Luxemburgo begins new Real regime with extra training

Vanderlei Luxemburgo has begun his new job as Real Madrid coach by introducing twice-daily sessions for the players following the short winter break.

Players will train in the morning, have lunch together and then remain at the club's base in Las Rozas on the outskirts of Madrid until they take part in an afternoon session.

Former coach Jose Antonio Camacho, who quit after three league games at the start of the season, had asked for a similar regime to be introduced but his request was refused by the club.

Midfielder David Beckham arrived 45 minutes late for the team's first session on Sunday owing to problems with the private jet that was due to take him back to Madrid after seeing in the New Year in England.

Real return to action tomorrow when they play the remaining seven minutes of their league match against Real Sociedad after the fixture was abandoned shortly before the final whistle because of a bomb scare at the Bernabeu with the score at 1-1.

They then face city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Calderon on Sunday.

Atletico's Uruguayan midfielder Marcelo Sosa began the build-up to the local derby with some controversial comments about Beckham.

"There are 10,000 players better than him," Sosa told sports daily Marca.

"All that happens is that he appears in the press and fashion magazines. He is only at Real because of marketing, but as a player he doesn't worry me at all."

Real Madrid full-back Michel Salgado was dismissive of Sosa's opinions.

"The best thing to do is to ignore him," he said. "He hasn't been here long enough to show such a lack of respect for others. I don't understand what he's trying to say."