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What next for Iker Casillas?

Johannesburg, 11^th July 2010. Spain versus the Netherlands in the World Cup final. The clock reads 61 minutes, and it is still a stalemate between the two sides. Suddenly, Wesley Sneijder slips a ball through to Arjen Robben on the halfway line, who dashes past the Spanish defenders and into the penalty area. Robben looks up to see the onrushing Iker Casillas, and time stands still as he decides whether to go round the keeper or shoot first time. He picks his spot, and shoots low with his left foot. Casillas goes the wrong way, but deflects the ball wide with an outstretched boot. The danger is averted.

That save was the defining moment of Iker Casillas’ career. There may well have been better stops, but none have been as significant as that one he made to deny Robben in the World Cup final. In Spain, the save is talked about in almost the same glowing terms as Andrés Iniesta’s late winner in added extra time, and rightly so. Casillas’ intervention was crucial in ensuring that Vicente Del Bosque’s side went on to win the World Cup, and his performance in the final meant he would go down in goalkeeping history.

Four years later, Spain faced the Netherlands again, this time in their opening group game of the World Cup in Brazil. Spain lost 5-1 and Casillas was awful, later admitting that it had been the worst performance of his career. It was none other than Robben who stuck the final nail in the coffin, turning past the Spain captain and leaving him scrabbling frantically in his tracks as he slotted home the fifth and final goal. Casillas was just as useless against Chile, as Spain lost 2-0 and were dumped out unceremoniously. In both matches he seemed uninterested, a shadow of his former self.

Fortune has played an important part in Iker Casillas’ career. When Real Madrid’s first choice keeper César Sánchez was injured in the 2002 Champions League final, it was Casillas who came on to make a string of fine saves to rescue his side. Then it was Santiago Cañizares’ misfortune that meant that Casillas was made Spain’s No. 1 in the World Cup later that year, after Cañizares dropped an aftershave bottle on his foot, severing a tendon and ruling himself out of the tournament. In the round of sixteen tie against Ireland, Casillas saved two penalties in the shootout and instantly became a hero, with the Spanish press dubbing him ‘San Iker’- Saint Iker. He has not looked back since, captaining Spain to victory at Euro 2008, Euro 2012, and of course in South Africa. “Luck?” he said, in an interview with Sid Lowe during Euro 2004. “Maybe. But if you let in three, what's the point? You have to take advantage.”

But Casillas has also fallen prey to his own misfortune. In the 2012/13 season he was dropped by José Mourinho after trying to negotiate peace between Madrid and Barça, along with his friend and Spain teammate Xavi.  “I called Xavi because it was my duty to do so, as the captain, it’s my responsibility. I knew what I had to do because the group was becoming divided, because I represent my country and I have to defend an idea,” Casillas said in an interview with El País’ Luis Martín.

Mourinho was outraged, and decided instead to play the hugely inexperienced Antonio Adán. Things seemed to settle down when the Portuguese coach finally saw sense and decided to restore Casillas to the No.1 spot, but in a desperately unlucky turn of events he broke his hand during a Copa del Rey tie against Valencia, after a collision with Álvaro Arbeloa (ironically, one of Mourinho’s favourite players at Madrid). Casillas was sidelined for the rest of the season, and Diego López was bought from Sevilla to cover for his absence.

López barely put a foot (or hand) wrong while Casillas was out injured, making save after brilliant save without getting anywhere near the same kind of recognition from the Madrid press. Mourinho soon departed, with his tenure turning increasingly sour, but López remained, leaving new coach Carlo Ancelotti with the dilemma of how to keep the two keepers happy. In the end he settled on playing López in La Liga, and Casillas in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Ancelotti’s plan worked to a certain extent. Casillas was able to lift the fabled Décima and the Copa del Rey, but he lacked playing time. His decision making suffered, and his error in the Champions League final was a sign of how he wasn’t in the best form coming into the World Cup.

Now Casillas finds himself at a crossroads. Keylor Navas was poached from Levante this summer, fresh from an impressive World Cup for Costa Rica, and Diego López has been sold to Milan. While Ancelotti may have been able to juggle two good custodians last season, three would have been impossible, and López was simply too good to be benched.

Fresh from an excellent World Cup, Navas will put pressure on Casillas.

Keylor Navas will provide stiff competition for Casillas. He emerged as one of the best keepers in La Liga last season, making 141 saves, more than anyone else in the Spanish top flight. His training methods are intense and he is an excellent shot-stopper, boasting a fine set of reflexes. Despite this, he only has one year of experience in Spain’s top division, having previously played second fiddle to Gustavo Munúa at Levante. A year of assimilation into the Real Madrid setup would come in handy for Navas, instead of instantly being put in the spotlight. It is clear that he will become first choice at some point, but there is no need to rush the process. This transfer window has shown how keen top clubs are to have two top level keepers between the sticks, and, given the number of trophies Madrid will have to contest this year, the likelihood is that Ancelotti will use a similar policy to last season, rotating Casillas and Navas between competitions.

Casillas deserves the chance to prove himself again to Ancelotti. At 33, he has plenty of experience and could take some of the pressure off Navas, while trying to go out on a high note. Provided Casillas can start regularly, there is a chance he could recover some of his form and confidence.

Casillas is not the keeper he once was, that much is true. But in the small window of an international tournament, things can be blown out of proportion, especially with goalkeepers. Time will tell if Casillas’ terrible World Cup was merely down to bad form, but we shouldn’t be too quick to write him off. Whatever happens this season, he doesn’t deserve to be remembered for his performances in Brazil. In time, Navas will replace Casillas, and Navas will be replaced by someone else. But Casillas will always be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, if not the greatest.

@tomas_hill

5 keepers who have impressed in Brazil

International tournaments are usually defined by moments of attacking brilliance and skill, and this World Cup has been no different. The likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and James Rodriguez have lit up Brazil, and it is no surprise that they have received most of the plaudits. Despite this, the 2014 World Cup will also be remembered for some fine goalkeeping. Here are just five of the keepers who have impressed in Brazil.

Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Neuer has taken the role of the sweeper-keeper to new extremes in Brazil. The German No.1 surprised everybody against Algeria in the round of sixteen, taking up extremely high positions outside his box and dashing forward to deny the onrushing Algerian attackers throughout the match. Although many saw his actions as risky (he was almost caught out early on by Islam Slimani) his decision making was perfect, and he spared his defenders’ blushes on a number of occasions. Neuer’s shot-stopping has also been excellent, as demonstrated by the save he made against Karim Benzema in the final minutes of the quarter-final against France, and his distribution has been equally impressive. His arrogance can irritate neutrals, but he has undoubtedly been the best keeper of this tournament so far.

Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)

It was a fantastic tournament for Costa Rica, who finished top in a group containing Italy, Uruguay and England, and made it to the quarter finals of a World Cup for the first time in their history after overcoming Greece with ten men. This was in no small part down to Keylor Navas, who had an outstanding tournament. While players such as Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz were important in Los Ticos’ remarkable run, nobody was more influential than Navas, who at times kept Costa Rica in the competition. He was excellent against Greece in the round of sixteen, saving from point blank range on two occasions, but he will inevitably be remembered for his heroics in the penalty shootout which followed. He produced a great save against Theofanis Gekas with the score at 4-3, allowing Michael Umana to seal Costa Rica’s progress to the quarter finals with the next spot-kick. For all of their qualities, it is unlikely they would have got this far had it not been for Keylor Navas.

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)

Considering Ochoa wasn’t even guaranteed to start for Mexico before this tournament started, he had a remarkable World Cup. He made a series of stunning saves against Brazil, including a fine, one-handed stop from a Neymar header which prompted comparisons with Gordon Banks’ save against Pele, and which might just be the save of the tournament so far. Ochoa was on his way to PSG in 2011 before he failed a drugs test (it later turned out that he and other players had eaten contaminated meat) and he was subsequently snapped up by Ajaccio, where he became a hero. Ochoa is now a free agent, and one can’t help feeling that he will get his dream move to a top European club after his performances in Brazil.

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

Belgium had a solid if unspectacular World Cup given the expectations placed on them. They were rarely troubled, but when they were, Courtois was there to rescue them. In the final few minutes of extra time against the USA, for instance, the big Belgian made a brilliant, sprawling save at the feet of Clint Dempsey, and against Argentina he stood tall to prevent Lionel Messi from making it 2-0 late on in the match, demonstrating his composure and speed off his line. Courtois is less prone to mad dashes outside his area than Manuel Neuer and has less of an ego, perhaps giving him an edge over the German keeper.

Tim Howard (USA)

The USA are renowned for producing good goalkeepers, and Howard can perhaps lay claim to being the greatest of them all after his performances at this World Cup. Certainly he produced one of the best US goalkeeping performances of all time against Belgium, making a record number of saves (15) in a single World Cup match, and he was just as important against Portugal in the group stage. Although some of his flaws were exposed (he has a tendency to go to ground too early and his distribution can be dodgy), Howard was largely faultless, and his leadership was also vital in ensuring the USA reached the knockout rounds.

@tomas_hill

England's early exit: Hodgson is to blame

As soon as the group was drawn the FA and England were preparing for an inevitable early exit from the World Cup.  Roy Hodgson himself admitted, "It is difficult. There is no doubt with Uruguay and Italy we have almost got two number one seeds in our group” whilst Greg Dyke made the infamous and pessimistic throat-slit gesture.  But make no mistake, Group D was no ‘Group of Death’. This is not the glorious Italy team of old, they are much weaker defensively and lack conviction going forward – and were deservedly beaten by Costa Rica. Uruguay have suffered a sharp decline since winning the Copa America in 2011, were also deservedly beaten by Costa Rica, and rely heavily on a couple of select players. Costa Rica have performed admirably, but ultimately have a population of fewer than 5 million and had one player in the self-proclaimed best League in the World last season (who was injured for this tournament).  With the players available, England should have at least qualified in second – however, Hodgson seems to be receiving very little backlash from the mainstream media (primarily the BBC) whatsoever, and has received assurances on his future from the FA.

In 2010 England crashed out of the World Cup and Fabio Capello was widely derided and mocked, with a dash of xenophobia, and many in the media called for his head.  This was a man who had won multiple leagues in both Italy and Spain, not to mention the Champions League, and still wasn't good enough for England. But it seems merely because he is English, Hodgson is beyond reproach. Now, I am not suggesting Hodgson is an inept manager – he has managed extensively abroad, is evidently intelligent and multilingual, a quality that should be applauded and is sadly rare with modern English managers - but he is not the type of manager England should be persisting with at this moment in time. He does not fit any bill – he is not the free-spirited attacking manager some have made him out to be, and he has proven both at the Euros and now at the World Cup that he is incapable of grinding out results at knockout tournaments with England. Yes, England did not play too badly in either of their two defeats (so far), but that was largely down to the relative mediocrity of the opposition.

Everyone knew that England’s defence was vulnerable, yet Hodgson did not select a single natural defensive midfielder in the entire squad. Jordan Henderson, who had a fantastic season in a midfield three, was left to cover far too much, with Gerrard not fulfilling a role of any kind. Gareth Barry, who has played consistently well anchoring a midfield this season was not selected, on grounds of age, but Frank Lampard, who now does not really fit into a rigid 4-2-3-1, still was. Natural strikers – Welbeck and Rooney – were played out of position, reducing their capabilities going forward, and leaving attacking full-backs Baines and Johnson woefully exposed at times. Baines was widely lambasted following the Italy match (despite the recurrent overlaps he had to contend with), as was Rooney, but the man who forced that situation upon the players seemed to escape criticism. So many fans and pundits could see the situation unfolding, but relatively little action was taken. James Milner, England’s best defensive winger (who could also fill in at central midfield) has not played a single minute of football.

Perhaps such decisions would be excusable if England had been immeasurably potent going forward. But they were not – two goals in two games is not impressive. It could be argued that they had many more shots than Uruguay, but to me this is indicative of a lack of clinical finishing, and more importantly creativity and incision. Too often the fullbacks made good attacking runs but were never found, with natural strikers understandably wanting to cut inside. Gerrard often slowed the game down with his typical Hollywood balls, which are painfully easy to defend against, and there was an absence of a natural playmaker. The solution to this particular problem was probably Ross Barkley, if not maybe Adam Lallana or even Jack Wilshere, but as Hodgson so positively said: “I'm not prepared to address your obsession with Ross Barkley. If he's going to be the player we want him to be, he has to make better decisions of when he turns with the ball.”

Hodgson may well be right when it comes to Barkley, but those are not the quotes of a positive, attack-minded manager. They are the quotes of a naturally negative, conservative defence-minded slightly antiquated manager, who felt the media pressure to seem offensive. Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez or Arsene Wenger would never have criticised a 20 year old player in that manner – and it is a manager of that ilk England should now seduce.

Grassroots football should be invested in, but I don’t believe a massive overhaul of the system is required. England had and will have the players to play genuinely attractive and attacking football, with the right players to balance the system. This World Cup could have been refreshing, exciting, and a sign of significant progress from 2010 – but crushingly, it was inevitably an abject failure. And the buck stops with Hodgson. 

By Alex Jennings

La Liga 2013-14 season review

It was another brilliant season in La Liga, and one which will go down in history as the year that Atlético Madrid finally broke the duopoly between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Atlético's success was remarkable, especially given their financial constraints (it is worth mentioning that they had a smaller budget than QPR this season) and the fact that they lost one of their best players last summer in Radamel Falcao.  As well as winning the league, they reached the Champions League final, and, despite losing to Real, Diego Simeone’s side have defied expectation this season.

Although the loss of Falcao was seen as a big blow at the time, it actually benefitted the team. Diego Costa’s influence had often been stifled by the Colombian forward, and this season he was able to spread his wings, scoring 27 goals in La Liga (he had previously failed to score more than 10 in a single league season) and playing a huge part in Atleti’s success.

Likewise, Diego Simeone’s influence cannot be overstated. El Cholo has transformed the club, and the Argentine has cemented his place in Atleti folklore, surpassing his achievements as a player at the Vicente Calderón. He has succeeded in bringing unity to a club which was in a shambolic state when he arrived, and has given players such as Gabi and Tiago a new lease of life. While various names do stand out in this Atlético side, there is no one star player, and perhaps this is testament to the sense of togetherness that Simeone has created at the club. 

The likelihood is that at least some of these names will depart this summer. The trio of Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Tiago looks set to leave for Chelsea, but this could mean that Atlético get to hold onto Thibaut Courtois for another season.  Koke is being heavily monitored by Barça, while Miranda, one of the stalwarts of Atlético’s defence, has been linked with a move to England. Whatever happens to this group of talented players, they deserve credit for a fantastic season.

For all of Atlético's qualities, Barça and Real underperformed in La Liga. While Ancelotti’s side managed to cover this up by winning the elusive Décima in a tense final against Atlético themselves, ending a 12-year wait for the trophy, Barça were not so lucky. Tata Martino’s side crashed out of the Champions League to Atlético, and lost the Copa del Rey final in the last few minutes thanks to a Gareth Bale dash from the halfway line. Such is the bizarre nature of La Liga that Barça actually had the chance to win the title on the final day of the season against Atlético, but Martino’s fate had already been sealed. The Catalan club have replaced him with Luis Enrique, who seems to be a better fit for them. He is well schooled in Barça's methods, and introduced a number of youngsters into the first team at Celta, his previous club. Expect 2014-15 to be a more settled year of transition for Barça. 

For Real Madrid, this season was only ever going to be about La Décima. Ancelotti was the perfect man for the job, in many ways representing the anti-Mourinho. Los Blancos were still shaking off some of the effects of Mourinho's tenure in the first half of the season, and towards the end they allowed the Champions League to dominate their focus, as they resigned themselves to third place in La Liga. However, Ancelotti did well to calm the team down, and they were largely faultless in the Champions League, barring some nervy moments away to Borussia Dortmund, when the tie had virtually been won. Bale had a good first season after a shaky start, scoring the winning goal in the Copa del Rey final and the goal which put Real ahead in the Champions League final, making that world record transfer fee look slightly less ridiculous. Not bad for someone the Spanish press cruelly labelled 'Forrest Gump' after the first Clásico of the season. 

Athletic Bilbao were reinvigorated by new manager Ernesto Valverde and comfortably secured the final Champions League spot, playing some lovely football along the way. Ander Iturraspe was a vital part of Valverde’s starting eleven, and earned himself a place in Del Bosque’s preliminary World Cup squad, while the hugely promising Aymeric Laporte was one of the best centre-backs in Spain this season. Aduriz experienced something of a resurgence, scoring 16 goals in La Liga, and Susaeta and Muniain were also impressive. Athletic are on the up, and, if they do get through to the group stages of the Champions League, they will be a team to look out for.

Sevilla also played some very attractive football under Unai Emery and won the Europa League, with Ivan Rakitić in particular having a brilliant season. They fell short in qualifying for the Champions League, and their hopes next season will rest on whether or not they can keep Rakitić this summer, with a number of potential suitors lurking. Villarreal finished in sixth place after bouncing back up from Segunda, and were inspired by their manager Marcelino. Sadly Real Sociedad couldn’t repeat their achievements from last season, as they failed to juggle the challenges of domestic and European football.

As always, it was a tense battle at the bottom end of La Liga. Paco Jémez’s Rayo Vallecano did brilliantly to avoid the drop, even though they looked destined for relegation. Betis had a horrendous season, as they sacked first Pepe Mel and then Juan Carlos Garrido after just 47 days in charge of the club, finishing bottom. Valladolid were also relegated, and Juan Ignacio Martínez’s tactics won his side few admirers. Osasuna waved goodbye to La Liga following 14 seasons in Primera Division, and it was a shame to see such a proud club go down. A special mention should go to the newly promoted sides Elche, Almería and Villarreal, who all stayed up this year.

Unfortunately the ugly side of La Liga did rear its head again, with a number of racist insults and jibes coming from the stands. It tarnished what was otherwise a brilliant season for Spanish football, and the LFP (the league’s organisational body) have to do something about it.

Despite this, it was a great season for La Liga, and we can expect an equally competitive league next season. In the often overused words of Marca, ‘hay liga’. There is a league.

@tomas_hill

Why Isco isn't the next Canales

Isco has become a vital part of Madrid's transitions in recent weeks.

When Isco signed for Real Madrid last summer, worrying comparisons were made with Sergio Canales’ failed transfer to the Bernabéu. In July 2010, Canales, only 18, signed for Madrid after becoming one of Spain’s hottest prospects, bursting onto the scene with a number of eye-catching performances for his struggling boyhood side Racing. Twelve months later his career was all but ruined, after an injury-hit season in which he had found opportunities limited.

Of course, this is not strictly true. Canales was only 19 when he left the capital to join Valencia on loan (later he would join permanently) and still had the rest of his career ahead of him. Even so, there were questions as to whether the youngster would ever fulfil his potential after that year wasted at Madrid. Fortunately he is now at Real Sociedad, where he seems to be back to his best.

It is easy to see why parallels were drawn with Isco’s signing. Like Canales, Isco had stood out as a big fish in a small pond at his previous club Malaga. He was instrumental in his team’s improbable run to the Champions League quarter-finals, and was brilliant for Spain’s Under-21 side, as they swept all before them at that summer’s European Championships. Florentino Perez jumped at the chance to sign the midfielder, and he was soon presented as a Real Madrid player. He was given the number 23, the same as David Beckham during his time at the club, perhaps an indication of how highly Perez rated him. Certainly the Real Madrid president had high hopes for the fledgling Spaniard. No pressure then.

But for a while it looked as if Isco would be frozen out of the starting eleven, just like Canales. After a bright start, scoring on his debut against Betis, he seemed to fade and fall behind in the pecking order. His defensive contribution was heavily scrutinised, and Ancelotti’s switch to a 4-3-3 formation which didn’t favour Isco’s creative talents seemed to be the final straw. It wasn’t long before Isco was cruelly being labelled the ‘next Canales’.

Not so on Wednesday night against Barcelona. Some eyebrows were raised when the youngster was named in the starting lineup, with some arguing Isco wouldn’t offer Xabi Alonso enough protection. But despite these worries, Isco put in one of his best performances in a Real Madrid shirt, hassling Barça’s players relentlessly and putting in a huge defensive effort. Xabi Alonso, in contrast, was largely anonymous. As Marca pointed out, no other player made as many ball recoveries as Isco (12), despite the likes of Busquets and Modrić being on the field. It is an impressive stat, especially for a player who earlier this season was heavily criticised for his lack of defending. His superb off-the-ball work was demonstrated in the first goal, in which he dispossessed Dani Alves to start the move which culminated in Di Maria’s finish.

It was a sign of how Isco has become a crucial part of Madrid’s transitions in recent weeks, and has finally settled at the Bernabéu. He has adapted to a new role since falling out of favour, demonstrated in recent games against Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League tie, and against Almería on Saturday. 

It was fitting that Isco’s coming-of-age should come at Mestella, where he began his career with Valencia. Forget Canales; if Isco keeps performing like this, he could swiftly become a vital player in Ancelotti’s lineup.

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

Why this Clasico could decide La Liga

On Sunday, Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a game that could decide the outcome of La Liga, and Barça coach Tata Martino’s fate. For Madrid, it is a chance to cement their place at the top of La Liga, while for Barça it represents their last realistic shot at mounting a title challenge. Such is the crazy nature of Spanish football that despite a 7-0 win against Osasuna last weekend, the vultures are circling around the Camp Nou, and if Madrid were to inflict a heavy defeat on the Catalans, it would be the final straw for the directors of the Catalan club, who are said to be looking for a replacement for Martino already.

When these two sides met back in October, it was a very different story. Ancelotti was just finding his feet in the capital, and Madrid succumbed to a limp 2-1 defeat, barely threatening Victor Valdes’ goal. The Italian manager had named a defensive line-up, including Sergio Ramos in midfield, and it was clear that he didn’t yet know his best eleven. Star signing Gareth Bale paled in comparison with Neymar, and the general consensus was that Barça could have scored more. It seemed as if Tata Martino’s side were on the up, whereas there was still a lot of tinkering to do for Ancelotti.

What a difference five months can make. For now, talks of crisis have been subdued after Barça secured their passage to the last eight of the Champions League against Manchester City, but recent defeats against lowly Valladolid and Real Sociedad have put Martino’s position in jeopardy. Madrid, meanwhile, look a different team to the side that played against Barcelona in October. The attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo has finally clicked for Ancelotti, while the team’s defence has improved drastically. Diego López has conceded 26 goals in 28 games, putting him third in Marca’s Zamora rankings for the best Spanish goalkeeper in La Liga, and, while his heroics cannot be understated, this is also down to the solid back four that he has had in front of him.

But there is another reason that this Clásico has taken on so much importance. There is a third team involved. Traditionally Madrid and Barça have occupied the top two places before this clash, but this time the outstanding Atlético Madrid are ahead of Barcelona, in second place. Up until recently, Atlético could rightfully have considered themselves as the best team in Madrid this season, and they have certainly been more impressive than the Catalans. A glance at the points totals in La Liga shows why some have labelled this a three-team Clásico. Real are top with 70 points, while Atlético are second with 67 points, only one point ahead of Barça in third place. The margins for error are extremely tight, and, if Atleti were to win against bottom side Betis on Sunday, and Real Madrid lose against Barça, then they would go top again.

While some have predicted a heavy defeat for Barça, they still remain formidable opponents when it matters the most, as demonstrated in the recent performances against Manchester City and Osasuna last weekend, and they will certainly be no pushovers. However, Ancelotti was right when he said that his team ‘arrive in a really good moment’, and we can expect a Real Madrid performance far removed from the tentative display in October. This promises to be an intriguing Clásico.

Be afraid, Barça, be very afraid.

This article first appeared on Sabotage Times. 

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

How Angel Di Maria re-invented himself

Di Maria has once again become a key player.

It was early in January. Real Madrid were playing Celta Vigo in La Liga, and the team had looked sluggish after coming back from the winter break. Recently Angel Di Maria had looked devoid of inspiration, and there were strong rumours that he would be sold, with a number of suitors lurking. The Bernabéu was keen to see the introduction of Bale, and, as Di Maria was taken off for the Welshman, boos could be heard in the stadium. The Argentine winger responded with a crude gesture, grabbing his crotch, and with that, his Real Madrid career was pronounced dead. Or at least, that was what most people thought.

                                

After the world-record signing of Bale in the summer, Ancelotti had a decision to make regarding Özil and Di Maria. He needed to sell a star player to cover Bale’s transfer fee, and so was faced with a choice between the two. Eventually, he opted to keep Di Maria, selling Özil to Arsenal, but it would be an uphill struggle for the winger to re-assert himself in the team. Bale was guaranteed a place in the starting line-up due to his transfer fee, and, with opportunities limited for Di Maria, it seemed increasingly as if he was on his way out.

Nobody could have envisaged the transformation that Di Maria has undergone since that seemingly fateful day in January. With Ancelotti switching to a 4-3-3 formation, the Argentine has re-invented himself as a box-to-box midfielder, and has returned to his old, tireless self, once again winning the hearts of the Bernabeu crowd. In the process, he has become one of Madrid's key players, and Ancelotti even admitted recently that he would have trouble picking the team when Sami Khedira comes back from injury. 

'Re-invent' is perhaps too strong a word to use. What Di Maria has done is adapt to a new system, vindicating Ancelotti's decision to keep him in the first place. He still displays all the qualities that he demonstrated on the left-wing, and has a relatively free role on the left side of midfield, alongside Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric.

Di Maria’s never-say-die attitude marks him out from the rest of his team-mates, and it was this determination that initially made him a fans' favourite. At times it is as if he never stops running, and his work-rate is impressive. The finest example of this industriousness came in the Supercopa two years ago (Spain's equivalent of the Community Shield), when the Argentine dispossessed Victor Valdes inside the area and slotted home. 

Although it could be argued that Valdes dawdled on the ball, the goal was largely down to Di Maria closing down the Barça goalkeeper and forcing him into a mistake. 

The Bernabéu is a harsh crowd, but thankfully Di Maria has restored his image in the eyes of most supporters. He deserves credit for having adapted to a new position so seamlessly, and perhaps Ancelotti was right to sell the less versatile Özil instead of him. If Di Maria can help deliver La Decima this season, all will be forgiven.

This article first appeared on Sabotage Times. 

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

'It's Magic, you know'

The cups still matter.

Unfortunately, as Olivier Giroud slotted home Arsenal’s fourth in their victory over Everton, I couldn't help but feel a sense of Déjà vu. Another FA Cup quarterfinal, another three goal loss (though thankfully this year’s performance wasn't quite as utterly lacklustre and embarrassing as Wigan last year). Everton have not won a cup in my lifetime, the Capital One Cup – in any of its many sponsorship forms – has eluded the Goodison trophy cabinet since its founding (this year saw the mighty Fulham scathing through credit card glory, an honour bestowed last season to Leeds). In fact, many others and I could be forgiven for being completely disenfranchised and, frankly, bored with domestic knockout competitions. However, the last few seasons, despite the galling, depressing failure – just when your hopes are finally raised – have reinvigorated the cups, and my passion for them is stronger than ever.

I often feel many people are slightly greedy with what they desire from the cups. Some vent spleen when Premier League sides don’t play their very strongest eleven, others bemoan the lack of ‘giant-killings’ any more. But as we saw last weekend, the much-feted ‘magic’ of the FA Cup is still alive and kicking, just ask a Wigan fan – top teams can field strong sides, but can still be culled by lesser opposition, even in the latter stages of the competition. Man City started a team with Yaya Touré, Jesús Navas, Sergio Agüero, Samir Nasri and Álvaro Negredo, but Wigan nonetheless pulled off yet another coup in the cup, reminiscent of last year’s Martínez-inspired triumph at Wembley, similarly over City. The spirit of Dave Whelan’s leg lives on.

The FA has received much criticism for the use of Wembley as a semi-final venue. Their motives are evident and financial, and in previous years the placement has been impractical. But surely as a fan of Sheffield United, Hull, Wigan or even Arsenal, playing at Wembley (albeit in a semi-final), is still a major draw? And the famous venue is a partial contributor to what makes the cups so special – the memories, the occasion. Money has become integral to modern football, it is true, and Champions League qualification has evolved into the prized asset for many clubs, but success in traditional competitions is still incredibly important, particularly to long-suffering fans. What do Arsenal fans remember, what will they tell their grandchildren about – the time they beat West Bromwich Albion to finish fourth in the league, or the time they beat Chelsea or Man United at Wembley to win the FA Cup? Admittedly, it is an unoriginal and slightly clichéd argument, but for my part, it rings true.

The Capital One Cup is frequently disregarded as an irrelevancy, an assessment I find unfathomable. In my opinion, people sometimes forget how few trophies there are to win. If you're a Stoke fan, for instance, realistically you're never going to win the Premier League or Champions League – that leaves two cup competitions to win, a season. To ignore one half of feasibly acquirable trophies is slightly silly, especially from the view of someone paying extortionate money for a season ticket every year. Bradford getting to the final is perhaps an indictment for the importance some teams place on the competition, but it is also a fantastic advert for the irrepressible joy such adventures bring. The penalty shoot-out at Old Trafford between Man United and Sunderland was simultaneously one of the most entertaining and bereft-of-quality moments in football I can remember.

The Premier League is important, money is important, the Thai section of the club website nowadays is important too – but so still are the cups. The FA Cup is steeped in tradition, regularly exhilarating and shocking, and, like it or not – teams do still take it seriously. The Capital One Cup is a rollercoaster of a competition, and a trophy that should not be sneered at either. A deluded romantic I may be in this respect, but I'm sure many fans would agree. Come May another set of fans will be celebrating an unforgettable day out at Wembley – but Arsenal fans should be careful, they've not won it yet, and this is the cup after all...

By Alex Jennings

The rise of César Azpilicueta

Azpilicueta is Mourinho's new favourite.

When Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea, few expected him to keep César Azpilicueta. The right-back had only demonstrated his worth for Chelsea in occasional flashes, and, behind Branislav Ivanović in the pecking order, things were looking gloomy for the young Spaniard.

Fast forward several months, and nobody could have predicted how things would turn out for Azpilicueta. He is now one of the most established players in Mourinho's new-look Chelsea side, having started 17 Premier League games this season, and has become a key part of the team. Instead of playing in his favoured position on the right-hand side of defence however, Azpilicueta has succeeded in displacing the stagnating Ashley Cole at left-back, and has adapted seamlessly to this new role. So much so, in fact, that he is now a Mourinho favourite.

In an interview last month, the Portuguese manager described how '11 Azpilicuetas would probably win [the Champions League] because football is not just about pure talent, football is also about character and personality, and Azpilicueta has all the traces of that winning personality'. High praise indeed.

Above all, Azpilicueta is a team player, and Mourinho has taken a shine to him for precisely this reason. Some have compared his situation to that of Álvaro Arbeloa, who, despite not being the most flashy of right-backs, was largely consistent during Mourinho's tenure at Real Madrid, and consequently became one of the manager's favourites. However, comparing Azpilicueta to Arbeloa is futile. It is true that Arbeloa occasionally played at left-back for Madrid, but that is about as far as the comparisons go. The Chelsea full-back offers much more in terms of attack, and arguably more in defence as well.

Azpilicueta has sometimes been criticised for this feature of his game, but it seems that his defending is improving at left-back, where he has rarely been caught out this season, making an average of 3.6 tackles every Premier League game. Attacking remains one of Azpilicueta's key strengths, but it is disappointing to see that the 24-year old has yet to register a single goal or assist this season in the league. On the other hand, it could be interpreted as a sign that Azpilicueta is adapting to his role as a team player. He has tended to stay back this season, preferring to leave the marauding to fellow full-back Ivanović. The signs point to Azpilicueta maturing and becoming a more complete player under Mourinho's tutelage.

Right-back has become a problem position for Spain recently, with Arbeloa declining and seemingly out-of-favour at Madrid, and so there is every chance that Azpilicueta could be called up for La Roja ahead of the World Cup if he keeps up his current form. Del Bosque is assessing his options at right-back in the run-up to the tournament, demonstrated in the way that he decided to play Azpilicueta against Italy on Wednesday. The Chelsea full-back was outstanding, and the likelihood is that Arbeloa is now an outside bet to make the Spain squad after Azpilicueta's performance. He faces stiff competition from the impressive Atlético right-back Juanfran to cement a place in the squad, but if he continues to mature in the way he has done over the last few months at Chelsea, a call from Vicente Del Bosque is highly likely.

César Azpilicueta has been one of Chelsea's unsung heroes this season. While he may not be the long-term solution to replacing Ashley Cole (Mourinho seems to be interested in signing Luke Shaw), it will be interesting to see whether he is moved back to his more familiar position in the future, or whether Mourinho sees his future at left-back . From looking as if he might be offloaded at the beginning of the season to becoming a key player, Azpilicueta is simply making the most of each opportunity.

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

This article first appeared on Back Page Football.

Spanish sides are favourites in Round of 16 ties

Could Ancelotti deliver La Decima?

Last year saw Barcelona and Real Madrid humiliated in the Champions League semi-finals, but will the teams from La Liga have the last laugh?

Atlético Madrid

Before this tie was announced, Sulley Muntari had suggested that Atlético Madrid were the weakest team still left in the Champions League, saying that he would be happy for Milan to draw Los Rojiblancos in the round of 16. Muntari got his wish, but Atleti will certainly be no pushovers. They have been one of the best sides in Europe this season, but a combination of injury, fatigue and squad rotation has culminated in a series of uncharacteristic performances from Diego Simeone's side recently, including a loss to lowly Almería and two humbling defeats to city rivals Real in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. In contrast, Milan started the season awfully and are only just beginning to show signs of improvement under new coach and ex-player Clarence Seedorf. Needless to say, Simeone will pick his strongest eleven for Wednesday's game against Milan, and will give Seedorf little breathing space in his first Champions League tie as manager. Atlético were brilliant in the group stages, collecting 16 points, a total only matched by Real Madrid this season. Many have touted them as dark horses for this competition, and, while this may be going a step too far, El Cholo will relish the chance for his team to progress to the latter stages of the competition. 

Real Madrid 

Despite his unrivalled credentials and calm exterior, some Madridistas had doubts about Carlo Ancelotti at first. They felt that his style of play was 'boring' compared to last season under Mourinho, and pointed to a limp Clásico defeat in which Ancelotti had named a defensive lineup, with Los Blancos rarely threatening the Barcelona defence . Any of these doubts have now been completely dispelled. Ancelotti's side are in imperious form, scoring goals for fun in La Liga and arguably reclaiming their status as Madrid's best team. La Décima has become an obsession for Real Madrid in recent years, and there is the growing sense in the capital that Ancelotti could be the manager to deliver the mythical tenth European cup, perhaps even this season. Schalke, for all of their qualities, should not represent too much of a test for Madrid, but the greater challenge will lie in the next two rounds, in which Real Madrid could find themselves facing another German team, the dreaded Bayern Munich. Pep Guardiola has moulded the Bavarian team into an even more formidable outfit than last season, and, if any team can stop the likes of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, it will be them. Real Madrid have bad memories of Bayern, and Ancelotti will be hoping they do not come up against the Germans in the next round. 

Barcelona

Barça are in equally devastating form. Tata Martino was another manager who had his doubters when he was put in charge of Barcelona last summer, but on Saturday his side evoked memories of Guardiola's dream team, thumping Rayo Vallecano 6-0. It is just as well that the Catalan team are at their best, as they are up against none other than Manchester City. Manuel Pellegrini has transformed City into a formidable attacking force, and this will be Martino's toughest assignment yet. Barça are far from invincible, and the loss against Valencia a few weeks ago demonstrated that. However, while there are still weaknesses at the back, Barcelona have more than enough firepower themselves to eliminate City. It promises to be a mouth-watering tie.

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

Be careful what you wish for- Foreign owners in the Premier League

As Fulham Football Club embarks on yet another managerial change, is an ambitious ownership change really worth the risk?

Foreigners. They just don’t get it. Put simply, football is a concept too complex and mind-blowingly intricate for any feeble Johnny-come-lately interloper to even think about getting involved in. We need more British owners in the British game, like Ken Bates, or Peter Ridsdale.

Of course, many people who don’t read The Daily Mail might disagree with that statement. Ask a Manchester City fan of forty years what they think about Sheikh Mansour, and they’ll doubtless give you a glowing reference concerning the sizeable benefits of oil-rich ownership. As an Everton fan myself, I am familiar with the frequent demands for the weathered, local (but ultimately – by Premier League terms – broke) owner to be deposed, for a richer and more ambitious replacement. But the events at Fulham this season have taught me more than ever to be careful what you wish for. Because, in many ways, Shahid Khan is the theoretical perfect owner. With a reported worth of $3.8 billion, and a history in sports ownership (with NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars), Shahid Khan has always seemed a very prudent, patient and intelligent man. Take his November interview with BBC’s Football Focus, for instance (when Martin Jol was still manager), where he stated, “One thing I’ve learned, it’s not the right thing to be impetuous. As times are getting hard, I don’t think the solution is to be doing something rash.” Well then, what changed Shahid?

I don’t believe many people were too surprised when Venky’s made an unmitigated mess of Blackburn Rovers. For many, Vincent Tan is an undisputed comedy figure. But Shahid Khan isn’t. His model of ownership (if he genuinely applies his self-proclaimed values) should be working. Even for success stories – Manchester City, or particularly Chelsea – is your decade in decadence really worth the cost? Even refraining from formulating a viewpoint on an ideological level (I'm looking at you, Roman), what happens when Sheikh Mansour or Abramovich decides they have had enough? Surely Manchester City and Chelsea will suddenly become massively financially unviable, and fall into an extremely dark and possibly permanent abyss?

There are, undeniably, a multitude of cases where foreign ownership is working well, and,  to an extent, I am an advocate of it. In my eyes, it is a good thing to bring multiculturalism and diversity in football in as many aspects as possible. But where foreign ownership is working, for example at Liverpool, the success is often seemingly being founded on patience and relative stability. Fulham are working through managers and staff at a rapid rate, and will probably be relegated. Cardiff have acted similarly, and will probably share an identical fate. Gold and Sullivan, despite being contemptible, have taken a different approach, and it seems as if it will pay off. I know Everton need an ownership change, but I am preparing myself for the price we might unfortunately have to pay.

By Alex Jennings

Rayo Vallecano- destined for the drop?

On Saturday, Rayo Vallecano, the lowly team from the working-class region of Madrid, played perhaps their most important game of the season against Malaga. Lose this, and they would surely be doomed to relegation.

Two days before the game, the club released a motivational video, encouraging fans to get behind the team. The message at the end of the video was simple: 'juntos podemos'. Together we can.

It could be a phrase used to describe Rayo's entire stint in La Liga since promotion in 2011. The club has always relied on fervent support from its long-suffering fans, who have seen Rayo fall into administration in recent times, and, as any follower of La Liga can testify, boasts a stadium with arguably the best atmosphere in the league.

The atmosphere at Vallecas propelled Los Franjirrojos to an eighth-placed finish last season.

Vallecas is a cauldron of sound on match days, and was one of the main reasons why the side managed an incredible eighth-placed finish last season, despite largely being made up of journeymen, free transfers and loan signings.

What's more, Rayo Vallecano are one of the most liked teams in the whole of La Liga. They are seen as the last of the barrio (neighbourhood) teams in Madrid, and are a breath of fresh air in a league dominated by money, with one of the lowest budgets in La Liga.

But this season has been an entirely different challenge for last year's surprise package. Los Franjirrojos find themselves in 19th place, with many pundits already having earmarked them for the drop. Unlike last year, Rayo's attacking style hasn't troubled La Liga's other teams as much, and their fragility in defence has become even more of a problem.

What's more, the team from Vallecas lack a true goalscorer. Where in recent years they have had the likes of Michu, Diego Costa and Piti, this term their top scorer is Jonathan Viera, with a measly eight goals.

Diego Costa and Michu have now moved on to bigger and better things.

Paco Jemez insists on a near-suicidal style of play, which, though entertaining to watch, could ultimately cost his team. Many commentators have made the point that when Jemez' methods succeed, Rayo are a joy to watch, but when they fail, they do so in spectacular fashion.

Take the 5-0 defeats to both Atletico Madrid and Malaga earlier this season, or the 5-2 loss against Villarreal, for example. Even the Vallecas faithful have their limits, and they have voiced their discontent at Jemez' stubborn adherence to a system which doesn't seem to be working. His response was typical of a manager with the utmost confidence in his own philosophy: "The jeers will not change the way this team plays football".

There are glimmers of hope: on Saturday everything fell into place for Rayo as they beat Malaga with a resounding 4-1 scoreline. But while Paco Jemez should be praised for his commitment to entertaining football, a more pragmatic approach would have been the wiser option this season. Rayo may have won many admirers since promotion to La Liga, but it will count for little if they descend to the dreaded Segunda. Sometimes football can be cruel, and one can't help feeling that this hugely likeable team are destined for the drop.

By Tomás Hill López-Menchero

This article first appeared on Back Page Football.