Mourinho sticks to his post-match allegations
Despite being in Uefa’s bad books again, Mourinho is standing by the claims he made following Real’s defeat to Barcelona
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| Ronaldo is rested after scoring the goal that gave Real Madrid the 2011 Copa del Rey trophy [GALLO/GETTY] |
Following the attacking comments he directed at Barcelona, Uefa and even Unicef on Wednesday at the Bernabeu, Jose Mourinho has told the press he is standing by his post-match diatribe.
Uefa are set to hold a hearing about the conduct of Mourinho, Real Madrid and Barcelona during their Champions League semifinal. Mourinho has already been hit with a fine and a touchline ban of up to six matches by Uefa following his outburst after the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona.
Real ambition
But rather than putting Mourinho off the Spanish Primera Division, the latest scandal has made the Portuguese manager keener to remain at Real Madrid next season. It appears that Jose Mourinho’s love of drama shows no sign of waning anytime soon.
“I have more desire to continue as coach of Real Madrid,” Mourinho told a news conference ahead of the club’s La Liga match at home to Real Zaragoza on Saturday.
“The (Real) shirt is white and white has meaning,” the 48-year-old former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager added.
Mourinho reacted to the dismissal of Pepe in the Champions League semifinal first leg against their arch-rivals by implying that Uefa and their referees favoured Barcelona.
Mourinho said on Friday he did not want to add to the comments that prompted Uefa to open disciplinary proceedings against him.
“I don’t want to speak about the issue for a simple reason:a picture is worth more than words,” he said, referring to the thousands of published images of Pepe’s challenge on Daniel Alves that resulted in his sending-off.
“I have nothing else to say. I have said what I wanted.”
“Whoever criticises my words criticises the pictures and must think the photos are photoshopped and the videos are altered. I have absolutely nothing else left to say.”
That makes a change to Wednesday then.
Rest for Ronaldo
After the fiery night at the Bernabeu Jose Mourinho has decided to rest Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo for the La Liga match at home to Real Zaragoza.
Ronaldo was left out of the squad along with midfielders Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diarra. Midfielders Sami Khedira and Fernando Gago are still unavailable due to injury.
Ronaldo, whose 42nd goal in all competitions this season gave Real a dramatic 1-0 victory over Barca in last week’s Copa del Rey final, was visibly frustrated at his team’s defensive tactics in Wednesday’s European clash.
“I don’t like it, but I have to adapt because that’s the way it is.”
Asked about the remark at a news conference on Friday, Mourinho said Ronaldo was entitled to his opinion.
“He can say what he wants – that’s his opinion. It’s not a problem for me.”
Barcelona, who also face charges from Uefa, play at mid-table Real Sociedad on Saturday. They have an eight-point lead over Real at the top with five games left and are closing in on a third successive title.