News about Aitor Karanka

INTTERVIEW BY PETE JENSON: When asked about the psychological demands of playing for Real Madrid, Aitor Karanka says, "nothing adds more pressure than a quiet Bernabeu." It's not something Jude Bellingham hasn't encountered; he has had them in raptures, singing 'Hey Jude' and mimicking his arms spreads the world goal celebration. The England midfielder's first Clasico is tomorrow at Barcelona's temporary 'Olympic Stadium' home; it's something else Karanka knows well. He spent five years with Real Madrid, winning three Champions Leagues, and started with a debut against Barcelona. When he became Jose Mourinho's assistant at the club in 2010, there were still plenty more Clasicos. He knows the match, and he knows Bellingham too: 'Unfortunately, I missed out on his teaching him by a matter of two weeks,' he says of his arrival in Birmingham City in July 2020.

Chaos descended on the European showpiece in May between the Premier League and Real Madrid, which Carlo Ancelotti's team defeated them 1-0 (left) due to a goal from Vinicius Junior. The match was postponed due to ticketing problems, and many English fans were unable to attend the Paris stadium (right). There were several cases of French police officers treating supporters with intensely heavy-handed measures, including tear gas. Pep Lijnders (inset) apologies that some players were in tears before the match began due to their fans' treatment. A UEFA research described allegations that it had influenced actors as "a moot point."