Poor Sergio C. looked like climbing the slope was a bit of a struggle for him.  Xabi Alonso, on the other hand, was able to walk, talk and text at the same time.  And look his usual fantastic self, of course.

We’re all set to take on the Yellow Submarine tonight at 19h!  The call-up for the game is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Adán, Pacheco.

Defenders: Albiol, Marcelo, Carvalho, Sergio Ramos, Garay.

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Gago, Lass, Granero, Özil, Di María, Kaká, Canales, Pedro León.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema.

Only one canterano made this list, Fernando Pacheco.  Pepe, Higuaín and Dudek are injured; Arbeloa is sanctioned; and it was the coach’s decision to leave Diarra and Mateos off the list.

Mou revealed later on during his press conference that the starting line-up would consist of: Iker; Sergio, Carvalho, Albiol, Marcelo; Lass, Xabi, Özil, Di María; Cristiano, Benzema.

Also touched upon during the press conference:

– Kaká will play whether we’re losing, tied or winning.  If we’re losing or tied, he has to come in because he’s the only attacking option that we have on the bench.  And if things are going well and the game is under control, he’ll play to get back into game shape and so that a teammate can rest.

– I like Granero more and more with each day.

– the response to the club not signing anyone in this winter transfer market is to work harder, to prepare training sessions and games as best as I can.  To arrive early and leave late.  We have to be professional and I’m a great professional.

– I don’t regret putting Pepe in the game against Levante because he could have also gotten injured at home or during the training session.

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Higuaín left for Chicago yesterday from Barajas with his parents, who in the end were able to obtain visas in time, and Carlos Díez, head of Sanitas-Madrid’s medical services team.  Pipita spoke to the press at the airport, saying that he’s very thankful for all the support he’s received from his teammates and the club (“FP and JV have helped me from the first moment”), and that he has a lot of desire to return to playing football and will try to return as quickly as possible because he knows the team needs him.  Pipita also revealed that there’s no exact date for his return, and asked for patience.

The group will meet today with Dr. Richard Fessler, who will perform the operation.  They’ll stay in Chicago until Jan. 18.

Pipita also showed off a new quilted jacket, this one in red!  He left Madrid wearing black and appeared in Chicago wearing red, since it was considerably colder in the U.S. than in Spain.

And congratulations to Rubén de la Red, who made his debut as a coach yesterday, helping lead – as assistant coach – the Juvenil A team to a 6-0 win over Flecha Negra.  Rubén also played more than 50 minutes in a charity football game organized by the Dedines Association in Getafe yesterday.