The team have started preparations for the Spanish Super Cup

After winning the UEFA Super Cup in Skopie (Macedonia), the team returned to training at Real Madrid City as they prepare for the next challenge: The Spanish Super Cup. With the team focussed on Sunday's clash with Barcelona (10:00pm CEST), Zinedine Zidane led an intense session which saw Achraf and Luca from Castilla, train with the first team.

The players carried out an intense warm up before carrying out several possession and ball control exercises. The session ended with a game

 on a reduced size pitch.

Photo day for the squad

Thursday was photo day for FC Barcelona’s first team players. After training, Ernesto Valverde’s squad had their pictures snapped in a shoot organised by La Liga for us in coverage ahead of the coming campaign.
The players were photographed in both their home and away kits, close-ups of their faces and full-sized images, and playing around with footd the photo.balls. You can see it all in this behind the image.

Jose Mourinho sets out plan for Manchester United future

Jose Mourinho wants to create a new Manchester United to match the club's prestigious history

United lost the Super Cup to European Champions Real Madrid in Skopje on Tuesday but the Europa League winners will be back on the big Champions League Euro stage in September for the first time since December 2015 when Louis van Gaal's side were knocked out of the group stages.

"We have a giant on our chest, which is really heavy, but we don't compare our potential to the biggest clubs in Europe right now. We'll take it step by step and be humble.

"Because Manchester United is a real giant, it doesn't matter if the club is somewhat far away from that level for three, four, five or 10 years. It doesn't matter: the club will always be a giant.

"But our job is to try to bring the football club back to that stature. That's really difficult these days.

"Before, the giants were the powerful ones economically, and now there are small clubs in terms of prestige and history, who are giants economically. That changes absolutely everything."

Mournho, though, says he is going to be patient in his quest to ensure United's future on-field status mirrors the past glories.

"I want the team to be on a par with the club's history, which is something I've been lucky enough to feel at every club - there was the same kind of feeling at Inter and at Real Madrid," added the Reds boss.

"We are going to do that, step by step. Last season we won trophies. Playing against the European champions (in the Super Cup), it's like we're back at the theatre, back at that level. This is where we want to be.

"We'll improve the team and try to be at that level, to constantly be improving. And I think we're going to reach that level as a football team in the next couple of years."

Liverpool reject Barcelona Coutinho bid

Liverpool have rejected a second, improved bid of $A148 million from Barcelona for star man Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.

The Reds are said to have dismissed a STG90 million offer from the Catalan giants, who have money to burn after selling Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record figure last week.
Barca had already had a STG72 million ($A119 million) offer for the Brazilian turned down, with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp going on record to say his prize asset is not for sale.
Coutinho joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for STG8.5 million ($A14 million) in 2013 and signed a new five-year deal in January.
Despite struggling with an ankle injury last season, he still scored 14 goals and remains a key part of Klopp's squad for the campaign ahead.
Rumours of a possible move to Barcelona were heightened last week when Coutinho was left out of the Reds' squad for a pre-season trip to Bilbao.
But Klopp stressed the midfielder was merely suffering from a minor back injury which is also expected to rule him out of Saturday's Premier League opener at Watford.

Ander Herrera optimistic about Manchester United's near future despite UEFA Super Cup loss to Real Madrid

Ander Herrera believes Manchester United need to keep their loss against Real Madrid behind and look forward to the Premier League.

Ander Herrera knows Manchester United can ill afford to stew on their deserved UEFA Super Cup loss as they look to fight on all fronts this season

The Red Devils were outclassed at times by Real Madrid in sweltering Skopje on Tuesday night, with the manner of the 2-1 loss giving Jose Mourinho food for thought entering his second season at the helm.

The Portuguese midfielder’s first campaign ended with Europa League glory, bringing the welcome boon of Champions League qualification having already secured EFL Cup and Community Shield success.

It was, though, another disappointing Premier League campaign for United.

Herrera has not finished higher than fourth in his time at Old Trafford and, with the title in his sights, is desperate to hit the ground running against West Ham on Sunday.

“We have to accept Real deserve to be the winners,” the Spaniard said. “But we can take a lot of good things from this game.

“The Premier League starts on Sunday, there is no time to be upset, we want to be contenders for the title and we want to fight for every title this season.

“Last season, we won three trophies which is very good, but we didn’t fight for the Premier League.
“That’s our aim for this season and we have a very good squad. We are going to play in four competitions and we want to fight for all of them.

“In every position, we have two very good players, so I am optimistic for this season and let’s forget about tonight.

“I know it’s difficult because it’s a European trophy and that’s important for the club. “But now the Premier League, then the Champions League will come, the FA Cup and the League Cup. We don’t want to give away any competition.

“We are going to fight for all of them and we are going to improve.”

Herrera says United simply came up short against the “best team in the world” in Real Madrid – a philosophical stance that echoed his manager’s post-match thoughts.

Now, though, the attention is on the weekend visit of West Ham – a side bolstered by summer signings such as Marko Arnautovic, Joe Hart, Javier Hernandez and Pablo Zabaleta.

“We are ready and West Ham will be ready as well, because they have also played a pre-season and surely they are going to be fit as well,” Herrera told MUTV.

“But we are playing at Old Trafford in front of our fans and we want to win the first game of the season.

“We have to respect them because they have a very good team, they have signed very good players. “This season, I think the transfer window has gone good for them. They are going to be difficult to beat. Now is our chance to fight for the Premier League and we have to do it as well.”

Chelsea conflict:Antonio Conte is picking a fight with Roman Abramovich

Antonio Conte is picking impossible transfer targets for Chelsea

Stamford Bridge is a battlefield as Antonio Conte and Roman Abramovich continue to battle for control of Chelsea Football Club. The latest conflict between the two titans centres on the subject of Tottenham left back Danny Rose.

Reports from England claim the Blues’ boss has instructed club officials to make a massive offer for the English fullback. He isn’t fit at the moment, but conservative estimates believe he’ll be ready for Premier League action in September. Chelsea are willing to double his wages in an effort to convince him to leave Mauricio Pochettino behind.
On the surface, it seems like an innocent plan from Conte. Chelsea could certainly use an upgrade at left back and Rose is arguably the best player in the Premier League at that spot. The Blues are never afraid to flex their financial might and would love to weaken Tottenham in the process.
There’s more to this request than meets the eye though. Conte continues to be unhappy with Chelsea’s moves in the summer transfer window. The former Italy boss sees the support Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have received this summer and logically wonders why he isn’t getting the same backing. The disparity has caused tension to grow between Conte and Abramovich.

As the club’s owner, Abramovich continues to hold the power. However, Conte is desperately trying to chip away at his influence. Conte’s goal is to secure more power over the club’s transfer dealings. Ideally, he’d like to see Chelsea spend big to finish out the summer.

The only tool left at his disposal is to use public pressure to push Abramovich into more spending. Conte can’t do that by criticizing his boss to the media or fans. He’s already pushed his boss far enough on that front.
Instead, Conte continues to float impossible to sign transfer targets to the public to curry favour with Chelsea’s passionate fans. Rose is a perfect example. Tottenham have repeatedly told anyone who will listen that he won’t be sold this summer at any price. Conte can leak his “interest” in the player and gain fan sentiment when Chelsea are “unable” to consummate a deal. Each time this happens, public sympathy for Conte’s cause grows.

As long as the stories can’t be traced back to Conte, it’s a no-lose situation. Abramovich will continue to be portrayed as the owner who won’t back his Premier League title-winning manager to the hilt. That takes pressure of Conte to win more trophies this season in the eyes of the public.

On the other hand, Conte’s tactics could coax Abramovich to make another big signing or two. Chelsea unquestionably have the quality to win the league again, but the right addition or two could make them the favourites once again. Either way you slice it, Conte is the winner here.
Antonio Conte and Roman Abramovich may not be fighting in public, but they are wrestling for power behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fans must hope the conflict doesn’t cost the club one of the world’s best managers.

A fun training exercise with the whole group

A training game with a difference. FC Barcelona are preparing to return to official competition, but between physical and tactical exercises, there’s always time to have some fun.
As we can see in this picture, players from the first team must try to group together according to the number that is called out. Those that aren’t paying attention are handed a forfeit.