Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho has not risen to Jordi Roura’s bait about the referee.
However, Mourinho has chosen in his Press conference soon after to focus elsewhere in the build-up to Tuesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.
“I'd rather stick to the sporting lessons that we have received from Barcelona in the past, to not talk about referees or pressure them, to not look for cards or simulate bookings for our opponents and obviously to play football, which they do very well,” the Portuguese commented to reporters today.
Mourinho’s side face Barca at the weekend in the League also, and then are away to Manchester United in the Champions League.
“They are the sort of matches that we like to play, everyone wants to play. I prefer matches that are this difficult. We are ready and we are all looking forward to playing these big matches
“[The semi-final] is a match that has nothing to do with the others that we've played against them. Nothing else comes into it, they are a great opponent.
“We have to try to play our best and get the best result. Moreover, the last time we played them was a few months ago.
“Is this an ideal time to face them? Normally, the time you face them does not matter as they are always at a high level. We have played in the summer and we have played in the last months of the season. Now midway. It is no big deal.”
