Today is the day that the Real Madrid squad arrive in Los Angeles. Eighteen whites players have made the trip but that number will rise in the coming days when the internationals who were playing in South Africa, as well as Sergio Canales - now participating in the U19 European Championships with Spain - will be joining them as well.

Big brownie points go to the Portuguese contingent, who as it stands are the front-runners in the race to become teacher's pet(s) this term with their compatriot and coach Jose Mourinho. Cristiano Ronaldo has traveled with the team, after cutting his holidays short to make sure he does not miss a minute of the second stage of the preseason. Centre-back Pepe also joined the side ahead of schedule and judging by the images of him in training at Valdebebas in Monday's session, his cruciate knee ligament injury of last season is now well and truly behind him.

After a rest this evening, the most grueling part of the preseason begins tomorrow (Thursday) for the team. Their twice daily training sessions will be carried out at the UCLA Campus. And before any of you haters out there joke that it's the closest these boys have ever been to a university campus, hold it right there. Midfielder and Real Madrid youth product Esteban Granero is studying Psychology at a Madrid university, don't you know?!

The games the boys will play during their time in the States are as follows:

4th August: Club America v Real Madrid, Candlestick Park, San Francisco

7th August: LA Galaxy v Real Madrid, Rose Bowl, Los Angeles

The team will be staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard and for the first time in years, the Spanish media are not staying with them. Yep, the The Mourinho effect is already starting to take...well, effect! Having discovered just a few weeks ago that only one journalist from the Spanish version of Real Madrid TV would be going this year, the fact that I am not missing out on staying in such a stunning hotel has marginally softened the blow. Marginally.

Staying in the team hotel is always a lovely experience because as you can imagine, it's usually a five-star establishment, but then again, it also has its cons. First of all, it is not uncommon for die-hard Madrid fans to stand outside the hotel all night screaming the players' names. Yes, you may be wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets in one of the biggest beds you've ever been in in your life, but being kept up all night by the fans' chants, means ironically you often can't get to sleep!

Another upside to not staying in the team hotel is you never have to worry about who you may bump into in the lift (that's an elevator to you Americans readers) or the corridors. The fact that journos only have to report on the double training sessions and not participate in them, means that we are able to enjoy the nightlife a little more than the players can in the cities we travel to. But it is important to know your limits when it comes to sampling the local bars. No-one wants to be experiencing the 'spinning-room sensation' back at the hotel in the presence of the Special One. Team hotel = Consummate professionalism.

And now more on Mou - who instigated this preseason trip to the States. In past seasons, the team have carried out this stage of their pre-campaign preparations in Austria and Ireland, but the new coach is a fan of the facilities and hospitality on offer in LA and took both Chelsea and Inter Milan there during his time as coach at both teams.

Yep, it's his way or the highway.

According to Spanish sports daily Marca, these are his 5 commandments:

1. You arrive late for training, you train alone.

2. Pre-match: If you're late, he will not wait....nor will the team bus.

3. Training sessions will last 90 minutes and will be very intense.

4. Injured players must arrive at Valdebebas an hour before training so that the club's medical staff can determine whether they are fit to play ot not.

5. All mobile phones must be on silent, he doesn't mind the players having them, but he doesn't want any ringtones.

So, sadly I won't be able to confirm whether or not Iker Casillas has BFF Alejandro Sanz's latest offering blasting out from his Blackberry! That's quite a funny point actually. What ringtones do you think the Real Madrid players would have if we could hear them?

Okay what else you need to know? Ah yes. With famous Real Madrid youth-products Raul and Guti now gone, the fans are eager to know about the new talent coming through the ranks. Well, Mourinho has called on five of the Cantera (youth academy) to make the trip, so here's a little more on who they are and what you can expect from them.

Marcos Tebar - This box-to-box midfielder, who can also play as a centre-back, could be looking to use this trip to take the next step in his career. After climbing his way through the ranks at Real Madrid's youth academy, the 23-year-old was awarded some first team football in the final game of the 2008/2009 season, after an impressive season with Real Madrid Castilla (the second team). He spent half of last season on loan to second division side Girona and will no doubt be using his time in America to try and prove his worth to the coach.

Alex Fernandez - Definitely one to watch. You won't miss him thanks to his healthy head of red hair. The fact that just last season Alex was playing with the U18s and is now on the preseason tour with the first team tells you a lot. Alex is an attack-minded midfielder who can also play just behind the front two. He enjoyed an excellent but lengthy campaign with Real Madrid's U19's, which they finished with a league title and the Champions Cup, and he has more than earned his spot in the squad that are now Stateside.

Nacho Fernandez - Alex's older brother Nacho is a central defender whose talent and versatility meant that he was used across the whole of the backline for Castilla last season. Good with both feet and great in the air, it's no surprise that the stopper broke into the second team last season. At just 20-years-old, Nacho played a key role in their campaign and was a rock in defence.

Juanfran - This prospect came on in the closing minutes of Real Madrid's must-win game against Osasuna at the Bernabeu last season and remained calm and comfortable on the ball as the whites looked for and got a late winner to keep them in the title race. The right winger is comfortable on either flank and was Castilla's best player last season. This goal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4CdDKvkm7Q goes a long way to explaining why.

Alvaro Morata - The baby of the group won his place on the plane to LA after impressing Mourinho over the last fortnight at Valdebebas, where the youngsters were called upon to make up the numbers during the sessions. The 17-year-old striker scored the only goal of the game in the preseason friendly match between Real Madrid (who he was playing for) and Real Madrid Castilla. It was the teenager's silky skills and maturity that caught the attention of the main man.

Other things you may wish to know.....

Nobody will have a better tan than Cristiano Ronaldo, nobody. But if you live in the area and get the chance to go and see him train, do it. It is totally worth it and almost as entertaining as watching him play an actual match. The man is a machine and to witness his strength, pace and power at close range is incredible.

Marcelo will be the one making everyone laugh.

Ezequiel Garay may look a little lost until his partner in crime Gonzalo Higuain comes back.

And though you may find this hard to believe, Twinkies, pancakes and hamburgers are not part of the preseason menu for the boys.

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Kay Murray is a correspondent with Real Madrid TV. You can reach her at: kay@beyondthepitch.net