Zidane speaks out in defense of Pepe, Mourinho

MADRID (Reuters) — Zinedine Zidane has jumped to a invulnerability of Pepe as well as Jose Mourinho, who have both been theme to heated critique in internal media after Real Madrid’s King’s Cup better to Barcelona during a week.

Mourinho’s “negative” strategy in a 2-1 quarter-final initial leg home detriment as well as Pepe’s stamp upon Lionel Messi’s palm have seen a routinely understanding Madrid-based press branch upon a Portuguese span given Wednesday’s game.

“I consider all a criticisms directed during Madrid, their manager as well as a players have been really unfair,” a former Real Madrid as well as France midfielder told sports every day AS upon Friday.

“Pepe is a player you roughly never listen to a cheep from off a pitch. He’s a desirable lad, really polite. But when he goes upon a pitch, he is spooky with winning as well as this stress to win sees him have mistakes.

“Obviously he has apologised for what he has done, though Pepe is a player who gives his all upon a margin of play, as well as infrequently he goes to a limit,” combined Zidane, who was brought in to work with Mourinho as initial group executive of football final July.

Madrid sports dailies AS as well as Marca both one after another their attacks upon Pepe as well as Mourinho upon Friday.

Marca questioned a club’s preference to await Pepe by recording a summary by their radio channel upon Thursday, in which he pronounced station upon Messi’s palm had been unintentional.

“Pepe has twisted being as well as done Real Madrid complicit in an movement which has abashed a club’s fans,” a Marca perspective square said, when he “should have faced a contribution as well as asked for forgiveness”.

Their heading story, patrician “The 7 sins of Mourinho”, knocked a former Chelsea as well as Inter Milan coach’s tactics, preference of personnel, substitutions as well as post-match analysis.

Zidane pronounced of a attacks upon Mourinho: “How can they contend you need a shift of coach? Are they insane or what? Look during a census data given he has been here, they have been incredible.

“To consider which a little disbelief his joining to Madrid as well as which he will stay usually dual years as well as afterwards go. Sincerely, we would cite which he stayed usually dual or 3 years as well as did something great, to someone else who stayed 10 as well as did nothing.”

Leaders Real Madrid horde Athletic Bilbao in La Liga upon Sunday as well as will afterwards find to overturn their King’s Cup necessity in a second leg during Barcelona subsequent Wednesday.

Copyright 2012 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.