Mourinho denies ‘false’ tabloid attack on Capello

Jose Mourinho has vehemently denied launching an astonishing attack on England manager Fabio Capello in a British tabloid.

The outspoken Real Madrid coach was quoted by The Daily Mirror on Wednesday as claiming that England under Capello would never win a major tournament.

But in a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesman from Madrid Mourinho later rubbished the article, insisting it was “completely false”.

The Mirror had quoted Mourinho as saying: “The problem is the manager. Capello will not work for England.

“He has a one-track relationship with players.

“Ask anyone here at Real Madrid. He can’t change. You cannot go around just shouting at players. They need to feel special.

“It is clear. Capello will not work for England. He does not know the players. They are frightened of him and they can’t play for him.

“For me, it is a mess for England. Players need clear tactics.

“They cannot be confused about what they have to do.

“It is the manager’s fault. And it is a big shame.”

Mourinho’s denial, issued later Wednesday by spokesman Eladio Parames to Spanish media, said: “The interview published today by The Daily Mirror is completely false.

“Jose Mourinho never spoke to the newspaper, that’s why he categorically denies having said what was written.”

Parames added that Mourinho was considering legal action against the Mirror.

The paper also quoted Mourinho as slamming his successor at Inter Milan, Rafael Benitez, saying the Spaniard’s stewardship of Liverpool had seen the north-west club become a progressively weaker force in the English game.

“It is very difficult for Roy (Hodgson, the new Liverpool manager) to do it with Liverpool as, over the last few years, they have been getting worse, worse and worse,” Mourinho said in the Daily Telegraph.

“The Liverpool of 2004 was better than the Liverpool of 2005, 2005 was better than 2006 and 2006 better than 2007.

“And they arrive at a situation now where, but for Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres, if his head is there, it is very difficult for Roy to make Liverpool champions.

“He needs time and it’s not easy because I don’t think they went in the right direction.”