Real Madrid's 12 Days of Christmas
It's been a year to remember for Real Madrid, one described by manager Carlo Ancelotti as "unforgettable."
Kick-started by Gareth Bale's stunning goal to clinch the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona at the Mestalla, Los Blancos have romped to three more titles since, adding the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup and the club's historic 10th European crown to a sensational calendar year.
It's also been a year of record-setting for Real Madrid, who are currently on a 22-game winning streak in all competitions, while being led by the unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo—the player widely predicted to win his second consecutive Ballon d'Or.
As such, it is hard to contemplate what more Real Madrid could want as 2014 comes to a close. But the club's appetite is insatiable, so in line with the festive period's "12 Days of Christmas" carol, we count down 12 presents Real Madrid would like to receive to begin 2015 across the following slides.
Day 1: Swift Return for Luka Modric
1 of 12
Luka Modric hasn't been seen in a Real Madrid shirt since a match in early November against Rayo Vallecano due to a thigh injury picked up while playing for Croatia during the international break.
One of the team's finest contributors and a vital component of Carlo Ancelotti's midfield, Los Blancos will hope that Modric can make a swift return to the side as they embark on the second half of a season that is shaping into one of historic proportions.
According to Nicholas Rigg of AS, the former Tottenham Hotspur star could be available by mid-January, with his recovery from the injury currently going to plan.
With James Rodriguez recently returning from injury and some concerns lingering over the workload of Toni Kroos, Modric's presence will be needed to sustain Real Madrid's record-breaking run.
Day 2: Jese to Recapture Early 2014 Form
2 of 12
Perhaps more than any other player in the Real Madrid squad—even more than Cristiano Ronaldo—there's a feel-good factor that surrounds young forward Jese at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A homegrown talent who's risen through the club's youth ranks, the 21-year-old is a significant figure in the Spanish capital because he stands as a symbol of a certain sense of purity at Real Madrid.
For the club's fans, he's simply proof that Real's identity isn't based solely on purchasing elite, foreign talent.
As such, there's a widespread desire to see Jese recapture the form that propelled him to stardom earlier this year, when he scored five goals in a six-game burst in January and February to announce himself to the world.
Though his path back to that standard from a serious knee injury suffered in March will be a gradual one, those who populate the Bernabeu would love the Christmas present of seeing Jese rediscover that early-2014 form.
Day 3: Sell Sami Khedira in January, Avoid Letting Him Go for Free Next Summer
3 of 12
As we explained on Sunday, it's time for Real Madrid and Sami Khedira to go separate ways.
A box-to-box midfielder suited to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, the German can't buy a start under Carlo Ancelotti because his game stands in contrast to the way the Italian has crafted his team.
Ancelotti's midfield is now based on swift, accurate passing that moves the ball at speed to release the front three into space. Indeed, there's an economy to the way Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Isco work; it's about precise movement of the ball, not robust movement inside the team's shape.
It's why Khedira doesn't fit: He wants to push up and back, tackle hard, break up the play and be a roaming midfield presence.
Thus, it's unlikely the Germany international will stay beyond next summer, and with his contract expiring in June, Real Madrid would be better off getting something for him in January than watching him depart for free at the end of the season.
Day 4: No Unnecessary Buys in the January Transfer Window
4 of 12
What Carlo Ancelotti has achieved this season is simply remarkable given the circumstances he found himself engulfed in during the early weeks of the campaign.
Handed a revamped squad stripped of two of its finest contributors from the previous season by the notoriously extravagant transfer business of president Florentino Perez, Ancelotti saw his side stumble through the opening weeks of the season with losses to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid.
But since, Real Madrid have discovered a wonderful balance within the team, racing to 22 consecutive victories in all competitions (a club and Spanish record) to become the most dominant footballing force on the planet.
As the January transfer window approaches, those connected with Real Madrid will want to see the squad's current balance and harmony maintained by avoiding any unnecessary deals that might pose selection issues for the manager.
Day 5: Carlo Ancelotti to Prioritise Squad Rotation Against La Liga Minnows
5 of 12
As previously stated, Carlo Ancelotti has been close to flawless this season in his conduction of this rampant Real Madrid outfit.
But if there's one tiny criticism that could be levelled at the Italian—and we're nit-picking here—it's that he hasn't rotated his squad as often as he could have in the opening months of the season.
Among his stars, the workloads of Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos have been particularly heavy.
Now established at the top of the league table and in the midst of a record-breaking run, one feels it's time for Ancelotti to rotate his squad when Real Madrid come up against the minnows of La Liga in the second half of the season.
Day 6: Iker Casillas' Recent Resurgence to Continue
6 of 12
"I'm convinced that with my attitude and ability, everything will go back to being the way it was before," Iker Casillas told Sid Lowe of the Guardian in November.
Recently, everything has.
In a hard-fought victory over Almeria in Andalusia, the veteran Spaniard put in a superb performance, notable for how calmly he operated in a surprisingly tense match.
Claiming balls with authority and looking comfortable when coming off his line, Casillas gave the sense that he's embarking on something of a resurgence—a feeling that was reinforced when he saved Verza's second-half penalty.
The goalkeeper then backed up that penalty save with another against Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup in Morocco.
A continuation of that form would be a delightful present for Real Madrid.
Day 7: Real Sociedad to Land an Early January Blow on Barcelona
7 of 12
Real Sociedad have recorded just three league wins this season. Remarkably, two of them came against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Could La Real add Barcelona to their list of high-profile victims at the Anoeta?
Carlo Ancelotti's men will certainly hope so, with David Moyes' side set to take on the Catalans in the first weekend of La Liga action in 2015.
Should Real Madrid claim three points against Valencia in the hours beforehand, a victory for Real Sociedad would give Los Blancos a four-point cushion at the top of the table with a game in hand.
In truth it's unlikely, but the Basque outfit have done it twice already this season. Real Madrid would love to see them do it once more.
Day 8: 3 Points at the Mestalla to Begin the New Year
8 of 12
In football, we often hear certain grounds described as "tough places to go" for opposing teams because of the intensity of the environment that's created inside the venue.
The Mestalla, the home of Valencia, is one of those stadiums, and Real Madrid will face Los Che there in the opening weekend of La Liga action in 2015.
So far this season, Nuno Espirito Santo's men have taken 19 points at home from a possible 24 in the league, outscoring their opponents 18-4 in the process.
Among those to depart Valencia with nothing were defending champions Atletico Madrid, who found themselves swamped in the opening 15 minutes and slumped to a 3-1 defeat. Barcelona had a hard time at the Mestalla too, but were fortunate to escape with a tense 1-0 victory.
Three points, therefore, will be hard to secure for Real Madrid and would be a wonderful—if slightly late—Christmas present for the capital club.
Day 9: Gareth Bale to Dampen Rumours, Pledge His Allegiance to the Club
9 of 12
It's not the first time we've seen this rumour circulated this season, but the intensity of the speculation surrounding Gareth Bale appears to be growing, with John Richardson of the Express reporting that the Welshman has given the "green light" for a move to Manchester United next summer.
According to Richardson's report, the Old Trafford-based club had pushed hard to sign Bale prior to his move to Real Madrid in 2013, and the club's owners, the Glazers, "want to go down the Galacticos route to increase United's value with an eventual asking price of £3 billion if they eventually decide to sell."
While United are not expected to pursue the Welshman until next summer, there would be an undeniable appeal to the move for Bale, who by season's end could be in a position to return to the United Kingdom, having won the array of trophies he craved in Madrid.
Of course, it's still all speculation at this point, but Real Madrid would love to hear a pledge of allegiance from Bale to dampen the rumours of his possible exit.
Day 10: Sergio Ramos' Contract Situation to Be Settled
10 of 12
Despite being currently contracted to Real Madrid until June 2017, Sergio Ramos and the club are reportedly working towards an extension to the Spaniard's deal in the capital.
According to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, former Real Madrid sporting director Arrigo Sacchi wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport that club president Florentino Perez wasn't seeing eye-to-eye with Ramos on the player's wages in a new contract.
But Ramos himself has expressed his desire to stay after Real Madrid's victory over Cruz Azul, saying on Moroccan radio station El Larguero:
"I have a lot of affection and respect for [Sacchi]—he was an important person when I signed for Madrid. I was with him a long time [but] I explained in my tweet: I do not do things for money. I never have. In this sense it depends on my happiness, and that of the president. I do not believe there will be any type of problem to reach an agreement.
"
Though it seems likely to be sorted in due course, with Carlo Ancelotti insisting the situation will be resolved—per Real Madrid TV's Phil Kitromilides—having it settled immediately would be welcome news for the club.
Day 11: Carlo Ancelotti to Sign a Contract Extension
11 of 12
For a club that has gone through high-profile managers like no other, it was significant when president Florentino Perez announced, per Marca, that Real Madrid would like to make Carlo Ancelotti the club's version of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fresh from securing a fourth title in 2014 at the Club World Cup, Ancelotti has now won 79.5 percent of his games in charge at Real Madrid—the highest figure of any manager in the club's history.
As such, Real Madrid and the Italian will look to extend his current contract, which has the decorated manager tied to the club until June 2016.
Last week, Perez told Moroccan radio station El Larguero (via the Guardian), that Real would "be delighted to renew his contract when the season ends."
The president also added: "What is strange is to anticipate a contract renewal so shortly after taking up a position. He's aware of this and there won't be any problems."
Those who follow Real Madrid would love to see the deal happen sooner rather than later.
Day 12: Ballon d'Or for Cristiano Ronaldo
12 of 12
Once again on the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to retain his title as World Player of the Year after a scintillating 12 months for Real Madrid.
After leading Los Blancos to the club's 10th European title in May, the Portuguese superstar has been in rampant form this season, scoring 30 goals in 20 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti has been among those to say Ronaldo is the "obvious" pick for the award, and despite the comments of UEFA president Michel Platini that a German should win the 2015 Ballon d'Or after the country's World Cup triumph, one feels Ronaldo will be the man to claim the coveted honour on January 12.
Perhaps more than any other, it's the gift Real Madrid and Ronaldo crave most over this festive period.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
