Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has dominated the headlines in the Spanish sports papers this week, for all the wrong reasons.
On Monday he took massive flak as a result of Sunday’s 1-1 draw away to bottom team Almeria, a result, which leaves Real four points behind leaders Barcelona.
In particular, his decision to leave Karim Benzema on the bench for most of the Almeria match and play without a centre-forward earned the self-styled “Special One” bitter criticism.
On Tuesday Mourinho resumed his vociferous public campaign for Real to sign a replacement for injured striker Gonzalo Higuain.
However, Jorge Valdano, the club’s general director shot Mou down in flames by saying that “the forward we need is on the bench,” referring to Benzema. On Wednesday the Spanish federation referee’s committee announced that it will open procedures against Mourino because of his public attacks on Miguel Perez Lasa, referee of the Almeria-Real clash.
And, in an even more significant move, AS claimed that Mourinho was having doubts about his future at the club and was thinking about leaving at the end of his first season in Madrid.
Only a good result in Thursday’s King’s Cup showdown against neighbours Atletico, plus an emphatic win at home to Mallorca on Sunday, will improve the ambience at the Estadio Bernabeu.
By the time that Cristiano Ronaldo and company kick off against Mallorca, Barca will probably have extended their lead at the top to seven points. The Catalans should have few problems in obtaining a record-breaking 14th successive league win on Saturday at home to lowly Racing Santander.
Barca crashed 3-1 away to second division leaders Betis on Wednesday in the cup, but reached the semifinals — where they will meet Almeria — on a 6-3 aggregate.
