SPAIN: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Real and Barca hope for a win after Euro defeat

Real Madrid coach, Fabio Capello, under pressure ahead of Saturday's (March 10) "clasico" against Barcelona, said again that his future is a club's decision. "Look, you've asked me that question about 50 times already and my answer is always the same --that's the President's (Real Madrid) call, OK?" Capello told reporters on Friday (March 9). The Italian's continuation is in the balance after his side's elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich. Barca's hopes of retaining their Champions League crown also went up in smoke when they failed to match the intensity and determination of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool over the two legs of their first knockout round tie. But arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have little time to brood over their painful European defeats as they go head-to-head at the Nou Camp. Capello, however, didn't hide his disappointment and said that it was a major blow for the both fooball giants. "I think that after being the European Champion one likes to repeat. Everybody talks about star-Barcelona, about how Barcelona is the world's best team. As usual, that doesn't concerns us -that's Barcelona's business and I have to think about Madrid. We were also very excited about the Champions League, and we were eliminated with a tie, like Barcelona. That's very frustrating, for both teams," said Capello. Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos chose to announce ahead of the "La Liga" showdown against Barcelona that he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after 11 years at the club. According to Capello, the statement was inappropriately timed. "He (Roberto Carlos) is injured and can't play. Obviously that wasn't the best moment to announce that," Capello said. The former Brazil international said he had not yet decided where he would continue his career. Roberto Carlos joined Real Madrid from Inter Milan in 1996 during Capello's first spell as coach at the club. With so many issues placing Capello right at the eye of the storm, journalists asked him whether training Real had turn into a torture. "I'm working as coach -it's not hell. It's a job I like and that I've done for many years. So far I've done my job with enthusiasm, and I still do. But about the common sport around here of talking about other's business (meaning journalists commenting on the coach's decisions). I don't like that and that's why I don't do interviews," concluded Capello. Out of the Champions League and King's Cup and five points behind Barcelona in the title race, another defeat would effectively destroy Real's hopes of winning the Primera Liga and breaking their four-year trophy duck. But the Catalans aren't at their best either. Barcelona's defeat against Liverpool was yet another example of the Catalans failure to perform on the big stage this season. They were second best to Sevilla in the European Super Cup, lost to Real at the Bernabeu, went down to Chelsea in the Champions League group stage at Stamford Bridge and came unstuck against International in the World Club Championship final. Their Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen said the team had to work harder if they were to perform on the big occasions. Real will be without the injured David Beckham, the former England captain missing his final "clasico" before leaving for LA Galaxy at the end of the season. Winger Jose Antonio Reyes will also miss out due to a knee injury, while centre-back Fabio Cannavaro is unlikely to be available after missing the Bayern match with a groin problem. Barcelona will have to make do without Italy fullback Gianluca Zambrotta and speedy French winger Ludovic Giuly, who are suspended after being sent off in last week's defeat in Seville. But striker Samuel Eto'o is almost certain to play despite looking off the pace in the Liverpool match as he bids to regain full fitness after recovering from knee surgery. With the big two battling to save face after their European disappointments, leaders Sevilla will hope to take advantage when they visit relegation-threatened Gimnastic on Sunday. Fourth-placed Valencia, the only Spanish team left in Europe's elite club competition after their tense away goals win over Inter Milan, travel to Pamplona to face Osasuna.

ITN Source | March 10, 2007

Tags:. .disappointment. .failure. .elite. .suspended. .frustrating