Coach Jose Mourinho: Real Madrid Are Not Used To Playing Every Three Days

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho feels that the team is struggling to cope with the accumulation of fixtures as they challenge Barcelona on three fronts.

Los Blancos’ title aspirations suffered a damaging blow on Sunday evening as they lost 1-0 to Osasuna in Pamplona, and they now trail the champions by seven points.

Mourinho addressed the media today ahead of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Sevilla, and pointed to the team’s early elimination from cup competitions in previous seasons, meaning the players are out of the habit of playing so regularly.

He stated: "Real Madrid have been knocked of the Champions League early in recent years, and so the players are not ready for this amount of games. However I think the problem is more mental than physical."

"Playing nine games a month is not a problem for those who are accustomed, but these players are not used to it. They are not used to playing every three days. But I am convinced that we will win in Lyon and continue in the Champions League."

"So, these players will have to get used to playing more games in a week, and I hope that next year they are even better because the goal is to play in all competitions."

The Portuguese called on the Bernabeu to provide the team their full backing in order to overcome Sevilla and reach the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2004.

He continued: "Tomorrow the Bernabeu will expect to reach the final, and they must support the team in order to do so. The fans know the team needs their support, because the only goal is to reach the final."