The new galacticos squad of Real Madrid is starting to put all the preseason pieces together.
TORONTO, Canada --Real Madrid launched their North American tour with an open training session in Toronto. The team included new signings Alvaro Arbeloa, Kaka and Xabi Alonso.
After they were received by hundreds of fans at Pearson International airport, Madrid set up shop at their hotel before making their way to BMO field where a grass pitch was laid on top of the existing turf field especially for this occasion.
Iker Casillas and Guti were the two players present at the press conference where Coach Manuel Pellegrini revealed that Friday’s friendly against Toronto FC could see the Real Madrid debut of both Kaka and Xabi Alonso.
He said, “ I will make my decision on the lineup tomorrow. Kaka and Xabi Alonso have a big possibility to play in the game.”
Speaking about Real Madrid’s latest acquisitions following their raid on Liverpool FC, Pellegrini revealed, “I am very satisfied for the team with the new signings (Alonso and Arbeloa).”
Guti played down the difference in earnings between players of both clubs as some individuals at Real Madrid have a higher salary than that of Toronto FC’s combined roster and claimed, “On the pitch, its eleven players against eleven players.”
No room for complacency then. This does not bode too well for TFC who could very well be on the wrong end of a drubbing tomorrow. The Madridistas have yet to truly fire on all cylinders in this preseason, struggling to beat Irish side Shamrock Rovers, failing to defeat Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and losing to Juventus.
The training session was largely uneventful, although a Cristiano Ronaldo tumble led to a collective gasp from the huge crowd that had turned out to witness the second coming of the Galacticos. Interestingly, Kaka and Ronaldo were kept in opposing teams for a training match on a shortened portion of the pitch.
Despite the $250,000 outlay on the temporary grass pitch, Casillas and Jerzy Dudek seemed perturbed by the bounce (or lack there of) of the ball on the surface. With that in mind, a goals bonanza can be expected in Toronto tomorrow.
Real need to put on an impressive display to kick start their new era after a summer of extravagant spending. This may be the first instance of seeing Pellegrini’s preferred formation with Kaka and Ronaldo in the same side.
If Toronto manages to defy Madrid, doubts about Real’s championship credentials will emerge. With Barcelona putting Seattle to the sword earlier in the week, Madrid will look to send a strong message back to Catalunya at TFC’s expense.
After they were received by hundreds of fans at Pearson International airport, Madrid set up shop at their hotel before making their way to BMO field where a grass pitch was laid on top of the existing turf field especially for this occasion.
Iker Casillas and Guti were the two players present at the press conference where Coach Manuel Pellegrini revealed that Friday’s friendly against Toronto FC could see the Real Madrid debut of both Kaka and Xabi Alonso.
He said, “ I will make my decision on the lineup tomorrow. Kaka and Xabi Alonso have a big possibility to play in the game.”
Speaking about Real Madrid’s latest acquisitions following their raid on Liverpool FC, Pellegrini revealed, “I am very satisfied for the team with the new signings (Alonso and Arbeloa).”
Guti played down the difference in earnings between players of both clubs as some individuals at Real Madrid have a higher salary than that of Toronto FC’s combined roster and claimed, “On the pitch, its eleven players against eleven players.”
No room for complacency then. This does not bode too well for TFC who could very well be on the wrong end of a drubbing tomorrow. The Madridistas have yet to truly fire on all cylinders in this preseason, struggling to beat Irish side Shamrock Rovers, failing to defeat Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and losing to Juventus.
The training session was largely uneventful, although a Cristiano Ronaldo tumble led to a collective gasp from the huge crowd that had turned out to witness the second coming of the Galacticos. Interestingly, Kaka and Ronaldo were kept in opposing teams for a training match on a shortened portion of the pitch.
Despite the $250,000 outlay on the temporary grass pitch, Casillas and Jerzy Dudek seemed perturbed by the bounce (or lack there of) of the ball on the surface. With that in mind, a goals bonanza can be expected in Toronto tomorrow.
Real need to put on an impressive display to kick start their new era after a summer of extravagant spending. This may be the first instance of seeing Pellegrini’s preferred formation with Kaka and Ronaldo in the same side.
If Toronto manages to defy Madrid, doubts about Real’s championship credentials will emerge. With Barcelona putting Seattle to the sword earlier in the week, Madrid will look to send a strong message back to Catalunya at TFC’s expense.
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