Sergio Canales in a Real Madrid shirt; Jose Antonio Reyes for Spain?

A couple of things that caught my attention this week. First was seeing Sergio Canales appear on television wearing a Real Madrid shirt. Probably not the wisest thing he's ever done, especially as he is still running out as a Racing Santander player. What kind of message does that send out to those who turn up week in week out to watch Racing? How does it make his teammates feel as they hover five points above the relegation zone? Canales is arguably Racings best player, but is his heart still in Santander? He is still incredibly young, and has obviously fallen victim to Marcas complete disregard for any football club outside the Bernabeu, but if I were Miguel Angel Portugal I would be tempted to drop the youngster in favour of someone who has his head and heart in the Sardinero. It's unlikely to happen, but the fall-out from this two-part interview, in which he was forced to admitted he believed Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi, could see those fans that adored him only weeks ago turn against the teen sensation. His father had better keep a tighter rein in the future.

My fellow blogger 'GaryMadrid'  from 'MadridAtleticos' made an interesting point under my last article about Jose Antonio Reyes' credentials for the World Cup this summer. As did 'SoccerPower' in favour of Barcelonas Pedro. Two classy players but will either really be on that plane to South Africa? Personally I'd like to see both make that trip, but the harsh reality is that neither are likely to be taken along. Reyes is arguably La Ligas most in-form player right now, as he leads Atléticos charge into the latter part of the season, but you have to think it's a little too late for a push for a World Cup position. But if he were to play a huge role in an Atlético cup double and helped lift them into the UEFA spots in La Liga, would Del Bosque be able to ignore him? As for Pedro, we all know that the lad from Tenerife has a huge future ahead of him, but is he ready for a World Cup squad? He is most certainly capable, and have no doubt he would bring a lot to the table, but he is yet to feature in a Spain squad, let alone in a match. I was also astonished to find out he only has two under-21 caps to his name. Experience may count against him as Vicente makes those finishing touches to the most envied squad in world football.

Atletico Madrid on the charge

Say it quietly, but Atlético Madrid could well be a force to be reckoned with as we enter the business end of the season, and it might even yield a trophy or two. The last few weeks (let's pretend that miserable defeat to Almeria never happened) have seen the men from the Vicente Calderon sweep aside one of the finest Barcelona sides La Liga has ever seen; leave the footballing equivalent of hell with a stunning win that has them among the favourites for the UEFA Europa League; and they have just thrashed a Valencia team that have been the best of the rest as Real Madrid and Barca negotiate their own personal battle at the top.

Much credit has to go to Quique Sanchez Flores, who inherited an absolute mess, but has turned it around in only four months. He has instilled confidence into a squad that was on its knees, through sheer hard work on the training pitch and if Marca is to be believed, through borrowing some famous words by Al Pacino in 'Any Given Sunday'. The victory against Barcelona could easily have been put down to the famous Jekyl and Hyde nature of this enigmatic football club, but the manner in which they knocked out Galatasaray in the fearsome Ali Yemi Sen Stadium, and then systematically dismantled a rejuvenated Valencia (it could so easily have been 7 or 8 that day), shows that Atlético mean business.

Jose Antonio Reyes has also been instrumental in this upsurge (again this has to be down to Quique who nurtured Reyes back to form at Benfica last year), with some sparkling performances on the wing, which has helped Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero to finally rediscover their midas touch infront of goal. Winter signing Tiago has been a revelation in the middle of the park, which has also taken some pressure off Raul Garcia and Assuncao. Bar the odd mishap, Perea and Tomas Ujfalusi might just be getting the knack of defending at the highest level, and David De Gea is beginning to prove he could well be the succesor to Iker Casillas' throne. Quique has grumbled about his sides fixture congestion, but it might well be that 17 matches in only two months has galvanised his team; they've simply had nowhere to hide and have come out fighting.

They look more solid as a unit, and whilst we all knew what Forlan, Agüero, Jurado, Reyes and Simao were capable of, they are finally beginning to gel, as nine goals in their last four matches would suggest. Atlético still need to eradicate silly laps of concentration at the back and to motivate themselves for all matches and not just those against champagne opposition. But if they manage to ride this wave of good form into May, they can look forward to the Copa del Rey final, the Europe League run-in and a push for the UEFA spots in La Liga with renewed optimism. They could win or they could lose: but will they win or lose like men? Only time will tell.

Jose Antonio Reyes Photo

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