Jurado: Mou tainted Madrid’s image

Former Real Madrid player Jose Manuel Jurado says Jose Mourinho tainted the club’s image during his time in charge there.

Jurado, currently with Spartak Moscow, played just three games for Madrid before finding better fortune with cross-city rivals Atletico and Bundesliga outfit Schalke, but admits he is still a big Los Blancos’ fan.

“Apart from not achieving his objectives, like winning a 10th European Cup, I think that under Mourinho we saw the club’s image undermined,” the 27-year-old declared in an interview reported by AS.

“The same thing is happening now as when I left, with players being brought in from outside without giving the youngsters an opportunity to make their mark, as they used to do with players such as [Iker[ Casillas and Guti.

“The youth players need to have a certain mentality, given it is more likely that the club will sign somebody before putting them into the first team.”

Cadiz-born Jurado was asked whether, observing La Liga from afar, it appeared there were only two teams that could feasibly win the title.

“It only happens in Spain. In Germany it is similar because Bayern are superior to the rest, but the domination of the big two in Spain doesn’t happen in any other country.

“In my opinion we are seeing La Liga devalued because some years ago it was more competitive, more equal. Now Barcelona and Madrid are so superior it seems the rest of the teams are not motivated, because they know they have no chance of beating them,” he explained.

In Jurado’s time with Atletico Madrid he won a Europa League and a European Super Cup in 2010, yet despite Los Rojiblancos going on to win various other trophies he says he does not regret his decision to leave.

“Absolutely not! Although they’ve won things in the last few years, I’ve also had a good year and won things. I don’t regret any decision I’ve ever taken in my sporting career.

“I was actually on the verge of returning to Atleti but it didn’t happen for financial reasons, as a fee could not be agreed. Today I’m glad things turned out like that because I’m happy here and feel appreciated.”

On his spell in the Russian League, where he joined Spartak on loan from Schalke before the deal was made permanent this summer, Jurado feels things are improving every year

“It’s got better over the past few years and personally I feel better here all the time. The most important thing is that Spartak have confidence in me and they made a major commitment towards me.

“Therefore, I feel very happy and content to be in Russia. I came here because at Schalke I wasn’t getting the run of games I was hoping for.

“Now I get all the minutes I need that I wasn’t enjoying before,” he concluded.

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