Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho in reported training ground dispute with Sergio Ramos & Iker Casillas following Barcelona loss

Real Madrid's week has gone from bad to worse. After losing 2-1 at home to fierce rivals Barcelona in the first leg of the sides' Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday, the capital club have endured days of bad press following Pepe's ugly stamp on the hand of Lionel Messi in that encounter, as well as criticism for their negative tactics against the Catalans.

And tensions now appear at a high amid reports of a serious training ground dispute between coach Jose Mourinho and vice-captain Sergio Ramos on Friday.

According to Madrid-based sports paper Marca, Mourinho accused his playing staff of betrayal following their post-match press reaction on Wednesday night.

During Friday's session, Mourinho is reported to have turned to Ramos and said: "You [guys] killed me [with your quotes to journalists] in the mixed zone."

Ramos is said to have replied: "No, boss, you only read what was published in the press, not everything we said."

According to Marca, Mourinho then hit out at the supposed Spanish clique as he responded: "Of course, as you Spanish are world champions, your friends in the press protect you ... like the goalkeeper."

That was in reference to captain Iker Casillas, who was some 30 metres away and apparently reacted angrily as he protested: "Boss, here we say things to our faces, eh ..."

Mourinho then reportedly turned to Ramos and asked: "Where were you for the first goal, Sergio?"

"Marking [Gerard] Pique," he answered, to which the Portuguese countered: "Well, you should have been marking [goalscorer Carles] Puyol."

Puyol was allowed a free header by Pepe, who lost the Barca captain at a corner, and Ramos claimed he and his team-mate had switched marking duties prior to the set piece.

"He [Puyol] and Pique were drawing the defenders [to leave space for others] and we decided to change the marking [responsibilities]," the Sevilla-born star is said to have told his trainer.

"What's this then?" Mourinho snarled. "Now you're trying your hand as coach are you?"

"No, but depending on the match situation, sometimes it's necessary to change the marking," Ramos hit back.

"And as you have never been a [professional] player, you wouldn't know that this is sometimes necessary."

Marca also claims the Madrid players remain unhappy after Mourinho's attack on his players following the Christmas holidays, when he said some of them had not stopped 'eating and drinking' during the break.

The paper also alluded to preferential treatment to the Portuguese players on Mourinho's part, an action which has apparently upset his Spanish contingent.

In another damaging report on Sunday, El Mundo Deportivo claimed Pepe made a racist remark to Barca's Seydou Keita in the Spanish Supercopa back in late August, calling the Malian a 'monkey' - the same insult said to be used by the Catalans' Sergio Busquets against Marcelo in a Clasico clash in the Champions League last season.

Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their rivalries on Wednesday at Camp Nou, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final, with the Catalans 2-1 up from the

Ganso wrote:That.was.brilliant. Amazing soap opera scene :clap:

Ganso wrote:That.was.brilliant. Amazing soap opera scene

Kevacious wrote:

Srsly though, how on earth hasn't this tabloid been sued yet? SMH...

ragbirjosh wrote:^What?

You obviously don't know Marca

shinigami99 wrote:I don't get it...why would marca speculate about madrid dressing room squabbles. I thought that would be the last thing would be focussing on. I would expect SPORT and MUNDO DEPORTIVO to say those things but if Marca is saying it then I believe there is SOME truth to this, even if the quotes are fabricated

StrugaRock wrote:

Marca leave the dressing room alone, stop with the manipulation