After a very early wake up call and having to fly east to Charlotte before getting on a flight for LAX, I headed down to the FSC studios for the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Valencia and Real Madrid at The Santiago Bernabeu..
What an unbelievable game and by far the best I’ve ever been a part of.
And now I go to sleep.
Finally done with a crazy three days that started with a trip to Houston via Burbank and Phoenix, then the RSL @ Houston match, no sleep afterwards, a 5.30am flight to Burbank via Houston and Phoenx, a 12pm call time and then ending with calling the Spanish Super Cup first leg at The Mestalla between Copa del Rey Champions Valencia and La Liga Champions Real Madrid.
Via Goal
VALENCIA CF 3-2 REAL MADRID CF
0-1 van Nistelrooy 13′
1-1 Mata 55′
2-1 Villa 58′
2-2 van Nistelrooy 67′
3-2 Vicente 80′
Valencia (Emery): Hildebrand; Miguel, Albiol, Alexis, Moretti; Albelda, Baraja, Joaquín, Silva, Mata; Villa.
Real Madrid (Schuster): Casillas; Michel Salgado, Javi García, Heinze, Miguel Torres; Van der Vaart, Diarrà, De la Red, Robinho; Raúl, Van Nistelrooy.
Now I sleep.
Got in around 9pm, headed over to Cabo’s for a couple fish tacos and went straight to bed.
Woke up and hit the gym at 7.30am to get a little work out in before sitting in front of my miniature television watching Argentina v Holland. Production meetings at 9.30am, so I think I’m going to miss the end of the second half.
Real Salt Lake at Houston tonight in a battle for 1st place in the West and then back to bed before a 5.30am flight to get back to Los Angeles for tomorrow afternoon’s Spanish Super Cup (think Spanish Community Shield) between La Liga winner Real Madrid and King’s Cup (Copa del Rey) winner Valencia at 1 pm West Coast.
Former Captain and Spanish International David Albelda has finally been told that he will be able to leave the Mestalla after an ongoing dramatic affair which started with Dutchman and former Valencia Head Coach Ronald Koeman back in December of 2007.
Along with Miguel Angel Angulo and Santiago Canizares, Albelda was first informed that he’d be dropped from the squad and forced to train alone on the side, without explanation. With the blessing of the former president, Koeman went on with business as usual until getting the sack in April after a 5-1 loss Bilbao. Koeman had taken over the former Champions League club at 4th place and subsequently drove them to 16th place, two points atop the Relegation Zone.
He went from stud keeper to training buddy under Ronald Koeman and now it looks as if Santiago Canizares has walked out of Valencia.
Loyalty, whether from the player side to the club or the President to his coach, always has an extremely short time line.
I’m gonna go with the 38 year old Canizares to Bayern Munich. Mark it.
image via SkySports
With newly elected Valencia president Augustin Morera in the stands for Valencia’s 5-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao just days after winning the Copa Del Rey, common sense was finally administered and Dutchman Ronald Koeman was given his walking papers.
After taking over a Valencia squad that was 4th place in La Liga at the time, Koeman leaves the team in tatters as the sit in 16th place and two points atop the Relegation three.
Imagine how Canizares, Albelda and Angulo are feeling right about now?
image via Sport1
Ronald Koeman’s side has salvaged just a little bit of pride from a hugely disappointing season by taking the Copa Del Rey through a 3-1 win over Getafe at the Caulderon in Madrid.
What a heartbreaking week for Getafe, suffering a heartbreaking loss in the UEFA Cup on away goals to Bayern Munich and then losing the Final.
Although they had plenty of chances to put the game out of reach, Valencia’s come from behind win against Real Madrid has knocked the Madrista’s down to only a 4 point lead in La Liga.
ps- Marchena got knocked the uck out!!!
In what could have saved Ronald Koeman’s job for another day, Valencia beat Barcelona 3-2 at the Mestalla to advance to the Copa del Rey Final. Many people have been saying that koeman’s job is on the line and that it is only a matter of time before he gets the can. I have a feeling this is bound to happen at some point. Which is fine with me. I have never been overly impressed with Koeman as a manager. Although as a player he used to whack the hell out of the ball from set pieces.
On a side note, our boy Mat just returned from Spain where he saw Barca beat Celtic in the Champions League at the Nou Camp and he also went to the Mestalla to take in a game. Coincidence? Maybe…either way, keep an eye out for some pictures we will be posting soon from Mat’s trip the Espana.
I know he has denied speculation about this, but anyone think Jose Mourinho might end up taking over at the Mestalla when Koeman gets the ax?
Does this look like a man who has serious health issues? Valencia President Juan Soler announced his resignation to board members on Wednesday citing health reasons.
Maybe it was due more to the state of the team and the shocker they’ve been having this season.
There you go Albeda. Have fun Mr. Koeman and I’ll just say goodbye now, rather than at the end of the year.
image via TheOffside
