Mourinho unfazed by boos from Real fans

Posted Monday, January 07, 2013 by ESPN

Jose Mourinho shrugged off jeers aimed at him from Real Madrid's fans prior to Sunday's win over Real Sociedad following his decision to again omit Iker Casillas.

Mourinho courted controversy prior to the Christmas break when he dropped long-serving number one Casillas for the match against Malaga and selected back-up Antonio Adan in his place, and the Portuguese repeated the selection for Sunday evening's home clash with Sociedad.

The Madrid supporters made their feelings known with widespread booing when Mourinho's name was read out following the announcement of the team-sheets, soon after the fans cheered the name of substitute Casillas.

Mourinho, whose side ended 2012 a massive 16 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after losing 3-2 to Malaga, was not bothered by the reaction from the supporters towards him and said he understood why they did it.

He said: "If they whistle my name before the game and then support the team during the game as they have done, then perfect. That seems perfect to me.

"I think the Bernabeu whistled me for leaving out Casillas and because in the league we haven't done well.

"It seems normal to me that they whistle because the performances are not good.

"If they whistle me for the decision to leave out Iker, okay. And if they whistle me for the negative performances in the league, I accept it. I don't always like to be in a comfortable situation or to be a hero forever."

However, Mourinho does feel Adan deserves more respect.

The 25-year-old had a night to forget on Sunday evening, as he was sent off after just six minutes for bringing down Sociedad striker Carlos Vela inside the area. It was Adan's mistake that had gifted Vela possession.

Mourinho said: "I told Adan before the game that the whistles you could hear were for me, not for him. But my personal opinion is that there's been a real lack of respect to Adan.

"He's a kid who's been at Real Madrid for 16 years, who was born in Madrid and who doesn't deserve this. Why doesn't he have the right to be happy?

"The fans don't have a problem with Adan, nor do the press. They have problems with me for my decision.

"You (the press) have turned an attack on Jose Mourinho into a lack of respect for Adan."

Despite playing for 84 minutes with a man less, Madrid still managed to record a 4-3 victory with Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half brace and goals from Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira cancelling out a Xabi Prieto hat-trick for the visitors.