The Life of Carlo: Mia San Mia

FEUD EMERGING

Real Madrid strikers Karim Benzema and Munir El Haddadi were both involved in a heated argument in training this week, according to a source close to the club.

Following the club’s open training session at Valdebebas, the two strikers, who have 16 goals in between them so far this season, stayed behind for extra shooting practice.

According to our source, ex-Barcelona player Munir is said to have responded aggressively to Benzema’s criticism of his shooting, to which the pair almost came to blows.

“The two have been staying behind in training on a regular basis to work on their shooting, but it seems a split has been brewing between the pair,” confirmed our source.

“It’s a common training method which Real Madrid use, as do most clubs, to get players to train together and create a bond.

“Benzema worked with Raul under Manuel Pellegrini, Cristiano Ronaldo has trained with Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez; it’s a common technique under the Ancelotti regime. However, in this instance it has turned sour.

“Munir’s side of the story seems to be that Benzema is beginning to feel threatened by his talent, as the 18-year-old has started ahead of him on a few occasions, whereas Benzema explained to the club's staff that he was just giving Munir advice and that the La Masia product wasn’t willing to listen.

“The two had to be separated by players and members of staff before any eventual physical contact and haven’t trained together since.

Real Madrid refused to comment on the altercation, with the relationship between the two believed to still be strained.

November 2014

La Liga Table

Champions’ League Group Table

Our Player of the Month

Karim Benzema

King Karim himself, scoring goals left, right and centre. That’s 20 goals in 16 appearances for the Frenchman!

Verdict

It was an awesome month once more from the boys. I hoped we would pick it up from our first two months and we’ve done just that since the end of September. Top spot in the Champions’ League group is guaranteed and we’ve distanced ourselves from Barcelona. I couldn’t have asked for more. Actually, I could. I’d take the Club World Cup Championship trophy next month, please!

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December 2014

La Liga Table

Champions’ League Group Table

Our Player of the Month

Raphael Varane

Impressive as always and he’s proving just why I was at ease with letting Pepe go. Another month of consistency for Varane and he’s also managed to add goals to his game. He won the FIFA Club World Cup Player of the Tournament award and it was well deserved.

Verdict

We took our foot off the gas a fair bit this month, but still got the job done. We were a bit too relaxed in both games v Alcorcon and paid the price for being so at Anfield against Liverpool. We did, however, add our third trophy of the season, so we just have three more to tick off our list! We played brilliantly in the Club World Cup and it’s also nice to see that despite not playing too well against Alcorcon and Liverpool, we still got the results required. We’ve got a huge month next, so I hope we pick things back up.

RONALDO BAGS BALLON D’OR

With a tear in his eye, Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or award for a third time in his career after being named the world's best footballer at a ceremony in Zurich.

Ronaldo, who’s piped eternal rival Lionel Messi to the award for a second consecutive time, received 470 votes, 116 ahead of Barcelona forward Messi and leaving Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller in third with 159 votes.

After picking up the award, an emotional Ronaldo, who was previously honoured in 2008 & 2013, said: "I have no words to describe this moment. Thanks to all of my team-mates at Real Madrid and the national team.



"Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, as it is extremely difficult to win this award.

"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My partner, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment."

The manager’s equivalent to the award was handed to the 2014 Brazil World Cup winner Joachim Löw, followed by Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Hakan Çalhano?lu, often referred to as the new Mesut Özil, was the shock winner of the European Golden Boy award, scoring 13 in 18 appearances so far this season for his new club, as he helped keep Hamburg afloat in the Bundesliga last season.



Ronaldo’s teammate Karim Benzema also picked up an award, presented to him by UEFA President Michel Platini, as France Football regarded him as the French Player of the Year.

Elsewhere, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure took the African Player of the Year award, as well as the Broadcaster’s African Footballer of the Year award, meanwhile Kagawa took the gong for Asian Player of the Year.

Ronaldo, Messi and Gareth Bale were all included in the FIFPRO team of the year, which surprisingly didn’t include third placed Müller.

FIFPRO team of the Year: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich); Daley Blind (Manchester United), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich); Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid); Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

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MUCHAS GRACIAS, CARLO!

Real Madrid star and 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked Los Merengues boss Carlo Ancelotti for the effect he’s had on his career in the past season.

Ronaldo won his second consecutive World Player of the Year award over Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and believes the work put in by his manager has helped him achieve such a feat.

The Portuguese captain, who also reserved special praise for his team mates, thanked Ancelotti and believes that without him, perhaps, his victory wouldn’t be as clear.

“I know I’ve played well over the past years, but much of that is down to the effect my colleagues, and in particular Carlo, have had on me.

“Carlo has come into a dressing room filled with stars, being a top manager himself, and he’s managed to get us all on one page and working in huge unity.

“Our focus is on nothing but winning, and winning well, which has helped me in the long run to stand out even more. We’ve turned a huge corner with Carlo and we are currently showing everyone that with the right squad, you can win playing beautiful football.

“Beautiful football is what I’m about, but so is winning, so Carlo couldn’t be any better for me and the team. If you want to win awards, like the Ballon d’Or, you must win trophies and play top football. Thanks to the whole team as a collective, I’m here today with this award again, so I owe it to all of them, especially Ancelotti.”

Karim Benzema, winner of the French Footballer of the Year award, also acknowledged Ancelotti’s work in helping him being classed as number one by France Football.

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