Real Madrid put down a marker in La Liga on Sunday with a 6-1 demolition of Deportivo La Coruna – but the result did nothing to tempt totesport.com into making Spain’s capital club favourites for the title race (Evens Real Madrid – La Liga Primera Outright 2010/2011).
Real finally got the win and performance their supporters had been craving since Jose Mourinho was installed as the new manager in the summer, to serve notice of their Primera Division intentions.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive footballer, scored twice in a one-sided contest against basement club Depor at a rain-drenched Bernabeu to leave Real in third place behind leaders Valencia and Villarreal (13/8 Valencia – La Liga Primera W/O Barcelona & Real Madrid).
The manner of the win had a whiff of inevitability about it given that Real had found the net just nine times since the start of the season prior to the Depor drubbing.
The Spanish giants had come under fire in the recent home match against Osasuna but the shackles finally came off against Miguel Lotina’s strugglers.
Mourinho refused to get carried away by the goal-fest and insisted his players still had work to do to win their first Spanish crown since 2008.
He said: “We look above and see there are still teams in front of us. We need to continue working.”
The Portuguese coach, who led Internazionale FC to an unprecedented treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles last season, said he would thrive on the desire to win over his detractors.
Mourinho endured a stormy relationship with the Italian press during his time in Milan and doubts remain whether his conservative approach will win over seasoned Real fans accustomed to champagne football.
The former Chelsea coach admitted he still had work to do to appease the Bernabeu faithful but shrugged off personal criticism of his brand of football.
He said: “The doubts people have motivate me and make me laugh. I don’t understand why there are doubts about a coach who has won what I’ve won.
“I haven’t won three Champions League and seven championships – I’ve won two Champions Leagues and six championships. Is that sufficient to coach here? If so, I’ll continue working with calmness.”
He added: “I have the confidence of the president and the board. If they let me work here for four years, I promise a great team. We will have games likes this one and like the one against Levante.”
Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca at Camp Nou on Sunday but totesport.com still has the champions as 5/6 favourites to retain their crown.
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Birmingham have lost Scotland international James McFadden to injury – but are determined to hang onto two of their star central defenders (Birmingham 16/1 to finish in top six).