Last season ended with Real Madrid clinching its long awaited tenth Champions League trophy in Lisbon. Its new campaign begins with the International Champions Cup, and a chance for Los Blancos fans to see their side in action against Italian challengers AS Roma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on July 29.
Everyone at Madrid is looking forward to the new season with a lot of excitement. The memory of last May's dramatic 'Decima' victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid remains strong. Now club figures and media pundits have already begun to discuss how the new 2014-15 campaign offers a chance for the team to go even further and win an historic six major national and international trophies.
Last year's successful season began with a victory in the 2013 International Champions Cup in the US -- when then new coach Carlo Ancelotti used the exhibition games as preparation for the upcoming season. Superstar attacker Cristiano Ronaldo was topscorer at the tournament, and named its MVP as Madrid overcame Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS, then Premier League outfit Everton, and finally a Chelsea side lead by its former coach Jose Mourinho in the final.
Ancelotti used last year's tournament to get his players physically and tactically ready for their Spanish and European campaigns, and utilised all his big stars through the three games. This year they should all be present again - including Ballon D'Or winner Ronaldo, 100 million euro winger Gareth Bale and 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira.
This summer's matches will also likely to be the first chance for Madrid fans anywhere to see the club's new big money signings in action. Khedira's Germany teammate Toni Kroos, one of the standout performers at World Cup 2014, is widely expected to join any day now. Colombia's talented youngster James Rodriguez, winner of the Brazil tournament's Golden Boot for top-scorer, could also be in the travelling party. Costa Rica's impressive goalkeeper Keylor Navas is another rumoured to be close to signing for the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu club.
The current squad began pre-season training in the Spanish capital on July 14, with coach Carlo Ancelotti now having former Madrid playing hero Fernando Hierro as his new assistant. Stars who did not feature at this summer's World Cup, including Bale, Isco and Alvaro Morata were present. Others who did play in Brazil - such as Spain internationals Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, Portugal's Ronaldo and Pepe, France's Karim Benzema, Brazil's Marcelo and Argentina's unlucky World Cup runner-up Angel Di Maria should also be on the plane when the squad departs for the US on July 21.
Madrid face a stiff challenge - having been drawn in Group A along with two Italian giants in Inter Milan and Roma, as well as English superclub Manchester United. Strong performances in all three games are necessary - as only the winners of the group progress to the competition's final. There will await the victor of Group A, which contains Premier League champions Manchester City, fellow English title challengers Liverpool, Greek league holders Olympiacos and Italian legends AC Milan.
Roma should have its own stars on show in Dallas - including Italian national team veterans and 2006 World Cup winners Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi. A squad packed with interesting attacking options also includes Bosnian playmaker Miralem Pjanic, Serbian wideman Adem Ljajic and Brazil full-back Maicon. England's Ashley Cole, who has joined this summer on a free transfer from Chelsea, will be eager to impress - and will likely be up against former Tottenham man Bale down their wing.
Madrid take its preseason games pretty seriously - last summer's clashes with LA Galaxy and Chelsea were particularly hard-fought affairs, with Ronaldo starring in the 3-1 final win against Chelsea in Miami in front of nearly 70,000 fans. The 2013 Ballon D'Or [World Player of the Year] and his teammates will be keen to repeat that victory, and once again get their new campaign off to a winning start.
The Bernabeu side also has its European Super Cup meeting with La Liga rivals and Europa League holders Sevilla to prepare for. That August 12 date is particularly important for Wales captain Bale, as the game is being played in his home city of Cardiff. The Spanish Supercopa against still smarting local neighbors Atletico follows soon afterwards. Ancelotti's side will also be battling to regain the La Liga title, and retain its Champions League crown. December's World Club Cup in Morocco is also on the horizon.
For Ancelotti, Hierro, Ronaldo, Bale, Ramos and company the preparation for all that starts against Roma in Dallas on July 29. Live on FOX.
