Real Madrid News

The Chelsea loanee is enjoying his time at the reigning Spanish champions and is pleased to be working with the controversial coach once more

Chelsea’s Michael Essien has said he is happy with life on loan at Real Madrid, and has hailed his close relationship with head coach Jose Mourinho.

The experienced midfielder joined Madrid from the Blues on a one-year loan deal at the start of the 2012-13 campaign, and does not regret his decision to leave the Premier League side for another spell under Mourinho.

“My daddy [Mourinho] gave me the chance to come here and I am enjoying every single minute here at Real Madrid. I plan to work very hard to help the team,” Essien said at a press conference.

“Mourinho is always smiling, he’s always happy. He always works very hard and helps us a lot with his advice. I have never seen him sad.”

The 30-year-old has made 20 official appearances for Madrid so far this season, scoring once in the process.

With one of the most highly-anticipated clashes of the Champions League knockout stages, are offering enhanced prices on two in-form strikers

When the draw for the Champions League knockout stages was made, there were several very inviting ties for the neutral but none more so than Manchester United taking on Real Madrid, with a number of subplots behind the headlines.

From a betting and entertainment point of view, one of those subplots is that this match brings together two of Europe’s most in-form strikers.

Robin van Persie swapped the red of Arsenal for that of Manchester United in the summer and the Netherlands international has demonstrated just why Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to part with such a big transfer fee to acquire the services of the 29-year-old.

He leads the Premier League scoring charts with 19 goals, and has three in the Champions League this season so far. are enhancing the price of Manchester United to win Wednesday’s match with Robin van Persie scoring anytime from 5/1 (6.0) to 9/1 (10.0).

The second enhanced price concerns a player whom Real Madrid saw fit to pay Manchester United a world record transfer fee for back in 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo has certainly paid back that astronomical fee with interest since his arrival, currently averaging better than a goal per game in a Real Madrid shirt.

The Portugal international warmed up for Wednesday’s match by hitting a hatrick against Sevilla on Saturday night and Sir Alex Ferguson will know all too well how dangerous Ronaldo can be from his time at Old Trafford.

His goals helped United to numerous trophies including three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and a Champions League triumph.

have enhanced the price of Real Madrid to win the match and Ronaldo to score anytime from 11/10 (2.10) to 13/8 (2.62), that’s a price that will interest plenty of punters considering Los Blancos have all but given up hope of catching Barcelona in the La Liga title race and are focusing their efforts on European glory.

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Jim Knight is Betting Editor at Goal.com and has been tipping football games since he was old enough to place a bet. He is a Leicester City fan, writer and member of the We Are Going Up Podcast

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The centre-back has called on his fellow team-mates to banish the disappointments of 2011-12 and triumph over Real Madrid to advance to the quarter-final stage

Nemanja Vidic has admitted Manchester United were “too confident” in the Champions League group stage last season, and now must prove their European credentials against Real Madrid.

The Premier League leaders have never tasted victory at Bernabeu over Los Blancos, but the centre-back believes his side’s early exit in 2011 will act as a source of encouragement to progress to the quarter-final stage.

“We have a lot of things to prove.” Serbia international Vidic told the Daily Mirror. “Last season, we were too confident in the group stage.

“We lost some points but we thought we were going to go through. The boss made it clear last season wasn’t good enough. But we know that ourselves.”

Real Madrid have endured an inconsistent domestic campaign, winning just seven of their last 14 league outings, but Vidic is not taking anything for granted.

After conceding six goals in as many group games before the turn of the year, the Serbian recognised that such carelessness at the back will be duly punished by Madrid and urged his fellow team-mates to focus in all areas of the pitch.

Vidic added to FourFourTwo magazine: “You have to have a winning mentality if you play for Manchester United.

“When you have a season without trophies like last year it makes you realise that you have to improve. You have to learn from your mistakes.

“The approach this year has been different in the Champions League. We’re going to have to play as a team. We need to get it right defensively and not concede as many goals in the first leg.

“You have to be solid. Not just at the back but all over the pitch. You have to have quality.”

Our Spanish expert Phil Kitromilides is expecting an open game tonight and at least two goals to be scored in the first half, offered at 5/4

It is the fixture that everyone has been looking forward to ever since the draw was made. The meeting of the most successful team in the history of Spanish football against their English counterparts is an encounter fit for the final of this competition and yet one of these two footballing giants will exit the Champions League at the last 16 stage.

Bet365 make Madrid the clear favourites for this evening’s first leg and price them at 13/20 (1.65)
to claim the victory. United meanwhile are offered at 17/4 (5.25) to win in the Bernabeu which is a big price for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men irrespctive of their opponents, with the draw available at 17/5 (4.40).

While Real Madrid have been a little lacklustre overall in La Liga this season it is worth bearing in mind their tremendous home record. They are unbeaten at the Bernabeu in any competition in 13 months, and have not lost a European match there (in 90 minutes) for nearly two years.

Furthermore they have scored in each of their previous 23 home matches in all competitions, making it extremely unlikely that United will keep a clean sheet this evening.

And yet the Reds will not be too bothered about conceding goals if they manage to score themselves and having netted in each of their previous 14 games, both teams to score looks a wholly solid selection at 8/13 (1.61).

Yet that price is a little short, as is the price for over 2.5 goals at 4/7 (1.57).

Instead try backing over 1.5 goals in the first half at the much more appealing odds of 5/4 (2.25).

In Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie these sides boast two of the most in-form forwards in the world, playing in two teams that love to get forward.

It may be a two legged tie, but goals look extremely likely and the price of 5/4 (2.25) looks generous for two or more first half goals.

With a game of this magnitude Bet365 have an absolutely brilliant offer to go with it, they are offering anyone who bets on the game pre-match, another free bet in-play of the same value, up to the value of £50.

Financially it makes sense to take a punt on this game with Bet365 and punters who back over 1.5 goals in the first half could use their free in-play bet to either cover their initial investment or to back a long shot to try and maximise returns.

For a value bet it just has to be Cristiano Ronaldo to score first at 3/1 (4.00) against his former club, with the Portugual international in the kind of form that makes that price seem generous, anyone placing a pre-match bet with bet365 could also back him once the match goes in-play and risk free using their free bet.

Sign up with Bet365 for up to £200 in free bets and back Phil’s selections for this match

Phil Kitromilides is a sports anchor working on TV in Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.

The former Chelsea manager may have scooped the La Liga title last season but after a disastrous league campaign this time around only European glory can salvage his reputation

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart in Madrid

Steve McManaman believes ‘super-manager’ Jose Mourinho’s time as the Real Madrid coach is coming to an end – but says the Portuguese will be remembered as a huge success if he can lead the club to a landmark 10th European title.

The Spanish giants take on Manchester United on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against the Premier League leaders.

Mourinho is under pressure with his side a massive 16 points behind Barcelona in their quest to retain their La Liga title, but former Real Madrid star McManaman believes Mourinho can leave the Spanish capital in style by delivering ‘La Decima’.

“A tenth European title is absolutely huge for the people of Madrid and for Mourinho too,” McManaman told Goal.com.

“It would seal his reputation if he can win his third Champions League at three different clubs and confirm him as a success everywhere he’s been.

“It would be a very successful three years if he wins the Copa del Rey in his first season [2011], La Liga in the second [2012] and then the Champions League in the third.

“Mourinho is without doubt one of this new breed of super-managers along with Pep Guardiola.

“I think, whatever happens, he will leave Real Madrid before the start of next season and I’ve seen he’s been linked with Chelsea, City or Paris Saint-Germain so it will be interesting to keep an eye on that.”

McManaman won two Champions League titles during four years at Real Madrid and can relate to the current side’s troubles in La Liga as he recalls his team’s poor domestic form in both campaigns, finishing only fifth in 2000 and third in 2002.

“Especially in 2000, the Champions League was our saviour because we had a terrible season in the league,” McManaman said.

“They can put all their effort into the Champions League now and they are certainly a much better team than Chelsea were last year – they only finished sixth in the Premier League.

“I think Madrid will get past United but there are so many great teams in the Champions League. I would like to see them win it but it will be very difficult. Mourinho likes that kind of challenge though and in Cristiano Ronaldo they’ve got a player who is out of this world.

“You have to fancy him to score against United but that’s hardly a bold prediction because he’s got an unbelievable record and scores every week.”

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