Madrid: Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho were sifting through the debris of what the Portuguese coach termed a "disastrous" 2012-13 campaign after Friday's King's Cup final defeat left the world's richest club without a major trophy for the season.
The 2-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid at their own Bernabeu stadium meant Mourinho, widely expected to move on at the end of this term, finished a season without significant silverware for the first time in his otherwise glittering career.
It represents a huge setback for the self-appointed "special one", as well as for Real president Florentino Perez, who lured Mourinho from Inter Milan at great expense in 2010 and has constantly referred to him as "the world's best coach".
Obsessed with winning the 10th European crown that has eluded Real since 2002, Perez has splurged more than 400 million euros on players since returning to lead the club in 2009, including a record 94 million on Cristiano Ronaldo....
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05:10 PM, May 18, 2013
Madrid: A Copa del Rey final defeat against Atletico Madrid capped the worst season of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho's career, the Portuguese said on Friday after the 2-1 loss left him without a major title this season. Widely expected to move on at the end of the campaign and linked with a return to Chelsea, a grim-faced Mourinho gave little away about his future but said Real, the world's...
09:18 AM, May 18, 2013
Madrid: Barcelona have confirmed that striker Leo Messi will miss the rest of the season as a result of the muscle injury which forced him out of his side's 2-1 win away over Atletico Madrid. The fact that Messi's injury is a relapse of the hamstring problem, which he originally suffered in the quarter-final of the Champions League April 2 and which has troubled him ever since, is a key...
01:16 PM, May 14, 2013
Paris: Paris St Germain have rejected a bid by Real Madrid to hire coach Carlo Ancelotti, club president Nasser al Khelaifi said on Monday. "They (Real) came and I discussed it with them. He's got a contract with us for one more year...for me, he's here next year. He's a fantastic guy and I'm sure he'll respect his contract," Al Khelaifi said. Ancelotti refused to confirm he would stay at...
10:35 PM, May 13, 2013
London: Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has denied he has spoken with Premier League club Manchester City over the possibility of replacing Roberto Mancini whose future as the club's manager is under threat after Saturday's FA Cup final defeat. Widespread media reports in Britain suggest City will part company with Mancini, who has been in charge since 2009 and who won the Premier League title last season. City have fuelled the...
02:45 PM, May 13, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane will have surgery on his right knee and will be out of action for four to six weeks, Spanish media reported on Sunday. The France international stumbled awkwardly while making a tackle during Real's 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Saturday and had to be substituted after 19 minutes. "I am sad! The tests today have revealed an injury to the meniscus. They are going...
09:11 AM, May 13, 2013
Madrid: Not even an injury to Lionel Messi in the 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday could dampen Barcelona's celebrations at winning their 22nd Spanish league title. Messi started his first match in six rounds because of a recurring right hamstring injury, but he left the field in the 68th minute with Barcelona trailing 1-0 to Radamel Falcao's 52-minute goal and having made all three substitutions. However, Alexis Sanchez...
08:04 AM, May 13, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid central defender Raphael Varane suffered a knee injury in Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw at Espanyol and looks set to miss the rest of the season. The 20-year-old France international, who has burst into Real's team this season, fell awkwardly after a tackle in the 19th minute and had to be substituted. "His meniscus is affected. We will see what the scans say in the morning," club...
09:39 AM, May 12, 2013
Madrid: Lionel Messi might have powered Barcelona to this season's Spanish league crown, but they fell to humble crosstown rival Espanyol to finally finish off Real Madrid's title defense with a 1-1 draw on Saturday. So after 10 months of competition, Barcelona's 22nd league title and fourth in five years wasn't decided at Camp Nou, but rather a few miles away at Cornella-El Prat Stadium. Madrid had staved off Barcelona's...
08:05 AM, May 12, 2013
Barcelona: Barcelona will be without goalkeeper Victor Valdes and defender Eric Abidal for Sunday's match at Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club said that Valdes has not recovered from a left-foot injury that kept him out of last weekend's game also. Abidal will be sidelined after hurting a muscle in his left leg during Friday's training session. Abidal recently returned from a liver transplant. Barcelona can clinch the Spanish league title...
05:18 PM, May 11, 2013
London: Lionel Messi's life story is set to hit the movie screens in time for the 2014 World Cup. Epic Pictures Group says it is financing and developing a Rocky-style film after buying the rights to dramatize a biography about the Barcelona soccer star. The Beverly Hills-based company says the biopic will chart Messi's rise from a modest background in Argentina and how he "overcame his physical shortcomings to become...
06:48 PM, May 10, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid decided against holding their traditional pre-match news conference on Friday in an apparent attempt to defuse the war of words between coach Jose Mourinho and members of his squad. The nine-times European champions visit Espanyol on Saturday when a failure to win would gift leaders Barcelona their fourth La Liga title in five years. Even if they do triumph, Barca only need two more points to secure...
06:19 PM, May 10, 2013
From Manchester United to Real Madrid and Chelsea to Paris St Germain, the biggest managerial overhaul is looming this summer. Sir Alex Ferguson shocked the football world and Manchester United with his retirement on Wednesday after 26 years in charge. But it took Red Devils just over 24 hours to name his replacement when Everton coach David Moyes was appointed his successor at the club after signing a 6-year contract....
12:53 PM, May 10, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid have stubbornly refused to capitulate in recent weeks but La Liga leaders Barcelona finally have their fate in their own hands and can secure a 22nd La Liga crown with victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Barca need two points from their remaining four matches to wrest the title back from their arch rivals, who have played a game more and need to win at Espanyol on...
10:21 AM, May 10, 2013
London: Frank Lampard would love to see Jose Mourinho return for a second stint as coach of Chelsea, the England midfielder said on Thursday. Recent media reports have suggested the Portuguese will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and go back to Stamford Bridge, a prospect that Chelsea vice-captain Lampard is clearly relishing. "I think it would be a great thing for the club. I think he...
08:35 AM, May 10, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid are waiting to discover the extent of an ankle injury suffered by playmaker Mesut Ozil in Wednesday's 6-2 La Liga win at home to Malaga. The Germany international, who scored Real's third goal, was carried off on a stretcher after landing awkwardly late in the second half and may be a doubt for the King's Cup final against Atletico Madrid on May 17. "He has an ankle...
03:39 PM, May 09, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid made sure Barcelona will have to wait at least until Sunday to wrap up a 22nd La Liga title when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 200th goal for the club in a 6-2 win at home to nine-man Malaga on Wednesday. Barca need two more points to wrest the league crown back from their arch rivals and secure a fourth title in five years and a win at...
08:14 AM, May 09, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho sent out a clear message to former captain Iker Casillas that he will not be first choice keeper at the club while he is there. Casillas has had to be content with a place on the bench after recovering from the hand injury he suffered at the end of January with Diego Lopez, who was brought in to cover for Casillas, starting every game,...
01:06 PM, May 08, 2013
