Real bad feelings with Ron 'n Jose
Posted Monday, May 02, 2011 by thesun.co.uk
BUST-UP ... Ronaldo and Mourinho
JOSE MOURINHO'S fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid shell-shocked.
Ronaldo came out after the Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat by Barcelona and said: "I don't like to play like that but I have to adapt."
The ex-Manchester United star, 26, was dropped from Saturday's 3-2 home defeat by Real Zaragoza and watched from the stands with model girlfriend Irina Shayk.
But Ronaldo's criticism brought Mourinho's tactics into sharp focus.
The ex-Chelsea boss admitted after the 'Battle of the Bernabeu': "If Pepe had not been sent off the game would have finished 0-0, that was what we were planning."
It was a statement that was lost amid a sea of accusations at UEFA.
And a blatant attempt to deflect attention from the fact he left £150million worth of talent on the bench to get a goalless draw.
Barcelona had 72 per cent possession - 71 per cent when Real had 11 on the pitch.
Could you ever imagine Lionel Messi slamming Pep Guardiola's tactics?
Madrid-supporting Marca newspaper called Mourinho's game-plan 'vulgar and boring'.
It said: "The debate will focus on the red card but the game left deeper questions for example how the manager failed to take advantage of the better squad.
"Real retreated in their own half without any intention to complicate life for Barca."
Given what happened in the last three Clasicos it was no wonder the last one was reduced to El Farcico.
Both Spanish giants behaved like diving, cheating minnows - as bad as each other.
Inspecting the rubble, Manchester United fans will take heart.
Barca showed they are as bad as Madrid - and recently displayed the arrogance they like to associate with their hated enemies.
President Sandro Rossell claimed they'd beat Madrid 5-0 in the Copa del Rey final.
Keeper Victor Valdes asked if Madrid's triumphs had been in colour or black and white as Real hadn't won a Clasico in three years.
Five Barca players posed with outstretched fingers of one palm for a club sponsor - a clear reference to the 5-0 destruction.
Cue a Real win. Order was restored in Wednesday's nasty affair but...
It is that arrogance that will give United hope should they, as everybody now expects, face Barca at Wembley in a repeat of the 2009 final in Rome.
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