ONE. Madrid held their last training session of the week on Friday, still without their international players, who won’t be back until the middle of next week.  This time around, the team trained with Castilla.  With regards to the previous session, the difference was that Pipita and Gago trained indoors with Cris and Kaká, while Adán, Dudek, Granero, Peter Lion, Lass and Adebayor were outside.  Alberto Toril was in charge of them, although Mou was around observing – I guess he can’t completely give up power!

TWO. After the session, there was another player press conference, which means we’ve had more this week than we’ve had in like the last month!  That was great, but was what even better was that Lass gave his press conference in Spanish, without a translator by his side, for the first time.  During the press conference, he told the journalists that he understands more and better than he speaks, but “I’ve been here two years and it’s normal that I would try and speak Spanish.  I understand what others say to me and I say what I can.”

Lass also said he would have no problems giving up his number “10” so that Ozi can wear it next season.  He also revealed that he feels “better” here and more integrated: “I don’t have any problems with anyone.  I’m happy here.  I want to help my team to win things and I’ve very good here.”

THREE. The first team has the weekend off, while Castilla beat Leganés on Sunday at the Di Stéfano.  The 2-1 victory (Juanfran and Joselu) pushes Castilla into second place in their group!  This is their 11th victory in 12 games (the other was a tie).

FOUR. Meanwhile, Marcelo abandoned Brazil’s training session on Friday after colliding with one of his teammates and feeling pain in his back and ribs.  The pobrecito left the session crying.  He was examined on Saturday, and the team’s doctor ruled out any serious injury, but Marcelo won’t play in Brazil’s friendly against Scotland today.  What a blow for Marcelo – literally and figuratively – because he was set to start the game.  Oh well, this is good news for Madrid, if not for him.

FIVE. Returning to Madrid early are the two Germans, as their national team coach believes they’ve played too many games and so released them from the upcoming friendly between Germany and Australia on Tuesday.  Once again, good news for Madrid.  Ozi assisted in two goals and Khedira in one as both played 90 minutes in Germany’s 4-0 win against Kazakhstan in Euro qualifying on Friday.

Other international results: Spain 2-1 Czech Republic (Euro qualifier); U.S. 1-1 Argentina (friendly); Portugal 1-1 Chile (friendly); France 2-0 Luxembourg (Euro qualifier).  I’m liking France’s new tight shirts!

SIX. And congratulations are in order for Juvenil A, who won their group (five) in the Division of Honor after beating Atlético de Madrid (seems to be a theme, no?) 1-2 in a comeback with goals from Aguza and Jesé.

This is the first title for the cantera this season, and MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín was there to watch his former team play.  Congrats to Juvenil A, especially their assistant coach, Rubén de la Red!

Why is the only thing sort of in focus in this picture tweeted by Derik Osede Rubén’s thumbs-up?  In the tweet, Derik said, with my second míster, Rubén de la Red, how great he is!  Hala Madrid!

SEVEN. And MFC tweeted this cute little photo of himself.  I’m not a big fan of the jeans, although with them, he fits right in with the first team, no?

EIGHT. And it seems like German journalists still aren’t tired of asking Madrid’s two German players if the two of them spend a lot of time together.  Sami Khedira told Sport1 that “we spend quite a lot of time together and we enjoy each other’s company, but when we’re on the field, we’re 100 percent concentrated on the game.  Özil brings to the table the joy of playing and the will to win.  For how much he’s shone in the last few months, he can be considered a world-class player.”