Jose Mourinho has reflected on the transfer market, weekend opponents Getafe and hit out Johan Cruyff in today’s Press conference.
Real Madrid are preparing for Sunday’s short journey across the Spanish capital to play Getafe tomorrow and Mourinho began by reflecting on what he anticipates from the opposition.
“We’re in good shape in light of the pre-season we were able to do. I think we’re think well,” stated the Coach today.
“Getafe have always been difficult. I saw them against Sevilla and they impressed me. I like the Coach and the organisation and ideas of the team.
“I have admired Luis Garcia’s work since I arrived in Spain. He has a very balanced team, they defend well, are aggressive and are strong at set-pieces. Theirs is a squad with a balanced bench too.”
The Coach was less than forthcoming, however, when asked if he would be playing Gonzalo Higuain or Karim Benzema in attack from the start.
“Who I play is based on certain criteria. My concern is based on the fitness of the players. And I think about who would adapt best to the game. Sometimes I’ll make the choice with great success, sometimes without, but always through following a criteria.”
Even so, a third striker will be on the bench, youth product Alvaro Morata. This move comes at the end of a week in which former Barcelona player and Coach Cruyff criticised both Mou and Real for their lack of faith in their own pool of talent.
“I’m going to count on Morata the same as everyone else. He is a player with the first team and when the Castilla ask for him to play with them, it is down to us.
“Every week, we will determine if he plays with the first team or Castilla. The more young players we have, the better.
“The other day, a man [Cruyff] said he preferred training players to buying them. That’s funny because this man was also European champion with four ‘homegrown’ players who were very good – Stoichkov, Koeman, Laudrup and Romario.”
Brazilian forward Romario actually joined Barca in 1993, a year after the European Cup win under Cruyff.
Mourinho was then asked several questions about the transfer market, in light of Nuri Sahin’s completed loan transfer to Liverpool and links between Ricky Kaka and Milan and Luka Modric and Real.
“I still believe that the transfer window closes too late. It would be good for everyone to know their squad before the League starts. You’re playing and there are many things that can still change. I can confirm that Nuri Sahin will play with Liverpool next season, the rest currently remains as it was.
“Kaka will know better than me what his intentions and ambitions are. I’m just trying to get the most out of each player I have. If Kaka is here after September 1 then I will try to get the best performance out him, just like last year. We have to wait patiently.”
The former Chelsea boss also didn’t take too kindly to being asked about Fabio Coentrao’s performance in midweek against Barcelona.
“To me, Coentrao played a perfect game and I mean perfect. You work at AS and I at Real Madrid and it is my opinion that counts.”
