Looks like there's Portuguese bias in the Madrid locker room ?

Question

Real Madrid's week has gone from bad to worse. After losing 2-1 at home to fierce rivals Barcelona in the first leg of the sides' Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday, the capital club have endured days of bad press following Pepe's ugly stamp on the hand of Lionel Messi in that encounter, as well as criticism for their negative tactics against the Catalans.

And tensions now appear at a high amid reports of a serious training ground dispute between coach Jose Mourinho and vice-captain Sergio Ramos on Friday.

According to Madrid-based sports paper Marca, Mourinho accused his playing staff of betrayal following their post-match press reaction on Wednesday night.

During Friday's session, Mourinho is reported to have turned to Ramos and said: "You [guys] killed me [with your quotes to journalists] in the mixed zone."

Ramos is said to have replied: "No, boss, you only read what was published in the press, not everything we said."

According to Marca, Mourinho then hit out at the supposed Spanish clique as he responded: "Of course, as you Spanish are world champions, your friends in the press protect you ... like the goalkeeper."

That was in reference to captain Iker Casillas, who was some 30 metres away and apparently reacted angrily as he protested: "Boss, here we say things to our faces, eh ..."

Mourinho then reportedly turned to Ramos and asked: "Where were you for the first goal, Sergio?"

"Marking [Gerard] Pique," he answered, to which the Portuguese countered: "Well, you should have been marking [goalscorer Carles] Puyol." 

Puyol was allowed a free header by Pepe, who lost the Barca captain at a corner, and Ramos claimed he and his team-mate had switched marking duties prior to the set piece.

"He [Puyol] and Pique were drawing the defenders [to leave space for others] and we decided to change the marking [responsibilities]," the Sevilla-born star is said to have told his trainer.

"What's this then?" Mourinho snarled. "Now you're trying your hand as coach are you?"

"No, but depending on the match situation, sometimes it's necessary to change the marking," Ramos hit back.

"And as you have never been a [professional] player, you wouldn't know that this is sometimes necessary."

Marca also claims the Madrid players remain unhappy after Mourinho's attack on his players following the Christmas holidays, when he said some of them had not stopped 'eating and drinking' during the break.

The paper also alluded to preferential treatment to the Portuguese players on Mourinho's part, an action which has apparently upset his Spanish contingent.

In another damaging report on Sunday, El Mundo Deportivo claimed Pepe made a racist remark to Barca's Seydou Keita in the Spanish Supercopa back in late August, calling the Malian a 'monkey' - the same insult said to be used by the Catalans' Sergio Busquets against Marcelo in a Clasico clash in the Champions League last season.

Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their rivalries on Wednesday at Camp Nou, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final, with the Catalans 2-1 up from the first leg.

http://www.marca.com/2012/01/22/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1327231392.html

Why is Mourinho getting angry at Ramos for Puyol's goal when everybody knows it was Pepe who was marking Puyol ?  

is Mourinho creating Portugal-Spain divide in this RM team ?

waddup! · Accepted Answer

Ok, so Iker was 30 meters away and he heard the conversation? was Mou using a microphone or something? To me, this is total BS

Me llamo Josh · Answer

It's awkward to see them fight on Friday, yet today, they win 4-1 vs. Athletic, typical.

I find the conversation hysterical.  I'm sure Marca twisted the truth a little, but to see this team getting angry at the manager is too funny.  Ofc it is Mourinho, and I understand why Casillas & Ramos are mad..who wants to work with a spoiled manager with a big mouth and always losing to Barcelona since his tactics are too defensive.  With Capello, Schuster, & Pellegrini (& Del Bosque + Aragones for Spain), Sergio Ramos was just like all defenders, made good tackles & bad tackles, and a few mistakes.  Now, suddenly under Mourinho, he has become one of the dirtier players in El Clasico, you have to wonder how much of an impact Mourinho has on his players, and a clear example is Sergio Ramos.  This team will divide if Mourinho stays, unless he can turn things around vs. Barcelona, then he will stay longer.

Pepe calling someone an animal???? Oh, the IRONY!!!  Well at least he didn't get banned for 8 matches like Luis Suarez lol

Abzman · Answer

lol! I literally just read the exact same thing on goal.com. 
Who knows? It's marca telling the story so the whole situation may have been blown slightly out of proportion. Nevertheless, it would be catastrophic for any team if their own coach turned around pointing hands at the players; particularly when that player was completely innocent. If mourinho can't acknowledge that pepe was blatantly in the wrong and should also be punished for his antics, cynicality and disgraceful behaviour during the game, then he has really lost it. I mean, since the media's outrage with Pepe he has done nothing but defend the player despite all of his negative and anti-football actions on the pitch, yet he turns around to blame Ramos: a player who breathes and lives Madrid. Ramos may have his cynical moments but he is still an honourable defender in contrast to Pepe.

~MM~ Incrediesta · Answer

Mourinho set Pepe to mark Pique and Ramos to mark Puyol. Pepe and Ramos decided to switch places, so that's why Mourinho is angry.

It's clear that some players in the dressing room are not happy, it's most likely because of Mourinhos defensive tactics against Barcelona. But if Mourinho is in fact favoring Portuguese players then he won't be RM manager for very long because to run a professional football club as big as Real Madrid the manager needs to find harmony between all of his players, not just his fellow country men.

Johwi “Benzemita” · Answer

LOL that sounds like a sitcom. yh well i think any madrid fan can see the divide with the players i mean its kinda obvious the Portuguese and Brazilian hang together and the Spanish Hang together then the 1s from other countries linger in between groups. but it never looked like a problem cause they all seemed to get along. Hmm Mourinho hes a very arrogant and selfish man doesn't know when hes wrong so im not surprised, but why is it always Ramos LOL

Anonymous · Answer

All sounds like BS. LOL and Pepe IS black.

The state of the Madrid locker room will become clear in tonight's performances. When Things are bad at Madrid, our performances flop horribly, so we will see, this is all a little sensationalist for me, and the conversation sounds a little detailed considering it must have been told first hand.

p4p1 · Answer

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2012/01/20/2856608/jose-mourinho-hasnt-spoken-to-kaka-in-four-months-claims

Calderon adds to that..

"The Spanish players are unhappy with their situation because of the privileges Mourinho gives to the Portuguese players." 

Surprise, surprise..

? · Answer

Visca Barca

R★tєd Jerry · Answer

Easy Both Pepe and Mourino are Portuguese and Ramos is spanish.

pwner 27 · Answer

shorten the Q. down a bit, then I might answer it ;|

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Looks like there's Portuguese bias in the Madrid locker room ?

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