Real Madrid fans firmly back embattled Mourinho

Posted Friday, August 26, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

MADRID (AP)—Despite the recent displays of abrasive behavior that has Jose Mourinho facing harsh criticism and a possible 12-game ban, Real Madrid supporters are firmly backing their coach.

Madrid fans were out in force Wednesday to support their embattled coach at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium during a 2-1 friendly win over Galatasaray, one week after Mourinho poked Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye during a game-ending brawl in the Spanish Supercup.

The Bernabeu was littered with signs supporting Mourinho, including one that read: “Mou, your finger leads the way.”

The Portuguese coach, who nearly always draws the loudest cheers when his name is announced over the stadium speaker, said he felt “better than ever” despite recent troubles.

“What matters most to me is that there is support for the team and Real Madrid,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho will be banned for at least four games over the incident with Vilanova. Not the best way to start a season but Mourinho is no stranger to the sidelines as his tactics left him in the stands for a number of matches last season.

The Portuguese picked up European and domestic bans over unruly onfield conduct or news conference rants, including a five-match sanction in April when he alleged referees and UEFA favored Barcelona during their Champions League semifinals series.

The prospect of losing Mourinho to start the season didn’t seem to bother fans, however. One even wore a T-shirt featuring a portrait of Mourinho with the words “Whatever you say Mou” underneath.

His squad agreed.

“We’re in favor of Mourinho just like everyone is,” Madrid forward Angel Di Maria said, while Sergio Ramos also lent his support.

“It’s clear that Mourinho has the full support of this squad and that he leads this group,” the Spanish international said. “We’re ready to do what he asks of us.”

Mourinho’s behavior in the Supercup led Barcelona defender Gerard Pique to say Mourinho was destroying Spanish football. The ill-tempered matches between the Spanish giants—six since April—have also led to worry within the national team as at least 14 players from the pair feature for the World Cup champions.

“Just like in past teams we hope that everything continues on unchanged, we don’t expect things to go on in a different manner,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said on Thursday. “It’s more difficult to achieve success without harmony in the team.”

Mourinho did eventually apologize for his actions—not to Vilanova but to Madrid fans.

“Some people are better adapted to the hypocrisy in football than I am, and they hide their faces and speak in whispers deep inside tunnels,” Mourinho said. “I’m not learning to be a hypocrite, and I don’t want to.”

While there were a few jeers inside the Bernabeu on Wednesday, the common feeling is Mourinho is the person to lead Madrid past three-time Spanish champion Barcelona, which is also defending European champion—regardless of the consequences.

“Barca has been converted into such an obsession that the ends justify the means,” Spanish sports daily AS wrote in an editorial on Thursday.