'Pep is my boy'- RONALD KOEMAN

Ronald Koeman(Everton Manager) said in a recent interview how he helped a young Pep during his playing days at Barcelona. Koeman ,who is set to go head to head with Pep in the English league this weekend.

Koeman talked about how he took the Catalan under his wing when he was promoted to the first team at Barcelona. "Johan Cruyff had seen this young player in the academy, seen him develop into a decent player in the reserves and he thought the time was there to draft him into the first-team squad,"Koeman said.

"According to Cruyff this boy was very bright, he had a quick brain and he needed a more experienced player to look after him. I told him it was fine.
"If the player was a talent and a good kid, I would help him. So he told me that from now on I was going to look after a BOY called Pep. He told me I was going to be his tutor, help him develop and make sure he learns the Dutch style of playing. I then spent several years with Pep in hotel rooms before every game, every trip -- in preseason, in Europe, you name it.

"Pep was a fantastic guy. He was eager to learn, he wanted to know everything. Pep wanted to know about the Dutch school of football. More than any other player he wanted to know about one-touch football, about positional play, one touch in small spaces. He loved the way Cruyff wanted to play with Barcelona.

"But what struck me with Pep was that he was a very ordinary, down-to-earth guy. He never had arrogant streaks. He did not behave like a star because he was playing for Barcelona -- he was driving a second-hand Golf when he came in the squad and after three years in the first team, he was still driving the same car."

Many Barcelona and Catalonia fans will be thankful to Ronald for helping Pep grow and develop under Cruyff style of football and made him great footballer and a greater manager.....

 An interview from the daily mirror.

ISCO IS SET TO LEAVE MADRID

The 24 year old Real Madrid attacker has hinted that he might leave the Spanish giants if he does not get more playing time, but he also said he wants to succeed at the club if allowed.

Isco since joining Real Madrid from Malaga in 2013 has rarely been a starter for the club having won 2 champions League trophy,Super Cup and 1 club world cup.

In the latest interview he granted to Marca, he stated that he wants a first team shirt if not , he might move to another club.  "It's difficult when you're training well and the boss does not put you in, but in the end it's my own fault. In the end it is me who is responsible. I want to see where I can improve to get in there", Isco Said.

"In Madrid I know it's very difficult because of the competition, but I won't give up. I work everyday to demonstrate my abilities. What I have to do is play from the start or from the bench, always ready to help the team and give my best"

"At Real Madrid I've played many games, more than people think, about 150 but I've never been the star man. He said, I was at the top of my game at Malaga."

Isco on possible exit, "I have 2 years left on my Real contract, the club said nothing and I never looked for anything to leave. We are talking about the best players in the world, there is much competition and a line-up that is practically non-negotiable. "I talked to Zidane and knew it would be difficult to start each games, but I accepted the challenge. I want to train hard, show that I can be a starter and that's what I will try now and for the rest of the year."

Isco on contract renewal ,"The truth is that I have not yet thought about it, nor have they asked me to renew, so I am calm. If they don't want me to renew, I won't go asking for it. It's something for the club to decide, not me."

In Conclusion Isco had this to say, "So it was hard, knowing you're training well and not getting the opportunities. It's complicated, but it's my fault, In the end, if I'm not the star man with Ancelotti, Benitez or Zidane, I won't be foolish to look for problems where there are none, In the end, I'm responsible and that's where I must improve."

Isco has had offers from Manchester United,Arsenal,AC Milan,Tottenham and Bayern Muchen in the past, Let’s see how the situation unfolds.

Madrid in shambles! Another draw.

If it wasn’t for Zidane and his legacy at Madrid as a player or may be that Champions league victory last year there would surely have been speculations over Zinedine Zidan’s near future in the capital.

4 straight draws for the Blancos does raises eyebrows but what cannot be overlooked is the way Real Madrid has been playing recently. If you don’t take the match against Dortmund into consideration which too by the way had the intensity of the German team that kept Madrid peddling, Real’s display on the pitch lacks creativity.

 A lack of ideas and at times the intensity which makes the core part of Madrid game style. Maybe Off pitch issues of Benzema,Ronaldo’s time from injury or missing Modric you can pass on the blame from Zidane but with what we know from times of Rafa Benitez and Ancelloti or Mourinho is that there is no place for excuses in the capital.

 Florentino Perez is clearly under pressure as the administration run under him didn’t quite decide upon who to bring,who not to and satisfied themselves with a quiet transfer window albeit the buyback of Morata.

Time will tell if the recent display can be called as shambles….What we know is that draws don’t please anyone in the Santiago Bernabeu. Stay tuned.