Mourinho answers his critics
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2011, Friday
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REAL Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has answered his critics in the best possible way by adding an 18th Copa del Rey to the club's trophy cabinet and ending a two-year silverware drought on his debut season.
Mourinho was criticized for his defensive tactics in Saturday's 1-1 league draw against Barcelona. Madrid honorary president Aldfredo Di Stefano and Johan Cruyff publicly hit out at the Portuguese, with Cruyff saying Mourinho only worked for titles and wasn't a "football coach."
"Winning titles is winning titles, it's always good. Only a few days ago someone called me a coach who wins titles and not football," Mourinho said. "Thank you. I like being a coach who wins titles."
Mourinho had said that Di Stefano's remarks were respected but that he was the coach and he would decide how the team would play.
He did and it worked.
"People can say what they want but I am the coach and I decide how we play," Mourinho said.
"Working as a coach is hard as there are a lot of things at play," he added. "I try to create the best possible situation for my players."
Mourinho's plan to play without a natural striker, with Cristiano Ronaldo filling the role, and use constant upfield pressure forced Barcelona off its usual short passing game. The Spanish champion uncharacteristically gave away possession and even resorted to sending long balls forward in attack.
"They played similar to Saturday's draw," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. "They changed players but the concept was pretty much the same as the Bernabeu."
Madrid was unlucky not to be ahead before Ronaldo headed Angel Di Maria's 103rd-minute cross into goal to win the Copa.
"This is such an important goal for Madrid," the Portugal forward said. "It's one to remember."
As expected, Mourinho delivered again, ending a three-year silverware drought for the Spanish giant.
"The title isn't just mine, it's everyone's. After so long without the Copa del Rey, it's nice," Mourinho said. "This has nothing to do with titles, this has to do with changing the structure of how the club works, the mentality of people."
With Real eight points behind Barcelona in the league, Mourinho will turn his attention to a two-legged Champions League series with Barcelona that caps four games between the rivals in 18 days.
Mourinho has a chance to deny Guardiola a second straight trip to the European final after doing so last year with Inter Milan, as Barcelona failed with a trophy on the line for the first time under Guardiola.
Captain Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were effusive in their praise for Mourinho, who joined Real after leading Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble of Italian league and cup and Champions League last season. "He is a phenomenon," Casillas said.
"He is the captain of the ship and with his philosophy he tries to instill values in us that have served us extremely well," added defender Ramos.
Mourinho was criticized for his defensive tactics in Saturday's 1-1 league draw against Barcelona. Madrid honorary president Aldfredo Di Stefano and Johan Cruyff publicly hit out at the Portuguese, with Cruyff saying Mourinho only worked for titles and wasn't a "football coach."
"Winning titles is winning titles, it's always good. Only a few days ago someone called me a coach who wins titles and not football," Mourinho said. "Thank you. I like being a coach who wins titles."
Mourinho had said that Di Stefano's remarks were respected but that he was the coach and he would decide how the team would play.
He did and it worked.
"People can say what they want but I am the coach and I decide how we play," Mourinho said.
"Working as a coach is hard as there are a lot of things at play," he added. "I try to create the best possible situation for my players."
Mourinho's plan to play without a natural striker, with Cristiano Ronaldo filling the role, and use constant upfield pressure forced Barcelona off its usual short passing game. The Spanish champion uncharacteristically gave away possession and even resorted to sending long balls forward in attack.
"They played similar to Saturday's draw," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. "They changed players but the concept was pretty much the same as the Bernabeu."
Madrid was unlucky not to be ahead before Ronaldo headed Angel Di Maria's 103rd-minute cross into goal to win the Copa.
"This is such an important goal for Madrid," the Portugal forward said. "It's one to remember."
As expected, Mourinho delivered again, ending a three-year silverware drought for the Spanish giant.
"The title isn't just mine, it's everyone's. After so long without the Copa del Rey, it's nice," Mourinho said. "This has nothing to do with titles, this has to do with changing the structure of how the club works, the mentality of people."
With Real eight points behind Barcelona in the league, Mourinho will turn his attention to a two-legged Champions League series with Barcelona that caps four games between the rivals in 18 days.
Mourinho has a chance to deny Guardiola a second straight trip to the European final after doing so last year with Inter Milan, as Barcelona failed with a trophy on the line for the first time under Guardiola.
Captain Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were effusive in their praise for Mourinho, who joined Real after leading Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble of Italian league and cup and Champions League last season. "He is a phenomenon," Casillas said.
"He is the captain of the ship and with his philosophy he tries to instill values in us that have served us extremely well," added defender Ramos.
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