The Life of Carlo: Mia San Mia

October 2014

La Liga Table

Champions’ League Group Table

Our Player of the Month

Iker Casillas

So many players were fantastic this month, but I have to acknowledge the good work of Iker Casillas. So often under intense criticism for his performances, he’s fought back with a series of top displays this season, conceding just three goals in our last nine games.

Verdict

It was an absolutely sensational month for us, defeating each team we faced comfortably, and there were some big ones! I’m particularly impressed with the way we dissected the Liverpool defence, and we later rose to the occasion in El Clasico, giving Barcelona the same treatment as the Reds. Things are looking bright for us, both in Europe and in Spain, and I hope the good times will continue to come with a few players returning from injury.

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Finding his feet in history

Little was known about the future of Sami Khedira a few months back, but what seemed to be a certainty was that he wouldn’t be playing at the Santiago Bernabeu for much longer.

With his contract expiring at the end of the 2014/2015 season, Khedira attracted the interest of Arsenal and Manchester United, threatening to run down his contract and leaving for free unless the Real Madrid hierarchy offered him a substantial salary rise.

That they did, and with Xabi Alonso swapping Real Madrid for Bayern Munich, Khedira was given a new five-year-deal and has started all but one game this season for Ancelotti’s side.

The former Stuttgart man marked his 100th appearance this weekend for Los Merengues and marked the occasion with a goal versus Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season, helping his side defeat their bitter rivals 4-1 at the Bernabeu.

The World Cup winner wants more and hopes his recent spell in the team can be the beginning of a special period at the club.

“It was my primary intention when I joined Real Madrid; to go down in history of one of the greatest clubs around”, said Khedira.

“100 appearances was an important feat for me and I’ve now found myself playing a lot more regularly. I’m at the stage where I want to be with Madrid and I just have to keep working hard to stay in the team in the coming seasons.

But can Khedira fill in the shoes left behind by Alonso?

“Alonso is a world class player and the type that doesn’t come around often. He’s unique, like Patrick Vieira, Andrea Pirlo, Claude Makelele, so to emulate him will be very difficult.

“Playing in a deeper role, I’ve become more mature already and I’m learning new things every day, so I hope that like Alonso, we’ll be talking about finding a ‘new Khedira’ in years to come.”

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EL SANTO: REJUVENATED

After the horror show that was Spain’s 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil, Iker Casillas has managed to bounce back in impeccably for Real Madrid thus far.

Casillas, who was among the most criticised of the Spanish squad, didn't performed as you’d expect the once ‘best goalkeeper in the world’ to play during the summer.

Early signs of a decline under Jose Mourinho’s era began to appear in 2012 and the Spain & Real Madrid captain has never hit the heights of yesteryear since, often being dropped for Diego Lopez.

Lopez, however, joined AC Milan in the summer and Real Madrid wasted no time in bringing the 2014 La Liga Goalkeeper of the Year, Keylor Navas, yet it’s Casillas who has got the fans talking again in a positive light since the start of the season.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was quick to praise his captain’s good form and hopes Casillas has turned a corner in his career.

“Casillas has found life very tough in recent seasons and it’s often tougher for top players to resist these spells than it is for average ones.

“I’m delighted to see Casillas commanding from the back, performing like one of the best again, because he’s exactly that on his day.

"If he can overcome this spell successfully, and I believe he already has done, then I see no reason why he can’t be even better than what he already is. I’m Italian, so I’m accustomed to seeing keepers excel deep into their late thirties. Casillas can do that."

The Real Madrid number one has conceded just six goals in 14 games this season, starring in all but one game so far.

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