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Ronaldo: Copa del Rey matters to Real Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has refuted the perception that the Copa del Rey is losing its lustre. With the domestic league and European competition being the main objects of desire for many of Europe's biggest club - in Real's case: La Liga and the UEFA Champions League - many feel the Copa del Rey is increasingly losing its appeal. It was thus a timely reminder, on Wednesday night, as Spain's two biggest clubs Real and Barcelona took on one another in the final, reminding all about the heritage and importance of the Copa del Rey. Ronaldo, who proved to be the difference between the two sides after scoring the winner in extra time, revealed his joy at having won such a prestigious title, insisting it is always on the forefront of Real's ambitions every season. "I am very happy," Ronaldo said on Real's official website. "This is a very important title and our goal as well as that of the coach was to win it." "It was a hard match, but whoever scores wins." "We are extremely happy and now it is time to celebrate." Ronaldo was one of many Real players to have praised coach Jose Mourinho, whose first season at the helm has coincided with their first piece of silverware since 2008. "Mourinho is doing a great job and helping us a lot." "He exudes positive energy and we feel it." The only sour note from Wednesday night's triumph was the sending off of Angel Di Maria as the game reached its dying stages. However, even the dismissal was unable to dampen the Argentine winger's enthusiasm after the match. "We knew we could win this title and we did it." "The team's strength was unity and the desire to win this match and those on the horizon." "Let's hope it continues because we are more united than ever." Ronaldo and Di Maria will now be hoping to build on their medal collection, having both earned their first pieces of silverware in Spanish football on Wednesday. DISQUS...

Mourinho: We are a match for Barca Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes his side can win Barcelona in the forthcoming UEFA Champions League semi-final tie. The Portuguese manager believes Wednesday night's Copa del Rey triumph is testament to that. Mourinho picked up his first trophy as Real Madrid boss following a hard-fought 1-0 win, which saw his side ride their luck at times before edging out their fierce rivals thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's header in extra-time. Angel di Maria, who set up the goal for the Portuguese, was later sent off but Madrid held on to give Mourinho a first trophy in Spain. "I am thrilled to win the Copa del Rey - it is something special," Mourinho said after the game. "It's a fantastic triumph against a great team like Barcelona - and we deserved it." Mourinho's men were humbled by Barca in his first Clasico, a 5-0 drubbing at the Nou Camp in late December. But a 1-1 draw at home to the Catalans in La Liga renewed optimism and Mourinho believes this triumph shows his team can match the Spanish champions. "We can take them on over two games; we have just done that," he said. "There is no reason we can't beat them in the Champions League because we have just drawn once against them and then beaten them." And the former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach says the Copa del Rey is just the beginning for this Madrid side. "I came here to do a job and change the mentality of the club," he said. "We have started to do that and it's satisfying - but it's just the start." Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane, the last man to score a winning goal for Madrid in a cup final - during the 2002 Champions League final - echoed those sentiments. "This is an important trophy because it's the first trophy in a long time and the club needed it," the Frenchman, now a special advisor at Madrid, told reporters after the game. "Now it will give us confidence for the games against Barcelona." Ronaldo, the matchwinner said he knew the first goal would prove crucial. "We knew that whoever scored first would win it - and so it proved," he said. "Mourinho has given us a winning spirit and this is a really important trophy for us - it was an objective we had for this season and we have achieved it." Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was philosophical in defeat after losing his first final as coach of the Catalan club. "It's always better to win than to lose," Guardiola said after the game. "But life is like that - you can't always win." Despite failing to beat Madrid in their two meetings in the last few days Guardiola is adamant his side can bounce back. "We will pick ourselves up - of course we will," he said. "We are more sad than if we had won, but that's part of the game. "These players have been playing together for a long time and we'll bounce back." Midfielder Xavi added: "We still have the best two titles to play for."

Casillas, Ramos dedicate win to fans Real Madrid fan favourites Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos have dedicated their Copa del Rey triumph over Barcelona to their supporters. Real finally got one up on their arch-rivals Barca when Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful header in extra time meant that silverware would be heading to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since 2008. Captain Iker Casillas knows that supporting one of the biggest clubs in the world means that Real fans are used to winning trophies, and acknowledges that they have suffered throughout two barren seasons. "This is for the fans," Casillas announced on realmadrid.com. "We have had two bad years, but through hard work and commitment we have proven that we can." "We owe it to all those who came [to Valencia for the final] and all those still in Madrid. This is a cup for Madridismo." Spain international team mate Sergio Ramos also echoed Casillas' sentiments, explaining that the victory could not have been achieved without the brilliant support the fans provided. "The support from Madridismo was fundamental and vital," Ramos said. "Winning a title with such a committed team is such a thrill." Both were also unequivocal when identifying who was responsible for bringing success back to Real. "Mourinho is the captain of this ship and through his philosophy he tries to teach us values that have served us well." Casillas agreed, saying: "Mourinho is a phenomenal coach." Both Casillas and Ramos will now hope to bring further joy to the Madridismo with their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie looming in near future.

Mourinho: I am proud of my team Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has admitted it feels good to win titles after their 1-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. Real finally managed to notch their first win over Barcelona since 2008, which coincidentally was the last time they managed any form of silverware: in La Liga. Since then, Barca have completely dominated Spanish football, but all that came to an end on Wednesday night as Real Madrid defeated them 1-0 in extra time to claim the Copa del Rey. Mourinho has now won trophies in each of his debut seasons at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real. Speaking on Real's official website, Mourinho admitted he was exhausted but happy immediately after the game. "I went to the dressing room to call my family and rest a little." "I wanted the players to enjoy it. I am tired, but happy." The Portuguese manager also revealed he enjoys winning trophies, and feels it is his job to bring success whichever team he manages. "It is always good to win titles." "Someone called me a 'Title Coach' a few days ago. I like the name." "That is my job." Mourinho also deflected suggestions that he was the mastermind behind the victory, crediting everyone at the club for having played a part. "I am proud of my team, the fans and my people." In a hot-tempered, tightly-contested affair, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in the first half of extra time, and Mourinho admits he was confident then that Real would go on to claim the cup. "It was an evenly-fought match. We were better in the first half and they were better in the second." "The players were very focused and knew what to do. We played our lines tight in extra time and I think Barcelona were a little tired psychologically." "Whoever scores first in extra time tends to win. It was a great football match." Mourinho is now shifting his attention onto the upcoming UEFA Champions League semi-final clash between both sides, but insists this victory has no bearing on the mindset his players will have for that tie. "This match has nothing to do with that we will see in the Champions League. Each will be different." "We will see what happens between two great teams over the course of two matches. Anything is possible." Mourinho's cup triumph will be seen by many as vindication after he has been a constant target of criticism by notable footballing figures and the media. Mourinho, while refusing to name names, feels that he has proven why he is in charge. "I am very relaxed and very happy right now." "It is good to start off by winning titles and it lifts a big weight of the players' shoulders, but I have a lot of experience in this and according to the newspapers I should have played with six forwards." "We played like we played, and did so against a great team, which makes what we did that much better." Having won both the domestic league and cup in Portugal, England and Italy already, Mourinho will surely be targeting a league victory before he leaves Real to complete his already glittering collection.

Real Madrid are Copa del Rey champions Real Madrid have beaten Barcelona 1-0 in the final of the Copa del Rey to lift their first trophy since 2008. Cristiano Ronaldo's extra-time header saw Real Madrid edge out fierce rivals Barcelona in the second 'Clasico' in four days to win the Copa del Rey and seal their first piece of silverware under Jose Mourinho. The first 90 minutes had ended goalless, with Madrid on top in the opening period and Barca better after the break. But despite the Catalans' superior possession in extra-time, Mourinho's men looked dangerous on the break and after Ronaldo had angled a low shot just wide, the Portuguese beat Jose Manuel Pinto with a brilliant header following Angel di Maria's pinpoint cross. Pinto started in goal instead of Victor Valdes, as he had done all the way through the competition. Meanwhile, Barca captain Carles Puyol was deemed unfit to start following his injury in Saturday night's 1-1 draw at Madrid in the Primera Division, so Javier Mascherano slotted in alongside Gerard Pique in the centre of defence. Mourinho restored Mesut Ozil to his side after the Germany playmaker began Saturday's draw on the bench. In this, the second of four Clasico meetings, with a two-legged semi-final to come in the Champions League starting next week, the Portuguese kept faith with Pepe in a three-man midfield shield alongside Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso. And it worked early on as Madrid pushed back Barcelona, appearing to surprise the Catalans with their dynamic start to the game. Ronaldo, playing up front as Mourinho opted to leave three strikers - Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor - on the bench, came close to giving his side the lead after 12 minutes when he beat Pinto from close range but saw Mascherano hack the ball off the line. Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa was lucky to get away with a clear stamp on David Villa later in the half as things began to turn ugly. The defender escaped without a caution, but both Pepe and Pedro found their way into the referee's book before the interval as the two teams continued to compete close to the edge. But in football terms, Madrid had the edge. Pinto saved well from Ronaldo 10 minutes before the interval, but the stand-in keeper was badly-positioned just before the break and was lucky to see Pepe's header rebound off the post. But Barca began the second half on the front foot, stepping up a gear following a disappointing opening 45 minutes. Pedro fired just wide, Lionel Messi blasted over the bar and the Argentina forward was almost set up by Dani Alves as the Catalans found their rhythm. And they thought they had gone ahead after 68 minutes when Villa, who had not scored for 10 games, latched onto a Messi through-ball after the Argentinian had brilliantly beaten three Madrid players, and slotted a low shot past Iker Casillas, but the assistant's flag was up and the Spain striker's effort was correctly ruled out. Nevertheless, Barca were dominant now and that looked ominous for Madrid. Casillas made two fine saves within a minute to deny Messi and then Pedro, while the Argentinian was stopped in his tracks as he looked to waltz through the Madrid defence. But Madrid weathered the storm and the score remained goalless after 90 minutes. The first period of extra-time was dominated by Barca, but the best chance fell to Ronaldo, who raced clear down the right flank and charged into the area, only to drive a low angled shot just wide of the target. But the Catalans failed to heed the warning and five minutes later, they were behind. Marcelo played a one-two with Di Maria, who then sent a deep, inviting cross into the area searching for Ronaldo, who rose majestically to power home a header at the far post. Ronaldo should have wrapped it up two minutes before the end, but selfishly kept the ball in the area and his shot was eventually blocked. The only sour note for Mourinho's men was Di Maria's late dismissal after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Messi. But Madrid held on to seal a famous win and end a spell of almost three years without a trophy.