Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho: Filippo Inzaghi's Second Goal Was Offside

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho claims justice was done when Pedro Leon stole the show at San Siro in the 2-2 draw with Milan.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes his side deserved more from the 2-2 draw with Milan, despite being rescued late on.

And he believes Filippo Inzaghi's second goal was offside. Justice was done though as a late Pedro Leon injury time strike stole a point.

Gonzalo Higuain had initially given Madrid a lead, before Inzaghi's brace propelled Milan into the driving seat.

However, there were some plaintive groans from the 'Special One'.

"Milan's first goal was a mistake by Pepe as he slipped. It was a poor situation for us. The second goal was clearly offside, but I don't want to speak about this," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We played a great game and played a great first half. We saw Milan's character, not fantastic football, but a team with years of experience in the Champions League.

"We were the bosses on the pitch though. We risked a lot, but the goal from Pedro Leon was right.

"Real Madrid the strongest? We have to improve, we have the talent.

"Everyone is young and we have plenty to work on. We have shown talent and that we are a team who can be naive, but we can win the Champions League if we work on it."

"Mourinho has changed everything"

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed Jose Mourinho has revolutionised life at Real Madrid since his arrival at the Santiago Bernebeu.

The Portugal forward told Marca TV that his fellow countryman has given the squad a new outlook as they bid to wrest the league title away from Barcelona.

"Mourinho's arrival has changed everything," Ronaldo said. "The coach is very good and he has brought his experience to Real Madrid. With him we have more chances to win."

While the league title is a top priority, Madrid also have their eyes on the Champions League, which Mourinho won last season with Inter Milan before heading to Spain.

"Of course, our objective is the Champions League," Ronaldo added. "A Real Madrid player must always think that is possible. I am convinced this year will be different."

Madrid needed a late equaliser, but were able to secure a 2-2 draw away to AC Milan on Wednesday night and book their passage to the knock-out stages of the competition.

Next up is the Madrid derby against Atletico on Sunday as Mourinho's men bid to extend their lead at the top of the table.

"A derby is more than just a game," said Ronaldo. "We know it is important for both teams in the city, but we do not need to prepare differently.

"We know it will be a difficult game, but we are at home and Atletico need to win."

Benzema: I'll prove myself to Mourinho

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is out to prove his worth at the club and has defended his relationship with Jose Mourinho.

The Frenchman has struggled to hit the heights for the Spanish giants since his arrival at the Bernabeu from Lyon in 2009.

This season hasn't been any better, with the 22-year-old, starting just six times and scoring once since the appointment of Mourinho as manager.

However, Benzema is refusing to give up on making his mark at the Bernabeu and remains determined to reproduce the fine form that led to his Madrid move.

"I am working hard to earn more playing time. Once I play people will see what I am capable of. I am sure I will succeed with Real Madrid. I don't have a single doubt." he told Punto Pelota.

"I have the mindset to play here. If I have to defend and run, I will. That is fine.

"I will work harder to play more and to prove to everyone that I am a good forward that can score a lot of goals and play pretty football.

Linked with his struggles on the pitch this season have been claims of his poor relationship with Mourinho.

But the Madrid No.9 has revealed otherwise, insisting that the Special One is among the best coaches he has played for.

"Mourinho is a great coach and he has faith in me. He has told me that I need to run more. All the talking I do is on the pitch.

"What I like most about him is that he is daring. He is one of the best coaches I have had.

"All I ever dreamed about since I was 17 was playing for Real Madrid, so my signing day was very special.

"I feel much more integrated now. My Spanish is better and I understand almost everything. I love Madrid, but my favorite spot is the Santiago Bernabeu."

Benzema could be handed an opportunity to prove his point when Madrid take on Racing Santander at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is out to inflict more derby misery on Atletico Madrid, but is not expecting an easy clash.

Real have not lost to Atletico home or away since 1999, while in the 73 meetings between the two at the Bernabeu the home side have picked up 49 victories and suffered only 12 defeats.

Casillas, who is one of the few local boys in either team following this summer`s departures of Real veterans Raul and Guti, is understandably keen to improve on those remarkable records, although he is well aware that history will count for little.

"Our good run against them is just statistics. If we spoke to (summer signings Mesut and Sami) Ozil or Khedira I don`t think it would matter too much to them, because all they want to do is win the match," said the 29-year-old Casillas, who made his senior Real debut in 1999.

"To the players who have been here longer, like Sergio (Ramos) and me, the matter of the good run maybe means a little more, but what we want regardless of statistics is to win.

"I'm from Madrid, so I know what it means. You can feel it in the streets. Atletico look forward to defeating us, but we hope to maintain the good streak we have against them."

Spain's World Cup-winning captain, whose side are unbeaten and have won 10 of 14 games under Mourinho this season, added: "I don`t think they (Atletico) will come out already beaten. I`m sure they`re eager to give a good performance and defeat us at the Bernabeu.

"They have great players. (Sergio) Aguero, (Diego) Forlan, Simao (Sabrosa)...they are big players who stand out in big moments."

Casillas is also taking little comfort in the poor run of form that Forlan is currently going through.

The Uruguayan has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his six seasons in Spain with Villarreal and Atletico, twice winning the European Golden Boot, but he has failed to net in his last 11 Primera Division and Europa League appearances.

Casillas said: "Maybe he`s not scoring goals, but last year he had a very good season and could hit back at any moment."

Forlan, whose last goal for Atletico came in mid-September, is hoping he can end his barren spell this weekend.

"Hopefully. I`m feeling good heading into this derby. I want to recover the happiness of scoring goals. It`s not the first time this has happened to me and I need to continue working hard. I know what I have to do continue improving," said the former Manchester United man, who insists his side will not settle for a draw tomorrow.

"One always goes out to win games, and then is you achieve it or not depends on the circumstances," he added in AS.

"We will try to do everything we can to get the victory."

Both clubs go into the match on the back of good European results in midweek.

Real netted a 94th-minute equaliser against AC Milan at the San Siro to secure a 2-2 draw that earned Mourinho's men a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games to spare.

Quique Sanchez Flores' Atletico, meanwhile, emerged victorious from a tough Europa League against Rosenborg in Norway on Thursday thanks to a sensational late goal from Tiago.

Atletico are sixth in the Primera Division standings on 14 points, nine behind Real.

Alma Awards

Mourinho: "I don’t play to pad statistics; I play to win championships"

Realmadrid.com

On the eve of Sunday’s derby between Real Madrid and Atletico, Jose Mourinho confirmed he will line up the same eleven players as in recent weeks as well as showered his team with praise.

"I understand why there is more than just three points at stake for fans. We must win because we want to remain top, but we must realize that our adversary is very talented and ambitious. It won’t be easy. No derby ever is."

"Statistics are nothing but numbers of the past. They have no relevance in football. The fact that Atletico haven’t won in the Bernabeu in eleven years is certainly a sign that winning there is very difficult. A team that is playing at home and that wants to win championships cannot be thinking about records. I don’t play to pad statistics. I play to win championships. That is why we must win matches."

"Every match is a test. We have played against tough, talented teams and done very well. We know we must score one more goal than Atletico to earn the three points. Atletico is a very talented team in attack, they have a great midfield, their defense will be very focused and it’s unfortunate that their goalkeeper holds the same passport as Iker Casillas. It’s a very talented team that will make us fight for our lives."

"If my team plays as it should at full throttle, focused and motivated, and if it’s a relatively incident-free match, we will win. Today’s starters will be tomorrow’s subs, and today’s subs will be tomorrow’s starters. There is no set protocol here. This is not the same team to be used for eleven months. This is a day-to-day team."

"I cannot speak about substitutes and starters. I have faith in the group. Groups win titles. You can’t win a thing without a group. Nothing can be won without a response from my people. It is easy to be a coach and leader of a group like this one, that will surely celebrate something at season’s end."

hala_madrid

The show El Día Después' de Canal + stole four sheets of Joses_blackbook and the contents are--boring--to say the least.

- The first two sheets are repeated concepts like "profundidade" and "b. stand", referring to the depth and rhythm that was missing from the team and focus on set pieces.

- Jose also jotted down multiple times "TR9" or David Trezeguet, the Hercules forward who tormented Real Madrid in the first half.

The last two pages hold the most ~*clues*~

- In the first of these, Jose's tactics appear to say that Real Madrid did not intend to stage a comeback. He had Pedro Leon, who did not come on, on the right wing and pulled Khedira back into defense, the latter, which did happen after Karim entered the game. Mourinho changed his plans after the entry of Karim and implemented a 'Plan B' after Cristiano scored.

- The most curious fact is for a final page of the notebook in which appears the following calculation: "38 +13 +6 = 57" next to "p/10 months." This is a reference to the games that Real Madrid face this season: 6, which relates logically to the Copa but does not include the semi-finals or final, 38 league games and 13 Champions League games including the final

hahahaa....for all the ppl who said that we cant beat a top 10 side!! MOU IS A GENIUS,and no one can deny that,even his enemies :ya":

Real wins everythingwith ou. I hope to see titles this season.

For me Jose is the best coach in the world

he or Guardiola.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Guardiola has an ego problem and he's rude...

And Mourinho's not?

And Mourinho's not?

No, he is sarcastic

And Mourinho's not?

No, he is sarcastic

correct! he's just straightforward and doesnt like hanky panky.He's just honest and never rude..though he was sent to the stands today

Jose Mourinho dismissed any comments regarding his send-off during Wednesday’s post-match press conference and focused attention on the 5-1 outcome.

Mourinho: "The referee stayed true to his past history"

Realmadrid.com

Jose Mourinho dismissed any comments regarding his send-off during Wednesday’s post-match press conference and focused attention on the 5-1 outcome.

"The referee has to write his own post-match report. I will not speak about the send-off; only about the match, which we won under the best atmosphere yet. We respected the rival and our fans by playing our important players as starters and in reserve."

"I cannot say he was a bad referee. I would make a terrible referee. All that matters is that we won. It was a good match. Murcianos can be pleased with their team’s performance. They put Real Madrid in a bind. Madridistas can also be happy because they got over the Alcorcon and Real Union debacles. Now we must wait and see who we draw in the next round."

"Just look at this referee’s statistics. It is in his nature. I’m not saying he is good or bad. I am not one to judge him, but I do usually analyze referee statistics. This one has officiated about 50 matches in Primera and has shown more than 250 yellow cards; an average of more than six per match. He booked ten players in his last match. I knew once I was sent off that I couldn’t stay where I was, so I looked for the best vantage point and didn’t have a problem. I spoke to the players during halftime and then gave a few orders in the second half."

"I am not surprised by my team’s performance. Those who played well knew they would. We played seriously, intensely and with motivation. I am very happy because our fans are happy. Today Madrid put on an interesting Copa performance for their fans."

"I work with my players every day. Those who train at full throttle play at full throttle. Those who train well are fit to play well, which is why I am pleased with what took place. I wanted to give everyone a chance to play. I wanted to play those who see less time and to rest those who play more so as to have more reasons to break any judgments. Tomorrow I will tell them face-to-face how they work and how they play. I was not happy with the way Sergio Canales played."