Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder ‘one of the five best in football history’, claims Granada star
Real Madrid prepares to face off against Granada today with aspirations of defending their first-place position in La Liga.
The season has gone incredibly well for the Merengues, despite dealing with a barrage of unexpected injuries.
Toni Kroos has been a major reason behind Madrid’s dominance this season, and Granada’s Gonzalo Villar, who will shortly share a pitch with him, has acknowledged the German maestro’s excellence.
High praise
The Granada midfielder, Gonzalo Villar, named Toni Kroos one of the best five midfielders in history.
“For me, Kroos is one of the five best midfielders in history. I am still below him. But he is a great player for me,” Villar said in an interview with AS.
Having joined Real Madrid in 2014, the 33-year-old has marked an era in the Spanish capital and is now, unsurprisingly, a role model for other players plying their trade in his position.
Both Villar and Kroos have racked up five goal contributions each season, and the Granada midfielder will be looking to get the better of Kroos on this occasion.
Commenting on the clash
When asked what the keys are to overcoming Real Madrid, the 25-year-old emphasized organization and being clinical.
“We must be an organized team and strong defensively. We may not have many opportunities, but we have to be effective and take advantage of them,” he said.
Speaking on the fact that he will be playing at the Bernabeu, Villar stated it was a venue he immensely relished playing at.
“Playing at the Bernabéu is different from anywhere else. For me, this is the stadium that I liked, along with Milan, and it is the place that impressed me the most and the place that I enjoyed playing in the most since I became a professional. It is something amazing, he expressed.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid star Huijsen credits Mourinho for improved form in new season: ‘He supports me a lot’
Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways in LaLiga as they take on Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
The club are coming on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis last weekend but did secure a narrow win over Inter Milan in the midweek Champions League fixture.
Heading into this game, Dean Huijsen, who has been showing a lot of promise in these early parts of the season, spoke to the club’s official media about the match ahead and how Real Madrid have been coping with the pressure early on, among other things.
Huijsen on Rayo and his defensive duties
The young centre-back was fully aware of the threat posed by Rayo and praised the opposition.
“We know that Rayo is a good team, and it’s a tough team to face, and we must give our all as we do in all matches to secure the three points, that’s the only thing that matters, and for the Bernabeu to be with us and for us all to be united,” he said.
He also detailed the defensive demands placed on him by the coaching staff led by Jose Mourinho.
“Well, what every coach asks of you: ferocity, intercepting balls, and winning one-on-one duels. He supports me a lot, and I think this helps me greatly, and defending together as a team,” he said.
On the team’s preparations for the fixture, Huijsen offered an insight into their training routine.
“We’re working on some tactics related to the opponent. And well, after that it depends on the day; we might play a mini-match among ourselves or not,” he added.
Huijsen on Mourinho and his fine form
The Spaniard was quick to credit Mourinho, with whom he previously worked at Roma, for his development and current level.
“We’ve known each other for a while, even though we spent a relatively short time together in Rome. He gave me the opportunity to make the real leap into professional football, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that,” Huijsen said.
Reflecting on his own performances, the defender was in confident mood, once again pointing to the influence of his coach and teammates.
“I think I’m in good shape. Well, I think I’m delivering a good level, and I believe that’s thanks to the coach too, as he keeps track of me and takes great care of me.”
“Well, I’m also doing my very best, and I think the teammates are supporting me too, and this is the perfect equation,” he added.
Finally, Huijsen explained how he manages his recovery amid a congested schedule.
“There are a lot of matches, so we need to recover well and stay focused on football, then you have to sleep well. And yes, on the days after the match, I also take a cold shower and a hot shower to recover better,” he concluded.
