TEAM NEWS Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola could play the same XI that won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. Goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto replaces Victor Valdes – the 36-year-old understudy has played every cup match this season. David Villa is out with a broken leg, while Mali’s Seydou Keita is away at the African Cup of Nations. Jose Mourinho has said controversial Real defender Pepe will play if fit….
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted that he has not created divisions within his squad, ahead of the Blancos’ Copa Del Rey quarter-final with Barcelona on Wednesday. Punto Pelota reported on Sunday that the Portuguese trainer would vacate his post in June, and goalkeeper Iker Casillas was the mole who leaked the story which allegedly saw team-mate Sergio Ramos participate in a bust-up with the coach in training. However,…
Jose Mourinho has dismissed suggestions his Real Madrid team are in crisis after dropping five points in their past two La Liga matches. Real went down 1-0 away to Levante on Sunday, before drawing 0-0 with Racing Santander on Wednesday, and find themselves seventh on the table, five points back from surprise leaders Real Betis. Next up is the visit of promoted Rayo Vallecano to the Santiago Bernabeu, where Mourinho…
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has received a five-match ban for comments he made following the Champions League first-leg loss to Barcelona. Mourinho’s team were knocked out 3-1 on aggregate in the tie but it was the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 27 which was filled with controversy. A Lionel Messi brace gave the Catalans victory, but Mourinho, defender Pepe and second-choice Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto were…
There were plenty of things to dislike about José Mourinho during his three seasons in London, not least his thoroughly unpleasant baiting of Arsène Wenger.”It was a game decided on the sending-off, which looked a bit harsh,” he wrote in his programme notes on Sunday. Wenger, we know, is hardly a pal of Mourinho. In essence, nevertheless, he was agreeing with the Portuguese coach, who was incensed when the referee…
Jose Mourinho is in the dock after UEFA hit Real Madrid and Barcelona with a total of six charges relating to their hate-fuelled Champions League clash. Mourinho faces an extended touchline ban for his sending-off during the second half of Wednesday’s game at the Bernabeu and post-match comments which implied there was a conspiracy to help Barca get through. Real also face charges of missiles thrown from the crowd and…
Emmanuel Adebayor has accused Barcelona of acting like ‘cry babies’ after the Catalans beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. The on-loan Manchester City striker says Barca do not know the meaning of the word ‘fair play’ and spend most of the time rolling around the floor crying as soon as they are tackled by an opposition player. Adebayor came on…
José Mourinho effectively accused Uefa of fixing it for Barcelona to reach the Champions League final after his Real Madrid team were beaten 2-0 at home by their fiercest rivals in an ugly and controversy-filled first leg of their semi-final. Mourinho claimed it was “impossible” for Madrid to defeat the dark forces lined up against them after a night on which he and his defender Pepe were sent off. Two…