Valdano: Mourinho ban excessive
Reuters - Saturday 07 May 2011, 23:35
MADRID - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's
five-match touchline ban in European competition is over the
top, the club's director general Jorge Valdano said on Saturday.
European football's governing body (UEFA) punished the
outspoken Portuguese on Friday for his sending off and verbal
outburst following Madrid's Champions League semi-final first
leg defeat to their arch-rivals last week.
"It's excessive," Valdano told Spanish television after
Real's 6-2 thrashing of Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
"Throughout the season there have been many coaches who have
made some very hard comments, and the punishments were smaller."
Real have indicated they would appeal the decision but
Valdano said the club had only spoken to UEFA through their
legal team.
Mourinho, who had belittled Barca's achievements and
suggested there was a refereeing conspiracy to favour the
Catalan club, remained silent again leaving his number two Aitor
Karanka to speak to the media after the match.
"I don't know when he's (Mourinho) going to come out (to
speak)," Karanka said. "But as I said yesterday, when things
become clearer and calm down a bit, and he sees why all this has
happened, he'll come out again."
Cristiano Ronaldo scored four of Real's six goals, taking
his league tally for the season to 33, two ahead of Barca's
Lionel Messi.
"We are very pleased, the players are motivated and the boss
has burned a positive attitude into us to be able to start the
next season well," he told reporters.
Real's victory closed the gap on Barca to five points,
denying the leaders the chance to wrap up their third
consecutive league title when they host city rivals Espanyol on
Sunday.