23 Jan 2012

Mourinho faces Real Madrid revolt

3:31 pm on 23 January 2012

Jose Mourinho is facing a revolt at his Spanish football club Real Madrid, after reportedly claiming his players are stabbing him in the back.

According to a report in sports daily Marca, the combustible Portuguese coach of Real has accused some of his stars of trying to betray him by conducting a whispering campaign in the press.

Mourinho was reported as saying his players "killed" him "in the mixed zone", referring to the bustling area where media get the opportunity to talk to players after matches - and that as his Spanish stars are the world champions, their "friends in the press will protect" them.

The fall-out between the coach and his team came in the aftermath of Madrid's 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the King's Cup quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Marca sas Mourinho has clashed with defender Sergio Ramos, who he claimed had not marked Carles Puyol closely enough, allowing the veteran Barca player to score the equaliser in the tie.