Jose previews Primera and Champions League

MADRID - Although he preferred not to speak about the recent ‘sadness’ expressed by Real Madrid striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho discussed other issues related to his club this Thursday.Ronaldo’s declaration that he was ‘sad’ on Sunday have shaken Spanish football, but Mourinho was not willing to talk about such a sensitive issue in an interview with sports paper, Diario AS. He did, however, analyze Real Madrid’s group in the Champions League, where they will face Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax, the Champions of England, Germany and Holland respectively.Manchester City are one of the biggest spending clubs in Europe, but Mourinho also warned of the dangers of the other sides in the group.“Dortmund are double winners in Germany and are full of internationals. They are experienced and have a great ground where the fans cheer you to the end. You never know what is going to happen withAjax, they could shock you and there is no room for errors. Meanwhile Manchester City are powerful - they have money and first rate players. It is going to be hard for Real Madrid, but also tough for them,” he advised.Looking at domestic competition, Real Madrid have started the new season as reigning Spanish champions and also beat Barcelona on away goals in the final of the SpanishSupercup, although Mourinho is loath to see that as the end of a cycle for Barca. “It is true, however, that we have beaten Barca’s triumphant run that saw them win title after title. We can now offer an alternative, but you have to be clear that we are talking about two great teams and no other team in the world would finish first or second in this league,” said Mourinho, who is in his third season at the club. “If I chose to join Real Madrid, it was for that reason - I think it is harder to win here, it would be easier to beat any rival that was not Barcelona and if Madrid reached the heights we reached last season, it is because of Barca and the fact they left the bar so high. You have to move to another dimension to be Champions in Spain,” added the Madrid coach, who expects another tough season. “The battle hasn’t finished and any football fan in the world will be able to enjoy the games between Real Madrid and Barca,” concluded Mourinho.

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Jose previews Primera and Champions League