Wednesday, January 25, 2012

JM defiant despite Madrid pressure

MADRID: Appearing angry and irritable, JM claimed all was well at Real Madrid on Tuesday despite reported divisions within his squad following their extremely poor start to the new La Liga season causing speculation to mount about his future.

JM has come under criticism from his usually staunch allies - Madrid fans and the local media - for his tactics so far this season, and during a tense news conference on Tuesday, the coach was quick to dismiss all questions regarding his future and the mood among the players inside the changing room, answering "I don't know" on each occasion.

"I'm still enjoying my time here," countered JM, whose team currently sits mid-table and trails arch-rival Barcelona by 6 points.
JM was hired by president Florentino Perez to not only win trophies but ensure Madrid beats Barcelona. Last season's victory in the Copa del Rey, was the only trophy lifted by Madrid and despite beating Barcelona along the way, is not enough of a result to keep the board and fans happy.

"When I first arrived, this club's (cup) tradition was elimination at the hands of smaller teams, and last year we won the Copa," JM said in one of his few lengthy answers.

"We're not doing too bad."

Spanish newspaper El Pais reported details on Tuesday of discussions between JM and his players after the latest defeat in La Liga to lowly opposition. And that follows sports daily Marca revealing a critical exchange between JM and defender Sergio Ramos after last week's loss.

"I've never lacked respect for a coach at any point of my career," Ramos wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday. "With that, I deny these things said of me, that I never said. The coach and I are fighting for the same interests."

When quizzed about his tactics for the next La Liga games this week, JM added,
"I don't have to reveal how we are going to play the next game," adding: "Tomorrow's game will not have an impact on my time at Real Madrid, I am committed to what we are trying to do here"

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