Champions League (Semifinals, 1st Leg): Mourinho

MOURINHO: "GUARDIOLA? I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO WIN LIKE HIM"

Jose Mourinho was visibly angry

Jose Mourinho was visibly angry after his team's defeat against Barcelona and started ...

"Why does this happen? Barcelona are a fantastic team. I don't understand why Pepe was sent off. It paved the way for Barcelona to finish the tie".

What did you say to the referee to be expelled?
"I said nothing to the referee. I just laughed and applauded his decision without saying anything. I'd rather say no more because if I tell him and UEFA what I really think my career would end here and now. Since I cannot say it, I'll ask a question: Why? Why Ovrebo? Why Bussaca? We are talking about an absolutely fantastic football team. Why couldn't Chelsea reach the final two years ago? It was a miracle that Inter reached the final last year. Why kill a tie that could end 0-0 after three hours? I don't understand why".

Is Real Madrid eliminated from the Champions League?
"If it's already difficult to make a comeback on purely sporting grounds, it is absolutely impossible when our opponent is helped in this manner. It seems they must reach the final. I don't understand why such a fantastic team needs this. Football is a sport in which the same rules apply to all; then the best team wins. We will showcase pride and respect for our world of football in Barcelona. We will travel without Pepe, who did nothing wrong. We will travel without Ramos, who did nothing wrong. The coach won't even be able to sit on the bench and the aggregate score is against us. The system will kill us once more if we happen to score a goal and open up the tie".

The approach of the game against Barcelona...
"Our scheme had different stages for different moments in the game. We had to play together and then use a centre forward. Then I would use a number '10' behind the two forwards. It is the scheme for a 0-0 game, trying to capitalise on the frustration of our opponent. But the referee didn't let us unfold our plan. Barcelona's power should have been simply of a football nature. They have that power. Why use more?".

Have the statements of the two coaches influenced the referee?
No. I do not think that the atmosphere was very warm. I commented the words from Josep Guardiola. I have the freedom to do because they were statements. He has responded with a little politics and I do not like. The referee would have to make a normal game, but has not done. When he did not whistle the penalty on Lyon, I thought he did not see it. Maybe he did not want we got to the quarterfinals and it was agreed. I do not know. The referee has been incredible.

Guardiola said he gave you the Champions of the press room. What is your opinion?
No, I won two Champions and I won it on the field with two teams that were not Barcelona. Porto, a country that does not usually win the Champions League, and Inter after 50 years whitout win the title. We won sweating, struggling. Guardiola is a football coach and has won a Champions League that I would be embarrassed, because he won with the scandal at Stamford Bridge. And if he wins this year will be with the scandal at the Bernabeu. I respect him and wish that one day he could win a Champions League only with football. I wish that one day he could win a clean Champions, without scandals.

Champions League (Semifinals, 1st Leg)

REAL MADRID 0 - BARCELONA 2

German referee Stark came off yesterday in the gallery of monsters of Real Madrid. His name will be recited with the memory that is dedicated to historical starting lineups as justification for a playoff loss and as a summary of favors to Barcelona and Real Madrid grievances. His mistake was to confuse with a red card what should have been yellow, but his worst sin was to leave us without football, match and sport, and left us with the wrong theater, the worst drama.

Pepe's red card

Pepe's send-off explains the match that was, but not the one which had been played an hour earlier. To be objective, to justify everything in terms of that red card, obviously excessive, means to say only a part of the truth. The truth is that Real Madrid, until that moment, had not played to win but had matched the initiative of a Barcelona that judged as good a scoreless tie. What would have happened with Pepe on the field, is impossible to say, but the projection logic of events leads to a match without goals. Think that the entry of Kaka by Lass (planned for the last 20 minutes) would have altered the destination, is a wonderful exercise in faith. But the Real Madrid players had that faith on the 60 minute.

Pepe paid his bad reputation and the weight of three consecutive Classics. Over him burst the tension on a game increasingly hot. Pepe is a victim who only put the boot in a harsh action. But when Mourinho's scheme turns around a player like him, the Real Madrid takes sports risks ... and also the referees make mistakes.

After arbitration injustice, half an hour ahead, Barcelona took the numerical and psychic advantage. Seven minutes from that convulsion, Villa tested the goalkeeper Casillas and the rebound bounced off the head of Pedro, who was very close to scoring the first goal. Soon after came a goal from Messi. Afellay, who replaced Pedro, faced with Marcelo. Both were looking into the eyes, when the side defense lost balance slightly. It was the split second Dutch player took to reach the last line and pass on pleasure. Messi, attentive and faster than Sergio Ramos, scored at the near post.

Then Messi controlled a ball in midfield and relied on Busquets as Maradona did on Henrique, furniture accessory in that cosmic goal in Mexico'86 Wolrd Cup. In this case, Messi advanced, escaped from Lass, beat Albiol and finally slipped from Sergio Ramos. At last, in front of Casillas, shot with the right leg and the ball went meekly to the net after touching in Ramos.

The second goal ended with thirty minutes where were concentrated all the accidents of the match, therefore, regarded as decisive. However, it does not hurt to review the above, the time lost, the sacrifice for the benefit of the result. When a team plays for a tie for so many minutes, is exposed to an error of his own, a wise of others, a meteor, a butterfly that flaps its wings in Singapore ... or a German referee named Stark.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 75,000
Goals: 0-1. Min. 76. Messi. 0-2. Min. 87. Messi.

The whole world will watch the "Classic"

Tonight's first leg of the Champions League semifinals between Real Madrid and Barcelona will break all media coverage records: 1,200 members of the press have been accredited, including 500 journalists from 132 foreign media platforms, and 80 from Spain. It will be the most watched game in football history. The most prestigious media in the world, will broadcast the Classic and estimate an audience of more than 400 million viewers. Spanish football experts from the Gazzetta dello Sport, Sky, Al Jazeera, Fox, ESPN ... will be tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.  Press Room

The match will be broadcast live in 37 countries. One hundred and thirty-five commentators in 45 different locations at the stadium will bring the game closer to viewers in Argentina, Chile, China, USA, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and practically all of the countries in Europe and Africa. Eighteen international radio stations will cover the match. There will also be 71 TV cameras and 100 photographers at the stadium.

In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport has spent extensive coverage to the Classic. A team of several reporters, led by the international football expert Paolo Condo, will be at the Santiago Bernabeu and Stefano Cantaluppi will analyze the match. "Mourinho has not left any Italian indifferent. There are two camps: Those who love him and those who hate him. There will be millions of tifossi who want to earn Real Madrid only for Mourinho, and others support Barcelona to go against him", says Cantaluppi. "In addition, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two best teams in the world right now".

In Great Britain people expect which of the two giants of Spain will play against Manchester United in the final at Wembley. Duncan Bishop, British journalist who works on Gol TV, analyzes the impact of the RealMadrid-Barcelona. "In Britain there is growing interest in Spanish football. A Milan-Inter, for example, is a great game, but is not dedicated much extra time to it". Duncan also says: "Another plus, like it or not, is the 'Mou' factor. The British press fell in love with him during his time at Chelsea, and his way to 'sell' thegame helps a lot", he admits.

Asia. The schedule for Asian countries is not the best, but the match will be followed by television. In Seoul (South Korea) and Tokyo (Japan) will be almost four in the morning of Thursday, in Shanghai (China) 2:45 am and in Bangkok (Thailand) 1:45 am. Still, television networks estimate over 20 million viewers in Asia.

Preview: Real Madrid vs Barcelona (UCL Semifinal)

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Another war, another party, another riddle. Third match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in twelve days; First leg of the Champions League semifinals. Anyone who says this has nothing to do with the previous matches, will be right. Anyone who says otherwise, too. The competition is different and the approach includes 180 minutes that would be 210 in case of an overtime. Less urgent, in theory. Unless the teams reserve a surprise: to solve it today. To try it, anyway.

There is every possibility, even the most unexpected. No one imagined a Madrid entrenched in the first assault. No one was able to assume that Pepe and Khedira would advance their position in the Spanish Cup, becoming the defensive pressure in attacker pressure. Only Barcelona has remained unchanged. Until Saturday. That day, after winning Osasun painfullya, Guardiola decided to play another type of match, the psychological. His comment about the tall grass was just a preview. Yesterday released toads and snakes, provocative. Tonight we will know if there is translation to the field, if Barcelona comes out more aggressive or remodeled by Iniesta injury and gives the ball to Madrid. Then the risk will be that the ball will be orphaned in midfield.

In principle, it seems that Mourinho will play with the base of the Cup team, with the obligate innovations; Albiol and Lass, by Carvalho (suspended) and Khedira (injured).Two tweaks that would not necessarily alter the essence of the scheme. In addition, the game of attack would be delivered to the creativity of Özil, key part in the first part of the Cup final, to Di María's speed and to Cristiano's strength, who will play as false striker (or not so faalse).

The reference to Cristiano leads us to consider the following game to play: The cracks' game. After the duel between coaches, or even earlier, Cristiano and Messi have a personal fight. At the moment the Portuguese win. He would be the best player of the world if is judged by the last two games.

Messi, meanwhile, has found tactical problems that has failed to solve. If acting is knowing the role and not trip over the furniture (Spencer Tracy said), Messi was tangled with the text and chairs. Without space, he has run out of air, but it is the duty of those who seek flat at the Olympus overcome these obstacles. Others did.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi

Physical condition is the last key. The approach of the Madrid explains a lot, but Barcelona has come to this part of the season without fresh and free refills. Remember: Four months ago, Barcelona would not have missed an advantage, would not have forgiven an enemy on the ropes. Mascherano's position in the center of the defense points to a problem of planning, staffing, perhaps arrogance. In that position will repeat the Argentinian while Puyol will move to the left to cover the place of Maxwell, injured in the last League match.

Real Madrid is not only stronger physically, many of its starters rested on Saturday. They did it while substitutes scoring six goals to Valencia. So great is the bench and so many possibilities it offers. Calculate: Kaka, Benzema and Higuain on the bench.

The Champions League does not lie: the equality is true, although the Madrid comes with better air. Eight wins and two draws. No goal conceded at home. Barcelona have won seven games, drawn two and lost one in the Emirates against Arsenal. Twenty-four goals scored by each team, but Madrid conceded less, three by seven of Barcelona.

Mourinho vs Guardiola: The war has begun

Jose Mourinho came with the speech well prepared and well structured to the press room at the Santiago Bernabeu: set out the facts, arguments and obtained conclusions in a crowded press room. The setting and Mourinho's tone promised and did not disappoint. The argument, the famous words of Pep Guardiola on the goal, clear offside, in the Spanish Cup Final.

Guardiola vs Mourinho

But the script of the Portuguese coach had never included an ironic tone so critical against the coach of Barcelona. Following the hearing of the Real Madrid coach, was generated a huge buzz to see the reply of Guardiola. Pep did not disappoint anyone. Accepted the challenge and talked about Mourinho as had ever done. Yesterday people saw the true Guardiola. That visceral person who has his temper and a lot to say when is harassed.

Chronological order. At 2:45 pm hours appeared Mourinho with Marcelo at a crowded press room. The appearance lasted over half an hour in front of media, but the great part of time was captured by the coach, who attacked Guardiola very start of the press conference: "With the words of Pep, we enter a new era. So far, there were two groups of coaches. A small group where coaches do not talk about referees and a large one in which I am, where we are critical when mistakes are important because we are people do not control frustration. Now we have a third group which has only one person, Guardiola, who criticizes the referees when they are right. I had never seen that in the world of football", he said.

Real Madrid coach remembered and ironically recalled the time in which he was training at Chelsea and Inter Milan was adversely affected by arbitration decisions: "His message has depth. For me it is a consequence of one thing, that in his first season as coach he lived the scandal of Stamford Bridge and from that time are not happy with the success of the referees. Last year Barcelona played against Inter over an hour with one more and this year in the Spanish Cup, he criticizes a fantastic and correct decision of a referee", he said. Mourinho did not stop there, also said that "This year Barcelona was almost eliminated against Arsenal and we all saw what happened".

Five hours and fifteen minutes later, at 8:00 pm Guardiola appeared in a press room so crowded like Mourinho's, without any player, because Javier Mascherano had talked to the press an hour and a half before. He wasted no time: "We will face in the field. He has won out of the field. I give his this particular Champions. He has won all season. I will not go out with comparative grievances because we would never end. I have no secretaries or people that point me. In this room, he is the fucking boss, the fucking lord. And I will not compete", he said.

Barcelona coach continued his broadside against Mourinho and also recalled that "He knows me and I know him. We were four years together. If he wants, he can pay more attention to the press full of Florentino's friends and the dairy that our friendship. Let him do as he pleases". He also had words to Sergio Ramos, who on Monday was expressed in the same line as Mou and criticized him for his statements about the refereeing team in the Spanish Cup final: "I have seen the words did not come out of him, The words were goated on him". However, before concluding, he returned to attack the Portuguese. "He won the game out of the pitch.There he is a phenomenon. I do not know how to play this game. He is always casting doubt on every issue. We come to compete", Guardiola commented.

Sergio Ramos: "We do not assume the favorite role"

Sergio Ramos did not want to assume the role of favorites in the semifinals of the Champions League that Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, granted to Real Madrid. Ramos sent a message to the coach saying that "He is critical with a correct decision" referring to Guardiola's statements where he criticized the arbitration proceedings in the goal, clear offside, by Pedro in the Spanish Cup final.

Sergio Ramos: "I would like a game with no drama"

"We do not assume the role of favorites because I think it gets us nothing. If something has led us to success is simplicity, humility and work. And those are the values ​​that must be present", said Ramos.

A day before the third classic match, the Andalusian defense requested a match clean and without drama: "I would like a game with fair play, healthy, with no drama, and a referee that neither favours or harms anyone".

Ramos said that Real Madrid players will "give everything" and will leave the "soul" on the field and that the team is "closer than ever". "We are super excited for the moment we go through. We play a very important Champions League game and now is the time where we really have to show that true union".

He praised the level shown in the match League at Mestalla (3-6) by players who have fewer minutes lately: "They showed that not only are eleven or twelve major players, all of them offer their best game in the field".

Reported a change in attitude of the fans at the Bernabeu Stadium: "From the meetings of Lyon,Tottenham and Barcelona, was a change and we saw a crowd much more focused, with much more enthusiasm. They really have to get that first goal and that any team that comes to the Bernabeu note that afraid".

Khedira hopes to play again this season?

The German international and Real Madrid player, Sami Khedira, thinks now that the season is not over for him, despite the muscle tear he suffered in the Spanish Cup final, and works for a speedyrecovery to play, eventually, in the final of the Champions League: "I will do my best to be ready as soon as possible", said the player in his Facebook profile.

"I hope to be able to participate in a possible final of the Champions League. Let's see what happens", continued the player, who was injured in overtime on Wednesday match against Barcelona last week. Initially, Khedira assumed that the season was over for him and, although obviously he will not play in the first leg of the semifinal tomorrow, now believes that he is not ruled out to participate in the second leg match on May 3, at Camp Nou Stadium.

The German international was treated in Munich of his tear by the German national team doctor Dr. Müller Wohlfart, an authority in this area. "We will decide among all, the doctors of Real Madrid and the German doctor, when I can play again", said Sami Khedira.

Khedira hopes to play again this season