Real upbeat despite damaging defeat
Reuters - Sunday 30 January 2011, 21:41
MADRID - Real Madrid tried to remain
upbeat following the shock 1-0 defeat at Osasuna on Sunday which
seriously damaged their La Liga title hopes.
Real suffered only their second loss of the season 24 hours
after leaders Barcelona racked up their 15th consecutive win,
slipping seven points behind their arch-rivals.
"The result is tough but not definitive," Real director
general Jorge Valdano told reporters.
"At the midway point of the season it isn't possible for the
championship to be over for Real Madrid. It is well known our
capacity to fight and to never give up in these types of
situations."
Real had a tough King's Cup semi-final first leg at Sevilla
last Wednesday which they won 1-0 and the return is this week
but they have lacked a cutting edge in recent matches.
They struggled to control Osasuna and missed Xabi Alonso's
influence in midfield as he was kept on the bench after a bout
of flu, only appearing when they were chasing the game in the
second half.
"The situation is much more difficult with regards to
Barcelona, but come Wednesday we'll only be thinking of that
game," coach Jose Mourinho said.
"My players worked hard and I have no complaints. We lost to
a rival who gave their all, who have had a week to prepare, and
who pushed themselves to the very limit.
"I have to congratulate them. I'm not saying they deserved
to win but they deserved a draw."
It was only Real's second defeat of the season after their
5-0 hammering at Barcelona in November.
"We have to think positive," top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo
said. "It's difficult but we have to think positive."