Mourinho takes swipe at Guardiola

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has mocked Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, stating that his side’s aim for the season is to avoid relegation.

Mourinho was making light of Guardiola’s suggestion on Friday that it would be normal for last season’s La Liga and Champions League winners to win nothing this season.

With his side currently sitting top of La Liga with a 100 percent record, Mourinho clearly had a sarcastic air to his comments on Saturday ahead of their trip to Levante on Sunday.

“We will fight to stay in the first division and to take 40 points,” Mourinho said. “Until we take 40 or more points our main objection is to avoid relegation.”

“By achieving this quickly, we will look sooner for other objectives. We must continue to take points.”

The former Inter tactician then chose to focus his attentions to the task at hand – the visit to struggling Levante.

“If we keep playing this way we’ll have a chance of winning tomorrow against a difficult opponent,” he said.

“We failed to win at their stadium last year. It will be difficult because they defend fiercely and well. Levante are a good side that’s competitive and aggressive. We will have to play very well in order to win.”

Madrid will be hoping that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for Sunday’s encounter after picking up a knock in Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.

“We’ll see just how fit Ronaldo is after training. Calling him up will mean he can play. If he can’t, he won’t make the cut, we won’t try to fool anybody,” Mourinho said.