Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Ronaldo and Co celebrate with Ancelotti and Casillas as Real boss takes charge of 100th game and keeper plays 500th La Liga match

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and Iker Casillas had reason to celebrate in training on Wednesday as the boss and captain were presented with commemorative shirts for their milestones with the club.
Ancelotti was celebrating his 100th game in charge at the Bernabeu, while Casillas was celebrating his 500th La Liga game between the sticks, both of which came during the 2-0 victory away at Elche on Sunday.
Madrid's boss, who was presented with a shirt with his name and '100' on the back by club president Florentino Perez, has won the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the World Club Cup during his century of games in charge.

Ancelotti also recorded his 78th win over Elche to help him eclipse Jose Mourinho as the most successful Real Madrid manager after 100 games. The former boss, who was in charge at the Bernabeu between 2010-13, recorded 77 victories in his first 100.
Third on the list is legendary figure Miguel Munoz, who won 70 of his first 100 - as well as three European Cups as a player and two as a manager between 1955-66 -  fourth is Jose Villalonga (64 wins) and fifth is Leo Beenhakker (63).
Casillas, meanwhile, marked his 500th La Liga game in charge with a clean sheet at Elche, and was also presented with a shirt by Perez. The Spanish goalkeeper has been a regular at Madrid since making his debut in the 1998-99 season.
'I am thankful, this record is not easy to get being a Real Madrid player, maybe in another club it would have been easier,' said Casillas, after the game on Sunday. 'I never thought about reaching a certain number.'
While Ancelotti added: 'I think that if we've done well in my first 100 games, then we'll try to do even better in the next 100.'
Casillas has seen his place come under increased scrutiny this season after a series of high profile errors. He has come under pressure from summer signing Keylor Navas while the club have also been linked with a move for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, however, is closing in on a new long-term deal at Old Trafford and manager Ancelotti has made clear he is more than happy with his current goalkeeping options.

Real Madrid currently sit four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after Barcelona slipped up at home against Malaga a day before their victory over Elche, but their Italian boss fully expects the title race to go to the wire.
As well as topping the La Liga table, Real Madrid also look set for progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after their comfortable victory over Schalke in the first leg last week.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring last Wednesday night in Germany before Marcelo added a second after half time as Ancelotti's side continued their European title defence.
They welcome Roberto di Matteo's side to Madrid in two weeks time for the second leg that should be all but a formality. Before that game, however, they still have two league games to concern themselves with. They face Villarreal at home on Sunday before travelling to Athletic Bilbao the following Saturday.

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