Title not yet won, warns Real Madrid coach
Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello sounded a note of caution on Monday, saying in a newspaper interview that the club still has not won the Spanish title despite leading the table with just one match to go.
Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello sounded a note of caution on Monday, saying in a newspaper interview that the club still has not won the Spanish title despite leading the table with just one match to go.
"You don't have a title until you win it. We must not let down our guard," he told sports daily AS.
Real Madrid only have to beat Real Mallorca on June 17 to win La Liga for a record 30th time after the Spanish giants grabbed a 2-2 draw at Real Zaragoza on Saturday with two goals by Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"We fought until the last minute," said Capello.
Tickets for the match against Mallorca at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, which has a capacity of around 80,000, are sold out, the club said.
"The Santiago Bernabeu stadium will be packed for the final League match against Mallorca," it said in a statement on its Internet site.
Hundreds of Real fans gathered in central Madrid on Saturday after the club moved closer to clinching the title with their draw. Tens of thousands are expected at outdoor festivities if the club wins another trophy.
Spanish media have reported several times this season that the Italian coach, who is under contract with Real until 2009, was either quiting or being fired from the club but Capello said he intends to stay on at the team.
"That is something that the president decides, not me. I have a contract and I have always said I want to carry it out," he said.
Capello said he would like to see former England captain David Beckham, who is moving to US side LA Galaxy at the end of this month, stay on at the club.
"Regarding Beckham we were all mistaken. If the club told me that Beckham was staying, I would be happy," he said.
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said on Sunday that the club were going to try to keep Beckham, whom Capello sidelined for three weeks at the beginning of the year after the former England captain announced his transfer.
Recalled on February 9, Beckham has contributed hugely to the team's excellent finish to the season with the club ideally situated to win the Spanish title.