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José Mourinho refuses to face the media ahead of clash with Barcelona
• Mourinho leaves press duties to his assistant Aitor Karanka
• Real have a three-point lead and a game in hand over Barça
The Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, has refused to talk to the media ahead of the season’s first Clásico. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images
The Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, has refused to speak to the press ahead of Saturday's clash with Barcelona leaving those duties to his assistant, Aitor Karanka, before the first Clásico of the season.
Mourinho has had a testy relationship with the Madrid-based media since joining from Internazionale and declined to speak before a league game against Barça in April, prompting a walkout by around 30 local journalists.
With roughly a third of the season played, leaders Real have a three-point lead and a game in hand over second-placed Barça, who are chasing a club record-equalling fourth consecutive La Liga title.
Real have won their last 10 La Liga matches, and their last 15 in all competitions, while the Catalans have lost only one of the 11 matches against their great rivals since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2008. The former Barça and Spain midfielder has never lost at the Bernabéu as a coach, boasting three wins and two draws with 13 goals scored and five conceded.
Mourinho has a full squad available except for the Portugal centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, who is recovering from twisted knee ligaments and has not played since late September. Guardiola also has a full roster, apart from long-term absentee Ibrahim Afellay, who is recovering from knee surgery in his native Netherlands.
• Mourinho leaves press duties to his assistant Aitor Karanka
• Real have a three-point lead and a game in hand over Barça
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- Reuters
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 December 2011 12.40 GMT
- Article history
The Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, has refused to talk to the media ahead of the season’s first Clásico. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action ImagesThe Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, has refused to speak to the press ahead of Saturday's clash with Barcelona leaving those duties to his assistant, Aitor Karanka, before the first Clásico of the season.
Mourinho has had a testy relationship with the Madrid-based media since joining from Internazionale and declined to speak before a league game against Barça in April, prompting a walkout by around 30 local journalists.
With roughly a third of the season played, leaders Real have a three-point lead and a game in hand over second-placed Barça, who are chasing a club record-equalling fourth consecutive La Liga title.
Real have won their last 10 La Liga matches, and their last 15 in all competitions, while the Catalans have lost only one of the 11 matches against their great rivals since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2008. The former Barça and Spain midfielder has never lost at the Bernabéu as a coach, boasting three wins and two draws with 13 goals scored and five conceded.
Mourinho has a full squad available except for the Portugal centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, who is recovering from twisted knee ligaments and has not played since late September. Guardiola also has a full roster, apart from long-term absentee Ibrahim Afellay, who is recovering from knee surgery in his native Netherlands.
José Mourinho says Real Madrid are confident ahead of their match against Barcelona. Photograph: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/Reuters
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