Rabu, 19 Maret 2014

Rayo Vallecano's all-or-nothing approach is finally coming good

In the middle of Rayo Vallecano's dark days, once they'd been crushed fifteen times in twenty games and therefore the goals were flying in; once they'd let in 5 from Atlético Madrid, 5 from Málaga, 5 from Villarreal, four from Espanyol, four from urban center, four from port, 3 from Madrid, 3 from Osasuna, and 3 from Valladolid; once they plummeted to nineteenth and stayed there for eleven long weeks; once the sole reason they did not fall any was that Betis were even worse; once even a glimmer of hope, a 4-1 convert Málaga, like a shot gave thanks to a six-goal hammering; Associate in Nursingd once relegation wasn't an "if" however a "when"; there was a phrase that got continual over and over: Paco Jémez can die along with his ideas.

Paco Jémez, though, had different ideas. Not as a result of Rayo's coach was about to backtrack on his principles – "any club that signs ME is aware of what it's obtaining," he insisted – however as a result of he did not have any intention of dying the least bit.

Even once Rayo were a disaster, Jémez had his defenders. Off the pitch, that is. Last season, solely 2 groups in Europe had the ball over Rayo did: port and Bayern Muenchen. Early this season, once Rayo contend port, that they had a lot of possession than them, the primary team to manage it in 316 games. They threw men into attack, they were fun to look at, and parading the out of bounds during a dizzying array of calico elbow patches and waistcoats, pink shirts and purple ties, Jémez urged them forward, always. during a country that values the aesthetic, or during which some do, he was eulogised for the approach his groups contend DE tú a tú: as equals. Rayo did not merely defend – typically they did not defend the least bit – however instead they went for it.

And, mostly, they lost. Rayo took the ball off port and Jémez declared himself "very proud". however they were crushed 4-0. They visited the Camp Nou wherever they were praised by Barcelona's players however they were crushed 6-0. This wasn't brave, same his critics, this was stupid; "there could be a fine line between braveness and daring," Jémez admitted. acquainted trenches were mammary gland and this became another ethical battle, nearly Associate in Nursing philosophic war. The stupider they same it had been over there; the purer they same it had been up here, as if there was one thing deeper and fewer tangible. "At times of crisis, folks pay cash to check North American nation play: we have a responsibility to play nice soccer, otherwise what the hell ar they defrayal their cash for?" Jémez same and whereas some applauded, others groaned.

They all in agreement on one thing: Paco Jémez was about to die along with his ideas. nonetheless the main focus on deeper that means hid the final word meaning: to vie. verbalise vogue hid the substance. Jémez's WhatsApp standing ran: "The solely satisfaction to be derived from losing is knowing that you simply did all you may to win." that is the solely satisfaction, not the satisfaction. Somehow the talk had become perverted, as if Jémez was attempting to lose.

He wasn't. He insisted his team didn't cross that line between bravery and daring. The defeats came, he said, not thanks to the approach, not as a result of they were too so much forward however thanks to lapses of concentration; the applying, not the concept, was guilty. He talked a few team World Health Organization unbroken "slitting its wrists".

The defeats additionally came as a result of that they had to come; relegation beckoned as a result of it's to beckon. Rayo ar the poorest team within the division; their annual budget is €7m. Real Madrid's is over €500m. Rayo's squad price a complete of €0.

In 2011-12, their initial season within the prime flight for eight years, Rayo survived within the eleventh hour of the Day of Judgment. Last season Rayo started with 5 defeats in 9 games, yielding six against Valladolid, 5 against port, four against Atlético and 3 against Espanyol; they finished the season during a European place that they may not take up thanks to their monetary crisis. it had been their best end. within the summer, twelve players arrived and eleven departed; 0.5 the squad were new. the boys World Health Organization left enclosed their 2 central defenders and their 3 prime scorers. they need not continual a beginning XI and not forever as a result of Jémez hasn't needed to.

As he himself place it: "We're the shittiest team within the league and unless we tend to realise that we are going to suffer." however realising that didn't mean rolling into a ball and protective themselves; within the long-standing time which will be no protection the least bit.

Sitting back was no guarantee, quite the alternative. "If, still as being tiny, you are a coward, you are going to urge a beating from all sides," the coach told Panenka magazine. thus Rayo went for groups. solely Madrid and port have tried or completed a lot of passes than them, solely four clubs have place the ball within the opposition space a lot of and solely six groups have created a lot of probabilities. Rayo have scored over 1/2 the league. Their goalkeeper has solely created one save over Real Madrid's. Levante's Keylor Navas has created nearly double as several.

The nerves grew, the gap too, and relegation beckoned however the approach Jémez saw it, eventually the wins had to return. "The those that say we're dead flip ME on," he said. that did not embody the fans World Health Organization, as they feared, although they appealed for to a small degree pragmatism too, continuing to support the team. "Giving their all" tends to mean running around lots, defensive "heroically"; in Vallecas it meant one thing completely different. once they were defeated against urban center at the tip of Gregorian calendar month, supporters musical and loud till the team came back out and so gave them a recognition. Rayo had taken ten shots however lost 1-0.

Then, in March, the results did come back. Against Valencia, Rayo went into the sport 5 points from safety and Valencia were unvanquished during a month. They won 1-0. Then they visited San Sebastián and won 3-2. And this weekend, they visaged Almería. it had been eighteenth against nineteenth and therefore the traditional cliché underwent inflation. This was a relegation seven pointer: the 3 points you may win, the 3 points you may stop them winning, and therefore the likelihood to secure a head-to-head advantage, decisive if the edges end level. Vallecas was packed on 3 sides, the Marseilles rang out: "to arms!", drums beat and bodies bounced and Rayo blew Almería apart.

Alberto Bueno scored Associate in Nursing "'ave it" of a header to open the evaluation. Roberto Trashorras took management and Almería could not handle Rubén Rochina or Iago Falqué on the wings. nearly the total game was contend in Almería's 0.5. Pressured and pushed back, they may not realize the way out; the guests had solely 2 shots on course, though Fernando Soriano scored from one among them to momentarily provide them hope. Almería's keeper Esteban prevented a lot of however Rayo's second to form it 2-0 and third, that created it 3-1, were genuinely howling goals, exactness made on the left, Almería sliced open till all that was left was to pass the ball into cyberspace.

For the primary time in twelve weeks, Rayo ar out of the relegation zone. "This could be a large step," a smiling Rochina same. they need won 3 during a row, four within the last six. "Now we will attempt to do one thing that solely the terribly biggest groups do: win four during a row," Jémez same. This was his twenty fifth initial division finish as manager of Rayo, passing Juande Ramos for a replacement club record. From seventeen points in twenty two games to twelve in six and 9 in 3, this morning they stand 3 points clear. "Sí, se puede!" the fans chanted: affirmative, we tend to can! once the third goal went in, another chant went up, tongue in cheek, European ambitions. "Next year, Rayo-Liverpool!"

"The fans gave North American nation everything and expected nothing reciprocally and once somebody will that they've won you for ever. one among the key reasons we've got recovered is them. If we tend to play soccer it's for them, in order that they'll relish soccer. If not, this game has no that means," Jémez same. But, he added: "I got to be a party-pooper: we've still solely got twenty nine points." Survival is probably going to want forty points. a minimum of currently it's potential, perhaps even probable.

Errors are smoothened out of their game, the main focus is firmer. it might be nonsense to mention that they haven't modified, that they haven't created enhancements, that lessons have gone ignored, however there has been continuity too. "We're a harder facet currently," Bueno insisted. "We're not committing a similar mistakes that price North American nation such a large amount of points."

When Rayo got the third, Jémez force his centre-back Alejandro Gálvez over to the out of bounds and talked him through the Almería goal six minutes earlier. From a median of two.4 goals conceded per game, they are on one-a-game over the last four matches. Not as well as the port combat, their one defeat in seven, they need conceded 5 within the last six games. There was even a 0-0 draw with Levante.

Minggu, 16 Maret 2014

Paolo Maldini: "All Milan's good work is being destroyed"

The former Milano nice Paolo Maldini believes the troubled Serie A giants square measure destroying the progress created by the club over the last decade following AN indifferent season reception and in Europe.

Clarence Seedorf's facet square measure presently eleventh within the standings when losing 4-2 reception to Parma on Sunday, feat them twelve points off fifth spot and qualification for next season's Galilean League with simply ten matches to play. Milano were conjointly thrashed 5-1 on combination by Atlético Spanish capital within the last sixteen of the Champions League.

Yet despite rumours that the previous Kingdom of The Netherlands international Seedorf might be pillaged despite moving to San Siro in Jan, Maldini – UN agency spent twenty four years at the club, winning six Scudetti and 5 European Cups – believes it's {those UN agency|those that|people who} square measure running the club who ought to take the blame.

"Inside of ME there is a mixture of anger and disappointment," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Not such a lot thanks to the results, however as a result of i purchase the impression they are abandonment what was designed with diligence over the last ten years. that creates ME feel awful. i do know what quantity work there was behind all those glories, what it took to make such a beatufiul story. It makes ME crazy to examine everything destroyed.

"They cannot contend with Juventus or the highest ten groups in Europe. there is not a project."

He added: "It's obvious that he is not AN knowledgeable, however he contains a ton of courageousness and temperament, however not even sprightliness Guardiola might do something. this is not Clarence's fault. [Pippo] Inzaghi spent 2 years with the youth team and this can be necessary."

Now 45, Maldini recently control talks with the owner Silvio Berlusconi's female offspring Barbara – UN agency is currently sharing chief govt duties with Adriano Galliani – a few come to the club in a political candidate capability. However, the 126-cap former defender disclosed he has nonetheless to listen to back.

"I had 2 interviews with Barbara. when the division of responsibilities, I actually have been touted because the successor to Galliani's sporting duties, however I actually have not detected from anyone," he said.

"I was prepared for a task in sports. Milano have several workers however square measure missing somebody from a sporting perspective. Galliani could be a nice leader, however cannot perceive players. He will everything himself and this can be out of the question. If you simply sign the players of 1 Fifa agent, typically you'll be able to build the deal, typically you cannot.

"At very cheap of it, there should be information. [The former director Ariedo] Braida compete a marginal role in recent years, before there was Leonardo, UN agency helped Galliani perceive whether or not a player was appropriate to Milano or not.

"I bear in mind once Leo needed ME in the slightest degree prices to become sports director, Galliani said: 'We do not want him.'"

Kamis, 06 Maret 2014

Arjen Robben : Bayern Munich contract to 2017

Arjen Robben has extended his contract with Bayern Muenchen, that was thanks to expire in June, to 2017.

The 30-year-old Dutch jock aforesaid he was having "incredible fun" with the eu champions and was trying forward "to lots additional trophies".

"I'm delighted we've currently signed the new contract and i will continue following trophies with FC Bayern," he told the club web site. "I'm currently in my fifth season in Muenchen and there'll be 3 additional when this.

"There may be no higher indication of however happy my family and that i feel to be here and the way abundant I get pleasure from enjoying for this club and with this team. i am trying forward to the years ahead – and to lots additional trophies with FC Bayern."

Robben, World Health Organization has fifty five goals and thirty six assists in ninety eight Bundesliga matches for Bayern, scored the deciding goal within the 2-1 convert Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League final last season, once Bayern conjointly won the Bundesliga and German Cup.

"We ar more than happy that Arjen has extended his contract," the Bayern chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said. "He may be a nice player and he is shown his importance for Bayern, not solely within the Wembley final. Arjen is a crucial pillar of our team and can stay therefore within the coming back years."

Sabtu, 01 Maret 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo says Real Madrid have their sights set on treble

Cristiano Ronaldo welcome the possibility to play in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Schalke, despite the Champions League tie being nearly a dead rubber and a gathering with port approaching this weekend, and same it had been time to begin that specialize in the treble.

The coach Carlo Ancelotti picked Ronaldo albeit Real were leading 6-1 from the primary game in Germany, and therefore the Portuguese athlete scored doubly to prompt talk about a rare treble of Champions League, Spanish League and cup.

"I feel smart and therefore the coach, WHO makes these selections, set it had been smart on behalf of me to play," Ronaldo told Uefa.com.

"I scored 2 goals and helped my team {achieve|accomplish|attain|reach|succeed|win|come through|bring home the bacon|deliver the smarts} a awfully vital win to stay our good run going. we have a tendency to should continue on this path. let's examine what happens within the next few games."

Barcelona ar the sole Spanish team to try to to the treble, that they achieved in 2008-09, however the La Liga leaders Real ar in an exceedingly sturdy position to match their arch rivals when Ronaldo's goals helped them place along a 31-match unvanquished run since the tip of October, the planet Player of the Year having scored forty one goals in thirty seven matches this season.

Real can conclude on weekday WHO they're going to face within the Champions League quarter-finals and that they might be drawn against port or neighbours Atlético Spanish capital.

"We need to take things step by step," Ronaldo same. "We had a awfully smart cluster stage, rating plenty of goals whereas accumulating points.

"Let's see WHO we have a tendency to get next however I see the team doing well at the instant and, one step at a time, we are going to try and reach our objective of winning 3 competitions.

"We understand that may be tough however at Spanish capital we've to aim high. therewith perspective, something is feasible."

With thirteen goals in seven games, the 29-year-old former Manchester United player has surpassed his best Champions League haul and is one wanting the record of fourteen set by Barça's Lionel Messi in 2011-12.

He conjointly climbed on {top of} Real's Ferenc Puskas into fourth on the list of the club's top scorers with 243 compared with the Hungarian's 242 however still has how to travel to catch Raúl, WHO scored 323.

"Ronaldo did not become World Player of the Year for nothing," Schalke's coach Jens author same. "His qualities ar outstanding."

Real host Barça, the last team to beat them, in El Clásico on Sunday, once a win would stretch their lead over the champions to seven points and deal a severe blow to the Catalan side's possibilities of a fifth title in six years.