Real recovers pride despite exit
Source: Agencies |
January 27, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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JOSE Mourinho and Real Madrid proved to themselves as much as to the rest of the world that they can more than match Barcelona on the field of play, despite being knocked out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
The holders gave a thrilling attacking performance at the Nou Camp and had their arch-rivals hanging on for the final whistle as they came back to draw 2-2 before falling 3-4 on aggregate, just one goal away from progress to the semifinals.
The offensive lineup, the high pressure on Barcelona's playmakers and their never-say-die spirit were a stark contrast to their poor showing in the first leg, which led to the first serious signs of protests against Mourinho's stewardship.
"Real shrugged off its recent complexes and was a centimeter away from a monumental achievement," the sports daily Marca said yesterday.
The pro-Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo wrote "It was a two-legged tie and Barca knocked out Real at the Bernabeu."
Real fans had been unhappy with what they perceived as Mourinho's timid and defensive-minded tactics in the first leg.
Playmakers Mesut Ozil and Kaka, who started on Wednesday, were left on the bench last week, while newspaper reports of a divided dressing room added to the club's frustration at its inability to overcome the European champion.
Former Chelsea and Inter boss, Mourinho, has only managed one win over Barcelona in 10 attempts, but it was the manner of the defeats which particularly hurt Real followers.
"(Fans) won't whistle him for defeats like these," El Pais wrote yesterday. "Barca played badly and Real played well. Luck turned its back on Mourinho, but the game revealed the way to combat Barcelona."
Once again, Real finished a match against the Catalans with 10 men after Sergio Ramos was sent off near the end, and visiting players crowded the referee to complain at the final whistle. Under Mourinho, Real has had seven players sent off in 10 matches against Barcelona and the Portuguese has often accused officials of favoring its rival.
"I heard players saying in the dressing room it was impossible to win here," Mourinho said afterwards.
In England, Craig Bellamy scored the decisive goal against his former club as Liverpool reached the League Cup final on Wednesday by beating Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate.
A thrilling semifinal second leg finished 2-2 at Anfield but the advantage carved out in Manchester a fortnight ago booked Liverpool a date at Wembley next month where it will face Cardiff City, another of Bellamy's old clubs.
"It couldn't be a better final for me," Bellamy, who left the pitch to a standing ovation when he was substituted late on, told Sky Sports. "Cardiff means so much to me, it's where I'm from, I've never played at Wembley and to beat a club like Man City, it was just so fitting for us to get to the final."
The holders gave a thrilling attacking performance at the Nou Camp and had their arch-rivals hanging on for the final whistle as they came back to draw 2-2 before falling 3-4 on aggregate, just one goal away from progress to the semifinals.
The offensive lineup, the high pressure on Barcelona's playmakers and their never-say-die spirit were a stark contrast to their poor showing in the first leg, which led to the first serious signs of protests against Mourinho's stewardship.
"Real shrugged off its recent complexes and was a centimeter away from a monumental achievement," the sports daily Marca said yesterday.
The pro-Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo wrote "It was a two-legged tie and Barca knocked out Real at the Bernabeu."
Real fans had been unhappy with what they perceived as Mourinho's timid and defensive-minded tactics in the first leg.
Playmakers Mesut Ozil and Kaka, who started on Wednesday, were left on the bench last week, while newspaper reports of a divided dressing room added to the club's frustration at its inability to overcome the European champion.
Former Chelsea and Inter boss, Mourinho, has only managed one win over Barcelona in 10 attempts, but it was the manner of the defeats which particularly hurt Real followers.
"(Fans) won't whistle him for defeats like these," El Pais wrote yesterday. "Barca played badly and Real played well. Luck turned its back on Mourinho, but the game revealed the way to combat Barcelona."
Once again, Real finished a match against the Catalans with 10 men after Sergio Ramos was sent off near the end, and visiting players crowded the referee to complain at the final whistle. Under Mourinho, Real has had seven players sent off in 10 matches against Barcelona and the Portuguese has often accused officials of favoring its rival.
"I heard players saying in the dressing room it was impossible to win here," Mourinho said afterwards.
In England, Craig Bellamy scored the decisive goal against his former club as Liverpool reached the League Cup final on Wednesday by beating Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate.
A thrilling semifinal second leg finished 2-2 at Anfield but the advantage carved out in Manchester a fortnight ago booked Liverpool a date at Wembley next month where it will face Cardiff City, another of Bellamy's old clubs.
"It couldn't be a better final for me," Bellamy, who left the pitch to a standing ovation when he was substituted late on, told Sky Sports. "Cardiff means so much to me, it's where I'm from, I've never played at Wembley and to beat a club like Man City, it was just so fitting for us to get to the final."
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