Pedro Leon says Jose Mourinho is pleased with cup performance
Real Madrid winger Pedro Leon has said Jose Mourinho did not scold his team after they failed to score against Real Murcia in their first Copa del Rey game after the season.
Although Leon came close to scoring on several occasions, Real could only manage a 0–0 draw in the cup's fourth round on Tuesday, 26 October. Their only goal, scored by Karim Benzema, was disallowed for offside.
The draw came one year after Real crashed out of the Copa del Rey against third-division side AD Alcorcon in a 4–0 defeat.
Manager Jose Mourinho, who took charge of Real in the summer, joked before the game against Murcia that he would punish a similar result with "death," but Leon insisted that his coach was pleased with the team's performance after the game.
"What did Mourinho say to us in the dressing after the match? He said that we did a great job," the 23-year-old midfielder told reporters after the draw. "We have worked well, but we have not taken advantage of the many opportunities presented to us."
Real will now have to score in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in two weeks' time.
So far this season, Mourinho's team has received criticism for not scoring enough goals, but at their home stadium, Real has a total of 16 goals in four league games this season. The odds will be in their favour as they go into the second leg of the tie.
"When the team are defending deep, as Murcia did, it is hard, but I am convinced that if we play well at the Santiago Bernabeu, we will score. You cannot blame a team that has had many chances."
Leon, who has been left out of the team for some of Real's games this season after failing to please Mourinho in La Liga, was one of the side's better players on Tuesday.
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