Aitor Karanka has defended Jose Mourinho in the face of a mixed reception received by the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.
During Tuesday night’s Copa del Rey win, sections of the crowd chanted in favour of the Portuguese tactician, only for other sections to whistle and chant against him. Madrid lost at the weekend and trail Barcelona by 11 points in the title race.
“People come to the stadium and have a right to express themselves. What we must do, those who form the coaching staff, is keep working,” Karanka reflected after last night’s game.
“There will be people who like the Coach and people who won’t. What is clear is he is a professional. I will not get into the songs. Just repeat that Mourinho gives everything for Real Madrid.”
The assistant was speaking after Madrid’s comfortable 3-0 win against Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey. Angel Di Maria with 20 minutes left and a Jose Callejon double in the final two minutes ensured the result and the 7-1 aggregate score.
For Madrid, it was a chance to field some of the Castilla side’s rising stars.
“Jose Rodriguez is not surprising. I’ve known him since he was 15. He didn't surprise us in Alcoy and [on Tuesday] he’s played a fantastic match in the Bernabeu.
“It looks as if he's been playing here all his life. He played well, as did Denis Cheryshev, who has had a good development. In the two years he has been here he has developed well.
“He has matured and is the fastest growing. With his age, his future is fantastic.
“Alcoyano made the game very even. We created a lot of chances and they fought to the very end, even with a man down.”
However, one player who did not feature was Jese.
“Jese plays in a position that we do not use. We know of the player that he is and the potential he has, but it is also true that in some games he has been banned and we have decided to select others.”
