Real Madrid vs Granada CF preview - Mourinho to keep faith

Posted Saturday, January 07, 2012 by PA

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has offered an olive branch to his players and vowed to give them a chance at redemption in their home game against Granada.

The Portuguese was highly critical after the midweek Copa del Rey win over Malaga in which Madrid had to come from 2-0 down to prevail 3-2.

Mourinho accused the team of lacking focus while he claimed certain players returned from the Christmas break out of shape.

But he was in conciliatory mood this morning and insisted there would be no knee-jerk reaction.

He told reporters at a press conference: "The players have given me guarantees over a long time. We have won 20 games and suffered one defeat.

"I will not lose confidence in them after the first time. I have no problem with the team or any player. It was they themselves who in the second half won the game."

Mourinho, whose side top the table by three points from arch-rivals Barcelona, even claimed coming back from a two-goal deficit to win may prove a positive.

"You saw the answer they gave," he said.

"Maybe it's a good situation for us. They went on the field without concentration but used their strength and quality to change something that was lost."

Mourinho insisted snatching the Primera Division crown away from Barca was the primary target over the second half of the season even though they are still chasing success in the Copa and the Champions League.

"The title which makes me most excited is the Primera Division," he said.

"We all want to win the Champions League but sometimes teams undeservedly win it, for example, things happen that should not happen, teams have injuries...

"The league is the competition to win as they really deserve it, so it's the one I want to win."

Granada, who are 13th, are unlikely to pose too many problems for Madrid but Mourinho still found time to talk them up.

"They have a strong defence and do well in midfield," he said.

"They have many dangers as they have had some good results. We need to win against them."

Granada boss Fabri Gonzalez, whose side will be backed by 5,000 travelling fans, is wary of Madrid's speed on the counter.

"Their pace on the counter-attack is deadly," he told reporters.

"They have huge offensive power. In three passes they can reach your goal.

"They are a team with physical power and are tactically and technically impressive. They are one of the best in the world."