Hitzfeld: Mourinho has damaged Real's name
Reuters - Monday 02 May 2011, 13:36
BERNE - Champions League winning coach
Ottmar Hitzfeld has accused Jose Mourinho of damaging Real
Madrid's name with their defensive performance against Barcelona and criticised his subsequent verbal outburst.
"That does not relate to the expectations of the kings from
Madrid," Hitzfeld, currently coach of Switzerland, wrote in his
column in the German sport magazine Kicker.
"The good name and the image of the legendary club was
damaged by that," added the 62-year-old, who won the Champions
League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, plus a total of
seven Bundesliga titles with the two clubs.
Real lost 2-0 at home to Barcelona in last week's Champions
League semi-final, first leg, fielding an ultra-defensive
formation despite playing at the Bernabeu.
Hitzfeld was also shocked by Real coach Mourinho's
post-match comments, in which he implied that UEFA give
favourable treatment to Barcelona, who publicise Unicef on their
shirts.
"To raise suspicions about Barca's commitment to Unicef,
that is not right, he has overstepped the mark."
Hitzfeld added that he had not enjoyed his meetings with the
Portuguese.
"At UEFA coaching days, I have experienced Mourinho to be
just as his seems; arrogant, unapproachable, chewing gum,
somewhat loutish."
Hitzfeld himself has been criticised for fielding
over-defensive teams in just under three years in charge of
Switzerland.
The Swiss, with four points from four games, look unlikely
to qualify for Euro 2012 as they lie six points behind England
and Montenegro in qualifying Group G.