MADRID
Jose Mourinho accused
Real Madrid of lacking fight and looking unhappy against Barcelona on
Saturday, just as the pressure cranked up on coach Santiago Solari after
a second successive Clasico defeat.
Real Madrid of lacking fight and looking unhappy against Barcelona on
Saturday, just as the pressure cranked up on coach Santiago Solari after
a second successive Clasico defeat.
Mourinho has been
among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Solari, as Madrid
have been knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and, realistically, La
Liga’s title race within four days.
among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Solari, as Madrid
have been knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and, realistically, La
Liga’s title race within four days.
The fact that both losses came at the hands of Barca, and at the Santiago Bernabeu, compounds the misery.
After
losing 3-0 in the cup on Wednesday, Madrid were inferior again in the
rematch, as Ivan Rakitic’s delightful chip earned Barcelona a 1-0 win.
losing 3-0 in the cup on Wednesday, Madrid were inferior again in the
rematch, as Ivan Rakitic’s delightful chip earned Barcelona a 1-0 win.
“I
think it was not a happy performance,” Mourinho said as a pundit for
bEIN Sports. “It was not the performance of a happy team, of a team with
great belief and self-esteem.
think it was not a happy performance,” Mourinho said as a pundit for
bEIN Sports. “It was not the performance of a happy team, of a team with
great belief and self-esteem.
“Clearly they are now in a zone after a few bad results,
especially after the cup match, where they are in a low. They couldn’t
bring to the game what I used to call the temperature of the big
matches. They were passive.
especially after the cup match, where they are in a low. They couldn’t
bring to the game what I used to call the temperature of the big
matches. They were passive.
“I cannot speak about a bad
performance, it is just a soft performance. Sometimes you play like
this against medium teams and in the end, you get a positive result, but
against the top teams you have to do a lot more than this if you want
to win.”
performance, it is just a soft performance. Sometimes you play like
this against medium teams and in the end, you get a positive result, but
against the top teams you have to do a lot more than this if you want
to win.”
Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon has claimed Mourinho will take over in the summer.
“I’m
pretty sure he has general information about the club of his passion,”
Mourinho said. “But he knows more than me because I know absolutely
nothing about it at all.”
pretty sure he has general information about the club of his passion,”
Mourinho said. “But he knows more than me because I know absolutely
nothing about it at all.”
Mourinho also said it was
“very flattering” to hear Spanish Football Federation president Javier
Tebas saying last month La Liga missed coaches like him and Pep
Guardiola.
“very flattering” to hear Spanish Football Federation president Javier
Tebas saying last month La Liga missed coaches like him and Pep
Guardiola.
Many will see Mourinho’s comments as conveniently timed given Solari now appears particularly vulnerable.
When
Solari took charge in November, Madrid were seven points behind
Barcelona but that gap now stands at 12. They have also lost three
consecutive games at home for the first time in 15 years.
Solari took charge in November, Madrid were seven points behind
Barcelona but that gap now stands at 12. They have also lost three
consecutive games at home for the first time in 15 years.
“Football
is about being clinical and they were much more clinical,” said captain
Sergio Ramos. “It is true with the consistency Barca are showing, they
have increased the gap on us again and taken another important step
towards winning the league.”
is about being clinical and they were much more clinical,” said captain
Sergio Ramos. “It is true with the consistency Barca are showing, they
have increased the gap on us again and taken another important step
towards winning the league.”
Madrid’s season, and
perhaps Solari’s future, will again depend on them winning the Champions
League. They carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg at home to Ajax on
Tuesday.
perhaps Solari’s future, will again depend on them winning the Champions
League. They carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg at home to Ajax on
Tuesday.
“We need the league for fitness and rhythm so
we must continue working and keep winning games,” Ramos said. “We have
another final in the Champions League on Tuesday and we will fight for
it. In the league we will try to reduce the gap.”
we must continue working and keep winning games,” Ramos said. “We have
another final in the Champions League on Tuesday and we will fight for
it. In the league we will try to reduce the gap.”