Real begin European campaign without Mourinho

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will watch his side’s opening Champions League group game against Dinamo Zagreb from his hotel room.

Mourinho is serving a three-match touchline ban after suggesting referees favoured arch-rivals Barcelona after a red card was given to Pepe in their Champions League semi-final last season.

The 48-year-old watched the second-leg encounter against Barca from his hotel room and it seems he will employ the same tactic in the Croatian capital on Wednesday, due to his ban prohibiting him from access to the tunnel or technical area before or during the game.

Mourinho’s assistant Aitor Karanka will take charge of meeting the press and Spanish newspaper AS states the former Inter boss will communicate with his coaching staff from his hotel room via phone and iPad.

Real face a trip into the unknown as they take on Dinamo Zagreb in what will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

The nine-time European champions have never failed to make it out of the group stage, but they will be without Brazilian midfielder Kaka against Dinamo.

He joins new signings Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop on the sidelines after failing to recover from a bruised heel.

Despite Kaka’s injury, Mourinho takes a strong squad to Zagreb, and he is boosted by the return of dynamic central midfielder Sami Khedira.

The German international was out of action for four weeks after picking up a thigh injury in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona.