Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hailed his side for a "great" performance in tonight's victory at Real Zaragoza, whilst also heaping individual praise on Lassana Diarra and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hailed his side for a "great" performance in tonight's victory at Real Zaragoza, whilst also heaping individual praise on Lassana Diarra and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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However, Mourinho was less impressed by the officiating, complaining his side are not being treated in the same way as others after seeing Xabi Alonso and Marcelo pick up bookings that will rule them out of next week's potentially tricky match with Sevilla.
Madrid kept the pressure up on leaders Barcelona with a 3-1 victory at bottom club Zaragoza with Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria netting before the home side netted a consolation strike through Gabi's penalty.
It was an impressive all-round performance by Madrid, who have now won three successive matches in the Primera Division and Champions League since their 5-0 mauling at Barcelona, but for Mourinho it was Diarra's display that caught the eye.
Diarra has had to wait for playing time this season with Alonso and Sami Khedira being Mourinho's preferred midfield pairing, but with the latter out injured, the France international took his chance to impress.
"Lass was the man of the match. He was incredible in every aspect," said Mourinho, who also paid tribute to Ronaldo and criticised some of the treatment the world's most expensive player receives from opposing fans.
Mourinho said of his fellow Portuguese, who took his tally to 17 in La Liga this season with a stunning 25-yard free-kick on the stroke of half-time: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenal player and it's difficult to understand what happens to him.
"To treat a phenomenon like him so badly leads me to think they are not protecting the championship. He belongs to La Liga and to Spanish fans, who can watch him on television or in the stands.
"I don't even protect him by giving him a break, he always plays every minute. He puts on a show everywhere and is not protected by the stadiums, fans, opponents or referees. Even so, today he scored one of his best goals, another one for his collection."
Mourinho was not pleased either by some of the refereeing decisions he feels have been going against him and his side.
"I'm not upset with the protest by Marcelo (booked for dissent). There are players who can protest and others who can't. There are coaches who can leave the technical area and others who can't, there are coaches who can simulate aggressions and others who can't..," Mourinho, who has served two separate touchline bans recently for different offences, was quoted as saying by AS after tonight's match.
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