Ready For El Derbi & So Much Sad News

Los Blancos had their final training session before tomorrow’s Derbi Madrileño. 

Training

U19s goalkeeper Altube was called up to join the squad for today’s session. Lucas and Llorente are injured and continued their recoveries. (Video)

Call Ups

The following players were called up for the match:

Goalkeepers: Navas, Courtois, Altube.
Defenders: Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Reguilón.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Asensio, Ceballos.
Forwards: Mariano, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, Vinicius Jr.

Presser

FROM REALMADRID.COM

Solari: “We have to show our intensity, energy and good football to take charge of the derby”
by Javier Garcia | Photographer: Helios De La Rubia

“We’re on a good run and it’s a pleasure to see the players train with this commitment, desire and focus”, added the coach.

Solari has spoken to the press on the day prior to his side’s LaLiga derby clash at the Wanda Metropolitano (Saturday, 4:15pm CET). Aside from discussing the upcoming encounter with Atlético, the coach also had words for the victims of the fire at Flamengo’s training facility, as well as for Emiliano Sala: “I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Emiliano Sala and all those affected by the tragedy in Brazil”.

“Vinicius Jr. is upset, it’s his home so it’s to be expected. It’s very sad news for everyone, especially for the people directly involved and their families, we send them our condolences”.

The derby
“The opposition plays intense, tactical and energetic football. We’ll have to show all of our intensity, energy and good football in response and take charge from the first moment of the game. We have to go out to compete with all of our weapons from minute one”.

Balance
“We work hard every day to fine-tune the balance between tactics, physical and mental elements, and to apply it in every game. The players work in a very disciplined manner to achieve it”.

Morata and celebrating a goal
“Respect for your opposition has nothing to do with expressing yourself based on your own performance”.

Isco
“Isco left training with some discomfort in his back and we’ll assess him this evening. I have always answered any question asked of me at all my press conferences and I’m always available to respond to you”.

“A professional footballer’s job is to train at 100% to be ready to do his bit for the team. The team is in great shape, everyone is working very hard and showing commitment in every session to ensure this group takes the game to the opposition every week, just as we’re showing”.

“All the players are thinking about the team and they’re all very committed. You can see that in training and in games. We’re on a very good run at this stage of the season. Marcos is our only absentee, he’s had a problem with his abductor muscle since the other day and we hope he’s back ready soon”.

Schedule
“It’s great to be at this stage with such good feeling around the place, the fixtures are increasingly exciting and we face numerous challenges. The most present one is a huge game which will be very hard-fought. We have to go into the game just as focused as we’ve been in recent matches, ready to give it everything we’ve got to put in a performance like we gave against Barcelona, Girona, Sevilla… With the same hunger, energy and good football”.

Simeone
“Comparisons are pointless. I respect and admire Cholo. We were teammates for the national side and he was my coach at San Lorenzo. It’s been a wonderful experience for me to share things with him on a professional level, he’s got so much to offer. Tomorrow will be a brilliant game, that’s all we’re concerned with. We’ll have to put all our energy into it to compete, we’re two teams who love to compete”.

Courtois
“Maximum pressure is always stimulating for a professional footballer. I’m not going to give you the line-up today”.

Bale and Asensio
“They’re on the way back and improving. They’ve only recently returned from injury and we all know what they can contribute. We’re thrilled to have them back with the group and training with such commitment”.

Opportunities for players
“Football is about hard work and making your talent available to the team. It’s giving 100% in every training session and putting your all into it to be ready whenever you’re called on to play”.

Physical shape
“The team look great, it’s a pleasure to see these players training with such commitment, desire, intensity and focus. We’re enjoying training sessions and matches. Not just the fans, but the coaches and players as well”.

Heartbreaking news for the world of football on two accounts:

Emiliano Sala’s body has been recovered from the plane’s wreckage and positively identified. Pilot David Ibbotson is still missing.

And in Brazil, there was a fire in the dormitory of Flamengo’s youth team and 10 players were killed. Their ages ranged from 14-16.  Three additional players were injured, one of whom in critical condition with burns on 30% of his body.  Sending healing energy to those injured and hoping they will be able to recover quickly. Vinicius Jr. came up through the Flamengo youth system and was with the club from 2005-2018. Due to the closeness in age (he’s 18), one can assume that he may have known several or all of these players. I’m sure this hitting him particularly hard.

Our thoughts are with all their loved ones and fans. Clubs are like families and losses like these are so hard to bear. May their memories be a blessing.

– Lozil