World Football

Mourinho: Barça clash a psych test

(AFP) Tuesday 28 August 2012
Mourinho: Barça clash a psych test

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says his team's Spanish Super Copa clash with Barcelona Wednesday will be a psychological litmus test after their shock defeat to Getafe.

The Portuguese self-anointed "Special One" wants to know if Real's "unacceptable" attitude in their 2-1 defeat at derby rivals Getafe on Sunday was just a one-off, or a bigger problem.

Real Madrid fell to a 3-2 first leg defeat at their Catalan rivals' Camp Nou home on 24 August, but Mourinho said he would be happy if his squad put in a similar show in the return leg at the Bernabeu.

What he doesn't want is a repeat of the Getafe performance. "Winning the Super Cup or not winning the Super Cup, beating Barça or not beating Barça, none of that is important to me at the moment," Mourinho told a news conference.

Between two big clubs, lots of good players, I would say the best players together, anything can happen.
Jose Mourinho on the Super Cup second leg

"To me the fundamental thing tomorrow is to know what players I have, what individual and collective psychological profile I have, and whether the situation against Getafe was a chance situation or whether tomorrow we are going to repeat exactly the same type of team psychological profile," the coach said.

Mourinho said Real played a "good game against an obviously very difficult opponent" in their first leg against Barcelona. But the Getafe match was "unacceptable in every aspect, motivation aspect, the concentration aspect, the ambition aspect, the tactical aspect if you like, the practical aspect."

The Real coach said previous clashes with Barcelona showed that the first leg can be overturned. "Between two big clubs, lots of good players, I would say the best players together, anything can happen, so everything is open," Mourinho said.

  • User comments »
glenn1
glenn1 (New Zealand)
29/08/2012 at 01:43
Even though it is early, this will be a classic game. I think the addition of Song and Modric as well as Alba make it an interesting game, though I am disappointed when these super clubs can pretty much buy anyone they want and then leave super players like Affelay on the bench. It is ruining the game.
balogun2003
balogun2003 (Nigeria)
29/08/2012 at 00:19
I think if Modric is allowed to play a major part in this game then its a victory song for the men in white.
Pasion9
Pasion9 (USA)
29/08/2012 at 00:14
Mourihno, your main job as a coach is to keep your players motivated. Do what you are paid millions to do. You are the highest paid coach in football’s history, so earn your pay check and lift Madrid up again.