For a value bet, backing a goal inside the first 10 minutes at 3/1 (4.00) looks like an excellent option given it has paid out in five of the last seven derbies.

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Phil Kitromilides is a journalist and TV presenter in Madrid