Jose Mourinho accuses Sporting Gijon of fielding weakened team against Barcelona
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has hit out at Manuel Preciado after the Sporting de Gijon manager opted to field “many reserves” in their mid-week clash with Barcelona.
In a press conference on Friday, Mourinho slammed Preciado, but also took the opportunity to talk of his relationship with his own players at the Spanish giants.
Preciado made eight changes from the team which drew 2-2 with Athletic Bilbao last Saturday for Tuesday’s game, where Barcelona picked up the three points after David Villa scored the only goal.
Mourinho was incensed by the decision to many so many changes in both personnel and formation, and claimed that the move handed Barcelona a huge advantage against Real Madrid for the La Liga's points title.
'It will be difficult to win title'
He told reporters that: “Sporting have played a match with many reserves. It will be very difficult to win the title. We will have to gather many points.”
The Portuguese coach — who arrived at Madrid this summer after a treble-winning season at Inter Milan — took the chance to speak of his relationship with the players under his command at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho has led his men to an unbeaten start to the season that has seen them rise to the top of the Primera Division standings with ten points from four games.
He said that: “I can speak eye to eye with people and can give them constructive criticism. The players are happy. What they like least is the concentration required when we played at home. It’s something
that some of the players do not like too much.”
Madrid will continue their pursuit of the Spanish championship on Saturday against Levante, and are likely to pick up the win against a team who are third from bottom of the table having won a single game
so far this term.
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