Real Madrid News

The defender says his side need to prove why they have been tipped for cup success at the expense of their fierce city rivals

Real Madrid centre-back Raul Albiol has urged his team-mates to show why they are Copa del Rey favourites when they face Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 17.

Los Blancos booked their place in the final with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou and the defender insists the club are focused on lifting the trophy following the disappointment of their Champions League semi-final exit to Borussia Dortmund.

“We are all united,” the star was quoted as saying on Marca‘s website. “There is not long to go before the end of the season, so [we need] to focus all our strength to win at Atletico Madrid.

“It will be difficult, but we [will] have many chances to win. We are Real Madrid and we have to prove why we are favourites.

“We started with the goal of winning all the trophies, now we have [the chance to win] one and you have to earn it.

“We’re at home, it’s a final and we want the title for Madrid, for Real Madrid, and for ourselves. It was hard to reach the final.”

The 27-year-old also spoke about Atletico’s failure to beat their rivals in the past 14 years.

“I do not like statistics because there always comes the day when they are broken. Hopefully [this one] lasts, and does not end in the cup final.”

The former Blancos man is returning for the the first time in more than five years when current club Malaga visit on Wednesday

Julio Baptista is hoping for a warm reception when he returns to the Santiago Bernabeu, home of former employers Real Madrid, on Wednesday as he did not leave the club on bad terms.

The Malaga attacker, 31, spent three years at los Blancos before moving to Roma in 2008.

“I have not been in that stadium for more than five years, but I hope people welcome me well there,” the former Brazil international told reporters.

“I have fond memories of my time at the Bernabeu, where I even won a league. It is different for you to go to a foreign team then to another in the Spanish league. That’s why I think I will be welcomed back well.

“I didn’t leave badly from Real Madrid.”

The former Sao Paulo and Sevilla star also discussed los Boquerones‘ inconsistent form of late, which has seen them win three and lose three of their past six Liga matches.

“We are not having the same fluidity of creation and development of the game at home,” he continued. “Finally, we create less often, and this is costing us a lot of points.”

Baptista also revealed the effect his side’s unstable position off the pitch is having on the players.

“We are waiting for the club to make decisions internally and tell us how it will move [forward],” he added. “Though it is difficult, we have to be separate from this and worry about playing.”

The Blancos coach has hit back at the Spaniard’s comments about Iker Casillas by suggesting the Catalan giants are vulnerable without the Argentina international

Real Madrid trainer Jose Mourinho has intimated that Barcelona’s humbling Champions League semi-final exit against Bayern Munich was evidence of them being a diminished power without Lionel Messi.

The Portuguese coach hit back at comments made by Andres Iniesta, in which the Spain international suggested he was surprised by Mourinho’s treatment of Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

But the 50-year-old blasted: “[Iniesta] can think what he likes, but I would say to him that without Messi his team is so different and that is why they did what they did in the semi-finals of the Champions League.”

Meanwhile, the former Chelsea and Inter boss took responsibility for his team’s failure to meet its objectives this term.

“We want to finish the league in second place – but second place is not enough,” said the two-time Champions League-winning coach.

“I haven’t been strong enough or persuasive enough as a coach to reach our objectives.”

Mourinho was keen to add that his career at Madrid may not definitely be over, however, despite strong speculation linking him with a summer exit.

“If I think, and the boys think, that I can go on giving something more, I will continue [at the club],” he added.

The interim boss suggests “everyone knows” his Real Madrid counterpart will be the man to replace him when he departs Stamford Bridge at the end of the season

Interim Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has hinted that Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be his successor at Stamford Bridge.

As reported by Goal.com, the Real Madrid coach has reached an agreement with his former club and is set to bring Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao with him to Stamford Bridge.

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The outgoing Spaniard made the clear implication at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference ahead of a crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham.

“You know that the next year [there] will be another manager here, so it’s very clear,” Benitez observed. “I think everyone knows who will be here.”

Asked if he meant Mourinho specifically, the Blues boss replied: “I think I have to concentrate on my job. It’s not my concern now what will happen next year.”

The Manchester City manager also believes the 50-year-old will turn the west London club into title contenders, but feels Rafa Benitez has excelled in his time at Stamford Bridge

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes Jose Mourinho’s potential return to Chelsea will add charm to the Premier League but warns there will be a third contender for the title next season.

After a tumultuous season the 50-year-old is poised to leave Real Madrid and looks certain to re-join the current European champions having, as Goal revealed last week, agreed a deal that will see him return to west London after a six-year absence.

When asked of Mourinho’s return to England, Mancini told Gazetta Extra Time: “It will increase the charm of the Premier League and Chelsea will fight for the title.”

Mourinho is set to replace interim manager Rafa Benitez, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign, and Mancini feels the Spaniard has excelled at Chelsea, despite a troubled relationship with the club’s supporters.

“Maybe he was weighed down by his past in Liverpool, but from the professional point of view, he has got the most out of the club,” he added.

“He’s led Chelsea to the final of the Europa League and is third in the league.”

It has been suggested that Mancini’s own days at Manchester City might be numbered if he fails to beat Wigan in the FA Cup final, but the Italian believes those predicting his demise have ulterior motives.

“It is false that my future depends on Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley,” he insisted.

“The truth is that I am an Italian coach and City have broken the order of English football. Now here we are and it bothers them.

“They are fictional stories in the British press. It is absolutely not true and I have never felt in danger.

“They criticise me for second place, but if this was a valid argument, they should fire everyone, apart from [Sir Alex] Ferguson who won the Premier League and [Michael] Laudrup who won the League Cup.

“The truth is they do this because I am an Italian coach and because the City has broken the order.

“Until a couple of years ago English football, with its earnings, was in the hands of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

“Now here we are and it bothers them. The City from 2011 to today won three trophies and if we win the FA Cup it will become four: not bad for a club that was dry for 35 years.”