Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Zeitlin

Best of Spain: Explosive Kaká Stars As Lacklustre Madrid Rout Dortmund

Josh Zeitlin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:55:51 -0400

This is the second in a series of articles I have entitled "Best of Spain." This is a project to translate or reinterpret the outstanding articles in the Spanish press into English, for the pleasure of those non-hispanohablantes among us.

I have here given full credit to the authors where it is their due, including a link to the article in question, but as this is a somewhat loose translation of a highly idiomatic language, much of the style is my own and some of the ideas necessarily embellished.

Note that my translation and publication of this piece does not necessarily entail my endorsement of the original author's opinions.

The inspiration for this article is a piece entitled "Kaká y dinamita" by Diego Torres, published in El País on 20/08/09.

Kaká saw out of the corner of his eye Granero making a diagonal run. He had the ball under his feet and his head up. With one fluid movement of his foot he slotted the ball through the defence with the back of his heel. Granero picked up the superb pass one-on-one against Weidenfeller and coolly knocked the ball into the far corner with his first touch.

This moment of pure inspiration pushed Madrid forward at the beginning of their penultimate friendly of a pre-season campaign that has at times failed to impress.

Granero’s goal confirmed that the squad’s abundance of talent will extricate Madrid from more than one difficult situation in the months to come.   The players have gained pace; physically they are in good condition. However, the coach, Manuel Pellegrini, seems confident neither in his schematic nor in the players who are to enact it. It would be odd if he were sure at this stage. The players are very good, but there are many of them, some recently arrived, who he still does not know well.

The proof is that by the end of a half hour’s play, Pellegrini had identified enough problems with how the team was functioning that he ordered the much-maligned Robben to start warming up.

Predisposed to experimentation and no doubt thinking of the suspension that will prevent Pepe from starting the La Liga season, Pellegrini made Metzelder and Albiol the core of his defence. Encouraged by this scientific spirit, the Chilean coach moved Lass to right-back and put Pepe in his place; to what end, no one knows.

The truth is that Pepe never looked comfortable. He covered what he needed to, put the pressure on when needed, and swung to the right and to the left when necessary. But when he had the ball, he hoofed it up field in search of the forwards or passed it back to the keeper. By the end of the evening, one could say that he had trod on every square meter of grass, rushing back and forth all over the pitch.

Football has specialists. In order to play in the center of midfield, Madrid signed Xabi Alonso, a player that conforms to the orthodoxy of his position. Yesterday, Pepe—no doubt inspired by the best of intentions—got in the way of Xabi Alonso. The Basque play-maker did not partner well with his colleague. The result was that Madrid’s game lost continuity.

Dortmund’s pressure continually seemed to disconcert the Spaniards. Madrid lost the ball often and Ronaldo and Benzema didn’t get even the scraps of what little service remained.

Xabi Alonso’s only recourse was a long pass searching out the speed of Benzema, but he failed to convert. Benzema was left one-on-one with Weidenfeller but the German shot-stopper did well to narrow his shot angle.

Dortmund began to stretch their opponents and Casillas began to labor. Each corner, each free kick became a solid opportunity for the Germans. Madrid began to demonstrate their weakness at defending set-plays. Their defensive headers worsened, with Barrios and Rangelow both missing glorious chances. Later, Kuba tried his luck against Casillas one-on-one but the Spaniard kept his clean sheet.

Pellegrini brought in Robben for Granero at the break. The entrance of the Dutchman didn’t greatly improve Madrid’s movement of the ball, but it did cause them to occupy the spaces more efficiently. With Robben, the team recovered something of its sharp edge. He is astonishingly fast and has already begun to mesh very well with Kaká. The Brazilian reads Robben’s runs and inclinations extremely well.

The pair collaborated, if only incidentally, on Madrid’s second goal of the match.   When the ball went out for a corner, Kaká bounced it into the box and Robben connected with a stunning volley that flew into the roof of the goal.

Robben celebrated his goal by running to the bench in order to dedicate it to Wesley Sneijder. His compatriot was coming off of a miserable day. In the morning, Madrid’s directors had announced that he had to find a new team because the coach didn’t think him essential and the club didn’t want to waste the opportunity to sell him. The president, Florentino Pérez, wants to recoup some of the club’s massive summer spending, and so Sneijder didn’t strap on his boots for the Dortmund game.

Higuaín and Raúl came on for the last stretch of the game. The Westfalenstadion continued to shake with the enthusiasm of its fans even as the game began to run away from their team. Robben again connected with Kaká and the Argentine striker with him to produce the third goal, the Brazilian putting Robben through with a superb throughball which the Dutchman cut back to the onrushing Higuaín.

The fourth goal was handed to Kaká after Robben won a penalty after knocking on a good ball from Xabi Alonso just inside the box. Once again, the partnership that worked the best wasn’t the much-vaunted Kaká and Ronaldo double act but rather that of Kaká and Robben. The caprice of football, one might say.

Casillas flung a ball behind the defense of Dortmund that Raúl deftly tucked away in the 88th minute, thus completing the rout.

Best Of Spain: American Tour Showcases Potential of New Madrid

Josh Zeitlin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:06:35 -0400

This is the first in what will hopefully be a series of articles I have entitled "Best of Spain." This is a project to translate or reinterpret the outstanding articles in the Spanish press into English, for the pleasure of those non-hispanohablantes among us.

I have here given full credit to the authors where it is their due, including a link to the article in question, but as this is a somewhat loose translation of a highly idiomatic language, much of the style is my own and some of the ideas necessarily embellished.

The inspiration for this article is a piece entitled "América descubre el potencial del nuevo Madrid" by Alex Gortázar, published in MARCA on 10/08/09.

America shows the potential of new Madrid

Real Madrid returned from America with the feeling that Florentino Pérez’s magnificent project has already hit the ground running. The details are a little fuzzy, but Pellegrini already knows, broadly speaking, the squad he’ll be able to count on and who will be his most important performers.

July ended inauspiciously with a defeat against Juventus in the semifinals of the Peace Cup. Madrid weren’t clicking and had conceded four goals from set pieces in a handful of matches.

However, they had just arrived in Canada when their problems began to disappear. The American tour saw the reincorporation of those internationals who had played in the Confederations Cup, who had been given extra vacation, as well as the two new signings from Liverpool; Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso.

The first stop of the American tour was Toronto. This was the first time that Real Madrid had ever played a game on Canadian soil, and the local fans enjoyed the spectacle put on by Los Blancos immensely.

The 7th of August, 2009, will go down in the history of the club as the day that Kaka (who debuted) and Cristiano Ronaldo played on the same pitch for the first time in the white shirt of Madrid.

The opposition didn’t pose too many problems for the Merengues, who scored with ease against the Canadians. The final scoreline of 5-1 demonstrated the stunning power Madrid have at their disposal, with such a solid base that supports a style of football that is both very attractive and very practical.

Pellegrini is close to achieving what he has been seeking with the classic 4-4-2 that did so much for him at Villarreal. Albiol and Xabi Alonso played their first minutes as Madrid players against Toronto. Arbeloa returned to wear once more the shirt that he defended countless times in Madrid youth teams.

The second stop was Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. The encounter was played out in suffocating heat, and Pellegrini’s men were sorely taxed by the opening play.

They didn’t succeed in breaking DC United’s stubborn resistance until the second half. It was Higuaín that broke the deadlock, staking his claim to a place in the first XI with a quick-fire brace. Robben, not wishing to be outdone by his teammate, was also very active and sealed the rout with the final goal of the evening against the Americans.

Real Madrid had been on American soil less than a week, but the team have already started to show signs of what it can do. The defense has improved notably, although it is worth noting that the quality of the opposition was somewhat lacking. In the center of the park, the key to ensuring that the Pérez revolution wins titles is the invaluable work of Lass, winning and distributing the ball and generally making his teammates and the recent arrivals look good.

As regards the attack, there were never many doubts about a forward line stacked with so much explosive talent. Any way Pellegrini lines them up he is sure to get goals.

Key figures

Albiol-Pepe: They should be the starting partnership in central defense, and in America they played their first minutes together. Pepe will not be available for the beginning of the season as he still has games left to serve on his ban, but Pellegrini has shown that he trusts in the pair.

Drenthe: The Dutchman had been all but certain to leave the club at the beginning of the pre-season, but he made himself indispensable during the tour. The coach is pleased with him and consequently he may be deployed at left-back next season, though Arbeloa and Marcelo have the upper hand at the moment.

Arbeloa: The Spanish international is Pellegrini’s ‘wild card’ for the defensive line. He has used him at right-back and as a central defender, although with the return of Sergio Ramos he will most likely play at left-back. He has acquitted himself well across the defense, something that is, and will be, fundamental for the team.

Lass: The Frenchman will be a key figure in the first XI. He does the dirty work in the center of the field and carries out an essential duty. His job will be to watch the back of Xabi Alonso in the center of the midfield.

Xabi Alonso: The Tolosa native debuted in Toronto and demonstrated just why he was signed. From the first minute he provided fantastic depth to the team with his long passes and trademark changes in play. The forwards know that, thanks to him, they are going to be provided with many clear goal-scoring opportunities over the course of the campaign.

Granero: The ‘Pirate’ calls out for a place in the team every time that he touches the ball. He is becoming one of the most outstanding players in the squad and constantly demonstrates why Pellegrini must take him into account.

Kaká: In Toronto he was much more active than in Washington, but the Brazil international has already shown us evidence of his class. He is not yet match fit, but soon enough he will take charge of games and show us all his skill.

Cristiano Ronaldo: CR9 played in Washington with a high fever and consequently couldn’t perform at full strength. In Toronto, however, his connection with Benzema looked very promising, providing the Portuguese with his first goal from open play.

Benzema: The Frenchman has become the great sensation of the pre-season. He is clearly more physically fit than many of his teammates and it shows, but in every game he plays we see new and different things from him.

Higuaín and Robben: It seems that Pellegrini won’t rely on the pair very much, but their excellent performances against DC United served as a reminder that they are still here and that the coach can very much count on them at any time. At the beginning they will start from the bench, but the season is very long and they will have many opportunities to prove themselves. Look to see a big impact from these two when given the chance as they have a lot to prove.

Raúl: The captain is always there. Every year new players arrive and he continues playing. This year will be no different. In Toronto he scored two fine goals and once again demonstrated how indispensable he is to Madrid.

Negredo: Every week he is linked to various clubs, but as long as he remains on the payroll, and if he finally stays, Pellegrini will have a loyal striker and a great goal-scorer on the books. He played for half an hour in the Canadian friendly but he left a good impression and came close to scoring his first goal.

Madrid still have some time before serious competition begins, and several more friendly matches to contest, from which we will be able to garner much more information. Only time will tell whether Florentino Pérez's Gallacticos will be a success or a failure. But on the evidence of the quality of the play in the American tour, the future looks rosy for Los Blancos.

Do Real Madrid Need Maicon?

Josh Zeitlin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:24:17 -0400

Real Madrid have been consistently linked to Brazilian right-back Maicon this transfer season as they look to shore up their leaky back-line. There's no doubting Maicon's quality; his tremendous performances for Inter and Brazil over the last few seasons have solidified his claim as one of the best right-backs in the world, and he has even managed to keep Barcelona's Dani Alves, coming off of a stellar treble-winning season, on the bench for the Brazilian national team.

But do Real Madrid really need Maicon, or would they be better served spending their money elsewhere?

First, Maicon would be very, very expensive. While Real haven't shied away from paying out obscene sums for players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká this summer, rumors put Maicon's price somewhere around €40 million.

That is a very, very steep price for a defender.

Perez's recruitment strategy revolves around the idea that spending more to purchase a true super-star is always more economical than spending a sum that isn't substantially less for a good, solid player of the kind favoured by the Calderón administration, for example.

This is because players like Ronaldo can recover their transfer fee and actually generate money for the club due to their massive merchandising value. Beckham alone is rumored to have made Real Madrid more than €600 million during his tenure at the club, vastly eclipsing his price of £24.5 million.

Maicon, while very talented, perhaps more so than David Beckham, simply does not represent the kind of asset who can recoup a €40 million investment. It would certainly be a rather large outlay on a player who, on the face of it, Madrid don't really have a place for.

With the acquisition of Raúl Albiol, the 23-year-old Spanish international defender (for a paltry €15 million), Madrid look to have a fine centre-back cadre. With Portugal international Pepe, considered by some, despite his violent outburst this season, to be one of the best defenders in Europe, and Ezequiel Garay, the 22-year-old Argentine, a promising prospect, Real look good in that area.

Madrid also have Sergio Ramos, acclaimed as one of the best right-backs in the world. Were Maicon to arrive, logically Ramos would have to move to the centre, displacing one of the perfectly good centre-backs that Madrid already has, or move to the left, where he is less effective. Is this really what Madrid's money would be best spent on?

What Madrid need more is a good left-back, unless they are willing to entrust the left flank to the as yet unformed Marcelo or to the young cantero Miguel Torres, as I might advise.

A better buy might be Arbeloa, who can play all along the defensive line and would shore up the squad in case of injuries. He's available for less than €9 million, and has the advantage of being a Madrid cantera product himself.

If Madrid buy Maicon, no matter how good he is, he might well destabilize an already-fragile squad.

Better to outlay their money elsewhere.

Real Madrid Sign Karim Benzema For €35m

Josh Zeitlin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:07:33 -0400

Spanish giants Real Madrid have continued their rebuilding project with the conclusion of a €35m deal for 21-year-old striker Karim Benzema. Although hours before Olympique Lyon had denied reports of a deal for the French international, both clubs' websites confirmed this morning that an agreement had been reached.

"Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique Lyonnais have reached an agreement for the transfer of Karim Benzema. The player will have his medical examination in the next few days, which will be followed by the signing of the contract with his new club," read Madrid's statement.

Benzema is expected to sign a six-year contract. This would see him become the fourth signing of the summer for the Spanish club, after Kaka, Raúl Albiol, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker will cost Madrid an initial €35m, rising to a possible €41m based on performance.

A Lyon youth product, Benzema scored 66 goals in 149 first-team appearances for the club, as well as six goals in his 24 caps as a fully-fledged France international. He was part of the Lyon teams that won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles during his time at the club, and also performed admirably in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 12 goals in just 19 appearances, including a magnificent strike against Manchester United in the Round of 16 in 2008.

On the back of these performances, Benzema has become one of the most coveted prospects in Europe. Despite the firm interest of Manchester United, Barcelona and Internazionale, among others, Real Madrid managed to close the deal on the man many regard as the future of French football.

Due to his Algerian descent, grace and explosive talent on the ball, Karim Benzema has often been anointed as the successor to Zidane since his arrival on the international scene. The player himself, however, idolizes the French playmaker's former Real teammate Ronaldo instead.

The comparison is perhaps more apt than with Zidane, who masterfully orchestrated the midfield rather than leading the line. Benzema's powerful physique, blazing speed, superb control and, of course, prolific goal-scoring record all deservedly earn him the comparison with the Brazil legend.

Benzema will presumably play as a lone striker for Madrid in a 4-2-3-1 formation, most likely contingent on the rumored signing of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, or as the centre forward in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation supported by the legendary Madrid captain Raúl.

At Lyon Benzema frequently played up front alone with great success, but his versatility across the forward line should help him adapt to whatever formation Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini intends to use with his new-look Madrid team.

While Benzema's performances in France have been extremely impressive over the last few years, some pundits have raised the question of whether a move to a bigger club at this time poses a risk. Benzema has never played outside of France, which is admittedly a league of a lower quality than La Liga or the Premier League, and at only 21 years of age has only played three full seasons at the highest level.

Still, with his extraordinary natural talent and service most strikers could only dream of from the likes of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema seems poised to stake his claim to greatness on a stage more appropriate to his immense potential.

Time will tell whether he will join the ranks of France legends like Michel Platini and Zinédine Zidane, but with the World Cup looming over the horizon, Benzema will never get a better opportunity to prove himself.