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Madrid goal famine concerns Mourinho

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-28 07:56

MADRID - Manager Jose Mourinho promised attacking soccer and goals when he took over at Real Madrid in the summer, but under his guidance Real has scored a meager six goals in its first five league matches, firing blanks again in Saturday's 0-0 draw at promoted Levante.

It was the second time Real failed to score this season, having drawn 0-0 at Real Mallorca on the opening day of the season, and left Mourinho at a loss to explain why his side failed to convert its chances.

"I am worried because we have now dropped four points through not scoring," said Mourinho. "We are not scoring the number of goals we should in terms of chances.

"It is not normal to need so many opportunities. If you score two or three from six chances, fine. Against Levante we had so many chances and some great ones, but we didn't score and we are not happy with a point."

Real is unbeaten in its six league games, but the two 0-0 away draws leave it down in third, two points behind Valencia and a point behind archrival Barcelona.

At the back Real has no such problems, conceding just one league goal, and Mourinho hopes it is a question of time before things click at the other end of the pitch.

"We are controlling all the games and there is nothing that needs solving tactically," added the former Chelsea coach. "It is certainly not to do with the quality of the players. We all know that these are players with high goal tallies for a number of seasons.

"The team was solid at the back and we have conceded just one goal in six games. (Iker) Casillas only had one save to make. However, if you don't score you don't win."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, who scored 53 league goals between them last season, had Madrid's best chances but for once could not apply the finishing touch and Real surrendered top spot to Valencia.

"Last season we scored more than 100 goals and this is a team with some firepower," insisted defender Alvaro Arbeloa. "It would be absurd to doubt that.

"We are fortunate to have Higuain and Cristiano in our team as they are two of the best strikers in world football.

"Last season I think they got around 60 goals in the league and I don't know how many in the Champions league."

Last season, Real was top scorer with 102 league goals and had 16 goals from its first five matches under departed coach Manuel Pellegrini compared with the six goals under Mourinho.

Mourinho caused a storm by criticizing the Levante players from the touchline and midfielder Juanlu Lopez hit out at the Portuguese coach.

"He told me not to dive," fumed Juanlu. "He provokes all the players. He should keep his mouth shut and stop provoking people."

Mourinho's next task is a Champions League trip to Auxerre on Wednesday, where his side hopes to follow up its opening 2-0 group win over Ajax.

"The truth is I don't know much about Auxerre," said Arbeloa. "I know they are not doing too well in the league at the moment and this will be a big game for them."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 09/28/2010 page22)