Mourinho on Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted star player Cristiano Ronaldo is “untouchable” and that there is no harder working player than the Portuguese.

CR7 has came under heavy criticism this season for his lack of finesse in front of goal, with los Blancos stumbling to 0-0 draws versus Mallorca and Levante so far in their league campaign.

However, speaking to journalist’s yesterday evening, the Portuguese coach defended his player, saying: “There are players who are untouchable. Cristiano is untouchable because he works as hard as anyone. In this time when we are trying to construct a team, there are fundamental principles, and he represents them all.

“The first is greed, the second and the third solidarity and discipline. Cristiano has all of these attributes. I am lucky that many players in the squad represent these, because if not, we would be dead.”

Mourinho also looked forward to facing Deportivo at the Santiago Bernabeu, adding: “The match on Sunday will be difficult for our players. Deportivo are not inferior to the teams who have seven or 10 points. Sooner or later they will start to rise up the league. It will be difficult to get the three points.”

Jose Mourinho: Real Madrid are still a team "under construction"

Coach Jose Mourinho insists that Real Madrid are still a team "under construction" and has asked the fans not to get carried away despite the 6-1 hammering of Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu on Sunday evening in the Spanish Primera Division.

Los Blancos recorded their most impressive win under Mourinho to-date and are now up to third in the league standings, ahead of archrivals Barcelona, who are fourth.

However, the Portuguese believes that they still need to improve themselves and in his post-match press conference urged the Madridistas not to read too much into this win.

"We are not the best team in the world yet for having beaten Depor 6-1," Mourinho is quoted as saying by Eurosport. "We are under construction and neither the result nor the applause of the fans makes me think our work is done. "The work continues. I am very calm. We have a lot to do and a lot of work. I have the confidence of my president and I have the confidence of the board."
When asked whether the 6-1 drubbing of the Galicians at home was the perfect way to answer his critics, Mourinho said, "If you have doubts about a coach who has won what I have then you have to explain what qualities a coach should have to have the right to work in your country.
"You have to tell me if I have to have won three Champions Leagues and seven domestic league titles. I have two Champions Leagues and six domestic league titles. Is that enough to have the right to work here? If so, great. I'll continue with my work."

source: goal.com

The Special One Aiming At A Place In Real Madrid History

Jose Mourinho told a press conference that he aims to go down in the history books of the storied club.

The Portuguese tactician has achieved tremendous success in previous positions at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, winning the Champions League twice, and he is aiming to complete a remarkable hat-trick with los Blancos.

“Real Madrid is a team that generates very high expectations,” he noted. “It is a one-of-a kind and it was named the best team of the 20th Century. I haven't been here very long, but I have already realised what this team is made of and I would like to be a part of the history of Real Madrid.”

Mourinho also spoke of the workload on the players, stating that it has been abnormally high of late.

“In football you must tire in the final minute, not at the very beginning of a match, which is what is happening to us now because of the workload,” he said. “The reason we cancelled one of the training sessions is to allow the players more time to rest.”

Meanwhile, he took time to discuss two of his Galacticos: Kaka, who is out for the first portion of the season due to injury, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who excelled in his first campaign after being made the world’s most expensive player last summer when he moved from Manchester United.

“In reference to Kaka, all that matters is that the operation was a success. There are no more questions about his situation or his recovery. As the leader of a group, I cannot waste time crying over a player. I have other players counting on me. My philosophy doesn't allow me to have any doubts or to cry. I have no doubts regarding the quality of our medical staff. I will not speak about Kaka while he is out.

“Cristiano enjoys the physical workouts and I think he will be pleased that my training methods will make him happy. On the pitch, Cristiano is Cristiano and I am sure he will have a great season playing for me.”

Any potential arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu before the close of the transfer window must be great players according to Mourinho.

“I have everything I need, so when someone wants to give me a gift, it must be very special,” ‘Mou’ stated. “So if the president and his staff want to give me something, it must be very good. They have a month to think about it and buy it.”

source: goal.com

Jose Mourinho: No Real Madrid Silverware This Season Would Be A Failure

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has claimed a trophyless season at the Santiago Bernabeu will be nothing less than a failure.

The former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss admits los Blancos need to get back to winning ways by picking up silverware in his first campaign.

"If we don't win the league or the Champions League [this season], it would be a failure," he told ESPN.

Rivals Barcelona have dominated La Liga in recent years, where Madrid have failed to win the Spanish league since 2007-08.

"Barcelona have a different dynamic right now, a philosophy going back a lot of years, players who have been together for many years and a coach who is approaching his third year," he continued.

"But at Madrid the most veteran player is (Iker) Casillas, who is 29, and the coach has only just arrived."

Mourinho is aware he also faces a tough campaign in Europe, coming up against teams such as Manchester United and former clubs Chelsea and Inter.

"It's the same story in the Champions League," he said. "Manchester United have a coach and a team [that have been together] for many years.

Chelsea have a structure for many years, Barcelona the same and Inter have had a structure for three years.

"They are teams that at the start of the season have a different potential, but we will try to work hard and we will give our all to get there.

"Real Madrid have a history of victories and when the club doesn't win, it's a problem."

source: ESPN

Mourinho on the present Real Madrid squad

In comments reported by Marca, new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho spoke of the challenges he will face in his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu and previewed some of his plans for Los Blancos in the coming season.

"I am not an anti-Barcelona plan," said Mourinho. "I am Real Madrid's coach and I am not worried about Barcelona. What is important to me is building a great Madrid. Barca are a great rival in the Champions League and domestically, but I don't want to think of Barca right now. If I am hated in Barcelona, that is not my problem."

Questioned about the composition of the team and asked whether he will try to keep more Spanish players in the team, Mourinho stated that this summer would not see as many changes as last summer.

source: goal.com / marca.es

"A club's identity has nothing to do with nationality. The club's identity is never going to change and the footballing identity is something I will develop with my players. I don't want to speak of players because when Real Madrid's coach speaks about a player, that player's price goes up €10 million more. I am happy with the basic squad from last year and we don't need dramatic changes, just three or four players to make a team with better chances of adapting to an ideal style of play. It will not be a summer to write about new signings at Real Madrid; I think it will be a bit more calm"

Taking a job at Real Madrid is one of the most high-stakes positions in football, yet Mourinho was unperturbed by the challenges that lie ahead. "I don't feel a different kind of pressure being at Real Madrid," assured the genius.

When asked about his play being too defensive, Mourinho sought to dispel the media smear campaign calling his style closed and un-entertaining. "I have played in a UEFA Cup final and two Champions League finals. We won all three and scored eight goals in the finals. When one repeats a lie, for intelligent people it remains a lie. For the rest, it becomes a truth. It's one thing how one organizes a team and a defensive scheme is another thing altogether. When a team is organised it defends well - all players are involved in attack and defense."

Asked about his role in creating controversy, Mourinho plead not guilty. "I am not a provocateur, I am a worker and I want respect. If we have respect, perfect. If not, I will defend my group without any problem."

On his philosophy for a team, he stressed: "I am a coach who adapts his philosophy to the players he has, trying to get the best out of my players. Normally, players feel valued again after their work with me. A team needs to have an equilibrium. One needs to work with and without the ball, be strong offensively and defensively, have psychological balance, and win matches. Winning matches is very important because it makes one psychologically stronger and more confident, without which it is impossible to win titles."

Mourinho was then asked about the future of club captain Raul: "I don't want to say anything about Raul because I have not yet spoken with the club. I arrived today and I have not yet done anything for Real Madrid and am not yet in the club's history. Raul is and I need to respect that. For that reason, and I need to be honest, I cannot treat him like any other player."

Asked about his personal relationship with his players, Mourinho spoke of the close bond he enjoys having between player and coach. "Football is more than a tactic or a training session. Football is played with a group of men who work together and form a family. The club is our second family. To achieve this, we need to have a lot of empathy and after that they are my players forever."

"I continue to speak with players I had at Porto and Chelsea and I speak of my players as if they were still my players. This relationship is what I want to use to bring stability to the players at Real Madrid. Sometimes I miss some of my ex-players and we have a lot of memories. I have players that have said: 'If you leave, I stop playing'."

On his top priorities at Real Madrid, Mourinho highlighted the Champions League. "The most important thing is to win the European Cup. I cannot promise that we will go far in the Champions League; football is football. What I can promise is that while Real Madrid may not finish at the top of the group, in the knockout phase lottery it will not be us that will be scared but rather our rivals who will be nervous about playing Real Madrid.

"We will play against Inter, Chelsea, or Bayern but I do not want fear in my dressing room, but rather in the opposing dressing room. Madrid has an incredibly negative history in the Champions League in recent years but now we start at zero. We will take it match by match without obsession and I like dreaming of the final at Wembley. Pressure is a factor of motivation for me that is not going to complicate my work."

Mourinho on Barcelona ( second leg 28.04.2010 )

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) - Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho claims that Barcelona have become carried away with the chance of winning the Champions League at the Bernabeu, the stadium of their arch-rivals Real Madrid.

The Italian side came out on top in the first-leg of the semi-final clash but the Barcelona team are convinced that they can overturn the 3-1 score line at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

After their win against Xerez in La Liga at the weekend, the players wore t-shirts encouraging fans to back them ahead of the Inter match.

From the start of this season's European campaign the ambition at the Catalan club has been greater than ever to win this tournament with the final in Madrid.

"We have a team of older players, with many over 30, and we hope that we will be able to cope with the atmosphere. It is one thing, though, to follow a dream and it is another to have an obsession. For Barça it is an obsession," said Mourinho, speaking at a packed pre-match press conference.

The Portuguese coach was in typically belligerent mood, refusing to speak in Spanish to journalists and playing on Barcelona's rivalry with Real Madrid.

An indication of the high tensions was that Inter felt the need for a bodyguard to accompany Mourinho.

"A dream is more pure than an obsession, an obsession is more about pride. Barça achieved a dream winning the Champions League in Paris and Rome last year but this time it is more about Madrid and playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, this is an obsession.

"I experienced what it is like here, I have won cups - against Betis in 1997 - at the Bernabeu, where everyone was wrapped in Catalan flags I know what it is about, it is anti-Madridismo. It is an obsession.

"I can't say for me it is a personal dream (to win the Champions League) as I have won it before but I want to win it for Inter as it is more than 40 years since they got to the final.

"If I can help Mr Moratti (the Inter president), if I can help the players and if I can contribute a little bit as coach to achieve this dream then I would be very happy."

Inter will be without the suspended Dejan Stankovic but it appears that Mourinho is ready to gamble on Wesley Sneijder who has a slight thigh strain.

"We will see if he can play for 90 minutes as there is still a small problem. We have other important games in the league but I am ready to risk him as everything will be decided tomorrow," said Mourinho.

"There are 90 minutes still to be played and history is full of comebacks, it is easy to score three quick goals especially for a side like Barça," said Mourinho.

A lot of pressure has been put on the referee ahead of the match with Barca players claiming they were unfairly muscled out of the game at the San Siro. Inter midfielder Thiago Motta turned the attack on the Barca players accusing them of cheating.

"This is a very important match and I suppose they (Barcelona) are doing what they can to win the game but we are relaxed. We will try and play clean football but we are accustomed to seeing Barca players diving and so we hope that the referee does his job well. It is not only Barça that need to worry," he said.

"We know how Inter will play. They will look for space and attack and so we can't give them space. We have to help the referee as well so that it is easier for him."