Calderon: Mourinho set for Paris Saint-Germain

The former Los Blancos president feels that Mourinho’s attitude has led to disharmony in the dressing room and blamed Florentino Perez for bringing him to the club

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes coach Jose Mourinho will leave the club and take up a post at Paris Saint-Germain.

The 61-year-old believes that the confrontational management style of the former Chelsea trainer has been the main reason for Los Blancos’ poor results this season and doubts the claims of the Portuguese that he wants to stay at Santiago Bernabeu.

“Real Madrid have a problem with Jose Mourinho’s attitude,” he told talkSPORT.

“We are not used to a coach who complains about referees, Uefa and injuries. It’s something I don’t like. We are used to talking about what’s happening on the field.

“It seems he’s going to leave and it looks like he’s off to Paris Saint-Germain. He says he’s going to stay but I don’t think so. Things have gone too far and Real Madrid are not willing to accept any more of his behaviour.

“Some of the players, mainly the Spanish stars, are not happy with this sort of behaviour. They are not used to it. They don’t like the attitude.”

Calderon continued to criticise Mourinho, and blamed current president Florention Perez for hiring the 50-year-old despite knowing what his personality was like.

“I have always said it is the president’s fault. Jose Mourinho isn’t cheating anyone. He hasn’t changed how he is, he’s always behaved like that. Wherever he’s been he’s acted in the same way. When Perez signed him he knew what he was getting.

“When I signed Cristiano Ronaldo I was dealing with Jorge Mendes, who is an agent for them both, and he kept talking to me about the prospect of signing Mourinho. I thought the same then as I do now, in the history of Real Madrid we’ve never seen a coach act like Mourinho does.”

Calderon also commented on the speculation that the club may be interested in Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, and he admitted that the Spanish champions would be able to afford the Wales international.

“I think he is a fantastic player. He is one of those players you would always like to have in your team.

“It’s true we have spent a lot of money in the last three or four years but I think we are in a position to pay the money they are going to ask for.

“There is always a limit but Real Madrid is in a very healthy situation, economically speaking, so it would be in the position to sign him.

“I’m sure it will be a high amount of money because he is a fantastic player. A lot of clubs would like to have him.”

Menotti: Mourinho will have to go if Real Madrid lose next three matches

The former Argentina trainer believes Los Blancos will have nothing to play for if they are defeated and that the pressure on Mourinho will become too much for him to stay

Former Barcelona coach Cesar Luis Menotti believes that Jose Mourinho will have to leave his post at Real Madrid should they fail to win their next three matches.

Los Blancos face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey before taking on the same opponents in La Liga on Sunday. They then complete a trio of crucial encounters when they travel to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Manchester United, which stands at 1-1.

Defeat in all three of these games would leave Mourinho’s side with nothing to play for for the remainder of the season as they would be out of both cup competitions and 19 points behind Tito Vilanova’s side in the league, and Menotti believes this scenario would signal the end of the former Chelsea coach’s time at Santiago Bernabeu.

“If Madrid are out of everything in these next few weeks, Casillas becomes the figure and Mourinho will have to go,” he told Grada360.

“Football has these rules that are the same for everyone. The abuse as a coach can be handled only when you are a champion.

“All that power is only given to you for success, you do not get it if you don’t get the wins and the glory. That is what sustains the likes of Del Bosque and Guardiola.”

Menotti, who also coached Atletico Madrid and Argentina in his distinguished career, commented on the differences between Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, and believes Los Blancos rely too much on Cristiano Ronaldo.

“They [Real Madrid] have great players, but are different to Barcelona. Tactically they are a team that fights, that closes out the space well, but in the creative aspects of the game has a huge dependance on their players.

“Then, they have Cristiano, who is a barbarian who can win games. And if he plays well then they win. They achieve much, but when they do not have him to rely on, the team plays with 10 men.

“Both teams will want to win, but it looks like Barcelona are the collective and Madrid are the individuals.”

EXCLUSIVE: Conte to stay at Juventus despite Real Madrid and Chelsea interest

The former Italy international could be offered a new deal before the end of the season, despite his current contract running until 2015, as he looks to continue building in Turin

EXCLUSIVE
by Romeo Agresti

Juventus coach Antonio Conte looks set to shun the advances of Real Madrid and Chelsea as he hopes to continue his success in Turin.

Conte’s side are currently on track to win their second consecutive Serie A title and are on the verge of a Champions League quarter-final after their 3-0 win over Celtic, and his impressive record has seen some of Europe’s biggest names taking a closer look at the 43-year-old.

The former Italy international is under contract with Vecchia Signora until 2015, though talks over an extension could soon be opening, especially if the side continue to perform so admirably in Europe.

Success on the continent has been a long time coming for Juventus supporters, but with a place in the last eight of the Champions League virtually secured, officials at the club have set their sights on European silverware to add to their growing number of domestic successes.

However, a number of other sides have also taken a liking to the work Conte has done since taking the coach’s role in 2011, and with Los Blancos set to lose Jose Mourinho at the end of the season, the Lecce-born trainer has been heavily linked with the post.

Current European champions Chelsea are also set to be without a trainer after missing out on Pep Guardiola, but Conte has repeatedly insisted that he is just getting started at the club where he made more than 400 appearances as a player and will not be looking to move on anytime soon.

La Liga Team of the Week: Villa joins Ronaldo in this week's XI

The Spain striker equalised for Barcelona as the Catalans beat Sevilla 2-1 at Camp Nou, while the Portuguese came off the bench to inspire a Real Madrid comeback at Deportivo

There is little change at the top following the 25th round of Liga action, as both Barcelona and Real Madrid came from behind to beat Sevilla and Deportivo La Coruna, respectively, while Atletico maintained their perfect home record with a narrow victory over Espanyol.

Here, Goal.com looks at the best performers from the latest Primera Division fixtures.

In goal, Claudio Bravo made several fine saves to help Real Sociedad claim bragging rights in the Basque derby, which they won 3-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

In defence, Miranda was a rock for Atletico against Espanyol, while Sereno turned in a fine performance and scored Valladolid’s first goal in their 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano and Mario helped Betis to a fine 3-0 win over Andalusian rivals Malaga.

His Betis team-mates, Benat and Juan Carlos, were both excellent in midfield as Betis produced one of their finest displays of the season, while Chori Castro was the inspiration behind Sociedad’s comeback at Athletic.

Adrian Colunga completed Getafe’s revival against Mallorca, meanwhile, as David Villa headed an important equaliser which allowed Barcelona to go on and beat Sevilla. Diego Costa did the dirty work again for Rojiblancos as the capital club edged past Espanyol, while Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench at Riazor to lift Real Madrid, who came from a goal down to beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-1.

Barcelona-Real Madrid Betting Preview: Why backing Ronaldo to score offers serious value

Our Spanish expert Phil Kitromilides believes the price of 10/11 for the Portuguese to score in a sixth successive Camp Nou Clasico is just too good to resist this evening

Over the last two years these two sides have faced each other, on average, once every couple of months, meaning the world’s most famous fixture has taken on a familiar feel to it.

Tonight’s encounter will be the 15th meeting in the last 22 months, and there are definite patterns that have emerged of which punters should be aware.

For example, Both Teams To Score has paid out in each of the last 11 matches between the sides, which is perhaps why Paddy Power offer it at just 2/5 (1.40).

Another bet which has consistently proven to be the correct selection is backing over 2.5 goals, seemingly an absolute banker with these two powerhouses of attacking football and a wager which has paid out in nine of the last 10 Clasicos. Yet few will be rushing to invest in it, at the price of 4/11 (1.36).

More attractive odds are to be found in the outright market, with Barcelona offered at 8/11 (1.72) and Madrid available at 7/2 (4.50).

An argument could be made for either result, with Barca unbeaten at home for 22 matches, and Madrid the last side to have inflicted a defeat upon the Catalans at
Camp Nou.

Indeed it is worth noting that three of Madrid’s last four results away to Barcelona would be enough for them to progress to the final of the cup this evening and the price of 13/8 (2.63) for los Blancos to qualify for the next round looks tempting.

However, having scored in each of his last five visits to Camp Nou, and without doubt in the form of his life, the price of 10/11 (1.91) for Cristiano Ronaldo to score at any time is surely too tempting to resist. These odds are double what you would normally get for Ronaldo against any other side (in some cases treble) and Barca’s defence is not solid enough to warrant such a generous price.

The Catalans have conceded in each of their last 11 matches in all competitions and with Madrid needing to score to progress, backing Ronaldo to net at any time is surely a wise investment.

For a value bet, try backing a draw at 3/1 (4.00) ,with each of the last two Clasicos ending as stalemates as well as three of the last five at the Camp Nou.


Sign up for up to £250 in free bets and back Phil’s selections for this match

Phil Kitromilides is a sports anchor working on TV in Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.