Bernabeu Bites, 9-16-13: Yellow Submarined

• The one and only Sid Lowe delivers his take on Cristiano Ronaldo's contract extension for the Guardian.  Excellent and insightful as always, here is just one reason why you should read the whole piece:

"Madrid have sought to make him feel important. Pérez's effusiveness here was based on Ronaldo's brilliance but also on the desire to make him feel supported, something which has not always been the case. It was a theme Ronaldo returned to often: "I feel the backing of the president, the players and the club," he repeated a number of times. That had taken work. Madrid have been keen to make him happy."

• Staying in Britain, the Independent ran an interesting piece on the immense expectations swirling around Gareth Bale and the important role that Carlo Ancelotti's assistant Paul Clement is expected to play in helping ease the Welshman's transition into life in the Spanish capitol.  Clement, an Englishmen, has been with Ancelotti since his Chelsea days and was thought to be instrumental in helping David Beckham settle in Paris last season.
• Shifting focus to Galatasaray, Didier Drogba believes that his side can feed off the intense fervor of their supporters to upset Los Blancos in Istanbul. The Ivorian legend told AS that he remembered "last year when the Madrid players were in shock. They all told me that our fans are crazy and I think the Galatasaray supporters are the best."
• Gala, however, will limp into this match on the back of some relatively poor league form, having drawn their last three Super League matches overall, according to Sports Mole's match preview. Both sides will certainly be familiar with each other having played this past spring.