Managing Madrid

UPDATE, 2:28 p.m.: Mou's starting lineup announced: (4-2-3-1) Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Carvalho, Marcelo; Lass, Xabi Alonso; Cristiano Ronaldo, Canales, Di María; Higuaín.
A por ellos!


Sergio Canales, the superstar-in-making, will continue his absolutely meteoric rise in two hours when he takes the field as part of Real Madrid's "The Mou Team's" starting 11. Sergio's absurdly fast ascension--from sitting on the bench for Racing last season to starting the first game of 2010-11 in Madrid White--looks startlingly like another young player, who happens to be starting for Barça this afternoon. Yeah, Canales-Messi comparisons are a bit extremely premature--but keep them in mind for the future.

Another bit of news from Mallorca is that Mou has decided to sit Mesut Özil in favor of the young argentine Angel di Maria, who wowed the Bernabéu (and the Special One) in the Trofeo Santiago Bernabeu. (Coming soon: average-age comparisons between 2010-11 Real Madrid and the 2008-2010 versions).

Finally, and most importantly, the new Official Real Madrid Pyjamas are now on sale. Grab these while they're hot people--trust me.