Real Madrid president defends Jose Mourinho against Xavi and Andres Iniesta

 

 

Though Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid have parted ways before his contract was up, they still have a common enemies in Barcelona players Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Both players offered strongly negative reviews of Mourinho's time in Spain over the last few days. Mourinho responded and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has come to the defense of his former manager. Because, well, it's the offseason and no has anything better to do.

Xavi was up first. You know, just in case all the other disapproving opinions of Mourinho he's given over the years weren't clear. From Marca:

"I don't want people to think that I always attack Mourinho because it's not my intention, but I obviously don't like the football his sides play," Xavi said in an interview with Barcelona sports newspaper 'Sport'. [...]

Xavi went on to say that Mourinho's Madrid "bears no resemblance [to Real Madrid's past style] and has left no legacy for the future".

Iniesta then followed that up with a harsh critique of his own. From Reuters:

"You just have to look at the facts," Iniesta said in an interview published in Sunday's edition of El Pais newspaper when asked if Mourinho had harmed Spanish football.

"Yes he damaged Spanish football, in general more harm than good," added the 29-year-old.

In the press conference to announce Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea, the Portuguese was asked about Iniesta's comments. He responded: "I damaged Spanish football by being the manager that broke Barcelona dominance. ... I hurt them, I hurt them."

And now, Perez has chimed in to back up Mourinho's claim. From The National:

Perez, speaking during an interview with Marca TV, concurred with the 50-year-old's assertion.
"I understand why Xavi and Iniesta are angry with Mourinho, they haven't beaten us in any of the last five games," he said. "It's not a good strategy to criticise your opponent when you don't win."

Referring to Mourinho's comments, Perez then added: "Mourinho ended Barca's period of always beating Madrid, he was right when he said that."

This could go on all summer.