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Mourinho silence causes media walk-out
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho blanked the media ahead of Saturday's La Liga clasico with Barcelona, prompting a walk-out by more than 100 journalists @ Friday's press conference.
Assistant coach Aitor Karanka took questions as Mourinho sat silent @ the pre-match conference @ Madrid's Valdebebas training ground but many members of the massive media throng were unimpressed, choosing 2 leave in protest. Anticipation is @ an all time high ahead of an incredible quartet of clasicos, so Mourinho was eager 2 maintain a low key build-up on the Madrid side of the rivalry.
Filippo Ricci, a journalist with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport who was among those who left, explained: "Wat happened was Mourinho decided not 2 come 2 the press conference, the usual press conference b4 the Clasico, & 2 send out Aitor Karanka.
"The press didn't like tis decision & decided 2 quit the press centre as he was coming in. The surprise was tat Mourinho also came in2 the press centre, but when the press officer said Mourinho wasn't getting any questions, @ tat moment around half to 3/4 of the press centre left.''
Karanka said: "Whenever the coach speaks his words r blown out of proportion. He doesn't 1 tat, nor does he 1 2 be the 1 who heats things up b4 the match. He's preferred 2 stay quiet 2 avoid misunderstandings & it's not the 1st time I've spoken, it's a way of working. I've already been out (2 speak 2 the media) 11 times, tis isn't something unusual.''
Asked if Mourinho not speaking 2 the media could be seen as a lack of respect 2 the Madrid fans, Karanka added: "We hv the opinion of the fans in the Bernabeu & on the street. Wat the fans 1 is tat Real Madrid r where they r now. They don't 1 a team tat is knocked out of the cup by a Segunda Division B side, nor a team who continually fall @ the last 16 of the Champions League. They 1 a coach who works 100% every day & is able 2 make the team fight 4 every title.''
Saturday's clash @ the Bernabeu is the 1st of 4 showdowns betw Madrid & Barcelona in the space of 18 days.
Aside fr tis weekend's league encounter, which Barca go in2 holding an 8-point lead over 2nd-placed Madrid with 7 games remaining, the 2 Spanish superpowers also meet in the Copa del Rey final & in the 2-legged Champions League semi-finals.
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Ronaldo: Madrid will win a trophy
CR is in a confident mood heading in2 the upcoming quartet of clasicos with Barcelona, stating his belief Real Madrid will win a trophy tis season.
Madrid host Barca in the Primera Division on Saturday & the Spanish superpowers meet again in the Copa del Rey final next Wednesday b4 doing battle twice more in the Champions League semi-finals - all 4 games coming in the space of 18 days.
Barca hv held the upper hand in recent clashes betw the 2, winning each of the last 5 meetings, while the Catalan giants hv also left their counterparts fr the capital lagging well behind in the race 4 honours over the last few years.
Madrid hv not tasted success since 2008, when they won Primera Division & Spanish Super Cup, while in stark contrast Barca hv walked off with a remarkable 8 trophies since Pep Guardiola took charge in the summer of 2008.
Ronaldo, who joined Madrid 4 a world-record £80million in 2009, hopes tat lack of silverware is abt 2 come 2 an end though, telling Real Madrid TV: "Real Madrid cannot go 2 years w/o winning a title. I'm convinced tat we r going 2 win something tis season & it's going 2 be very important. The players look very positive & tat's a good sign, I like it a lot. There is the ideal atmosphere in the squad 4 tis final straight.''
Madrid's hopes of wresting the Primera Division title off 2-time defending champions Barca looks 2 be their least likely path 2 silverware tis season, with Guardiola's men boasting a big advantage @ the summit.
Barca r currently 8 points clear of 2nd-placed Madrid with 7 games remaining, while they also won 5-0 in the 1st meeting betw the 2 @ the Nou Camp.
Tat was Mourinho's heaviest-ever defeat as coach & something tat would prove decisive if the 2 teams finish level on points & Madrid do not record an equally one-sided victory on Saturday.
Ronaldo, who has scored 40 goals in all competitions tis season, said: "We hv 2 win, we r playing @ home & we hv 2 put them under pressure. If we win the title race will be open, we cannot throw in the towel.
"Aft (tis weekend), comes the Copa del Rey & the Champions League semi-finals. The important thing is 2 win & put Barcelona under pressure. If we win it's going 2 give us confidence 4 the cup.''
Both Barca & Madrid go in2 the 1st of the 4 Clasicos in buoyant mood aft tis week progressing through 2 the last 4 of the Champions League in midweek.