Mourinho says title race over as Real falters again
Source: AFP |
December 18, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WITH Real Madrid trailing La Liga leader Barcelona by 13 points, Jose Mourinho admitted on Sunday that the title race is over.
While Barcelona kept up its prolific form with its 15th win in 16 games by beating second-place Atletico Madrid 4-1, Mourinho's stuttering Real could only draw 2-2 against lowly Espanyol.
"The league is now impossible," said Mourinho. "It is the first time that I have been in a situation like this where my team are a long way off their objectives.
"Thirteen points is too big a gap to overcome but what we have to do is go out and play each game. We shouldn't be thinking about who is first, second or third.
"We have to be stronger. I don't want to make a drama out of it, I will treat it as another stage of my life.
"I have never dropped so many points before but we will try and finish the season as well as possible and fight for the titles which are available."
On Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for defending champion Madrid on the stroke of half-time after Sergio Garcia had put joint-bottom Espanyol ahead on the half hour mark.
Two minutes after the restart, Fabio Coentrao put Real in front but it was not enough as Juan Albin slotted home from close range two minutes from the end. "Cristiano played well but his teammates didn't," said Mourinho, whose side still have a chance of lifting the Champions League.
The pressure is firmly on Mourinho and it has been reported in the Spanish press that his criticism of players has created a rift in the dressing room.
"There is always talk like this but it doesn't influence in anyway. The team is fine, although we don't show the same happiness if we aren't winning.
"On another day we would have had three or four goals (against Espanyol)."
While Barcelona kept up its prolific form with its 15th win in 16 games by beating second-place Atletico Madrid 4-1, Mourinho's stuttering Real could only draw 2-2 against lowly Espanyol.
"The league is now impossible," said Mourinho. "It is the first time that I have been in a situation like this where my team are a long way off their objectives.
"Thirteen points is too big a gap to overcome but what we have to do is go out and play each game. We shouldn't be thinking about who is first, second or third.
"We have to be stronger. I don't want to make a drama out of it, I will treat it as another stage of my life.
"I have never dropped so many points before but we will try and finish the season as well as possible and fight for the titles which are available."
On Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for defending champion Madrid on the stroke of half-time after Sergio Garcia had put joint-bottom Espanyol ahead on the half hour mark.
Two minutes after the restart, Fabio Coentrao put Real in front but it was not enough as Juan Albin slotted home from close range two minutes from the end. "Cristiano played well but his teammates didn't," said Mourinho, whose side still have a chance of lifting the Champions League.
The pressure is firmly on Mourinho and it has been reported in the Spanish press that his criticism of players has created a rift in the dressing room.
"There is always talk like this but it doesn't influence in anyway. The team is fine, although we don't show the same happiness if we aren't winning.
"On another day we would have had three or four goals (against Espanyol)."
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