Real ´out of difficult situation´, says Mourinho

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has highlighted the importance of his side’s 4-0 victory at Espanyol in La Liga on Sunday.

The Santiago Bernabeu outfit came under fire in September following two successive negative league results – a loss to Levante and a draw with Racing Santander – which raised doubts about the club’s ability to challenge Barcelona for the league crown.

Madrid have since defeated Rayo Vallecano and won their Champions League encounter with Ajax, and Mourinho believes that the triumph against Espanyol is important to confirm his side are on the right track.

“We have managed to get out of a difficult situation,” Mourinho said.

“We scored 13 goals in one week. I am happy for this team and especially for the players who had not been playing much and were fantastic today, like Lassana Diarra, Alvaro Arbeloa and Gonzalo Higuain.”

Argentine striker Higuain, who replaced injured Karim Benzema at the head of the attack, scored three of Madrid’s goals in a performance that did not surprise the Portuguese coach.

“Higuain is the kind of player we all know what he can do,” Mourinho said. “But more important than the goals is the victory against a tough opponent, who made things hard for us until our second goal.”

“For me, it is as important to score as to work for the team.”

The result sees Madrid move up to second in the table, behind Barcelona and Levante, and Mourinho gave credit to the Ciutat de Valencia club.

“The team who deserve all the attention is Levante, because they are smaller (than Barcelona) and do not have as much prestige. They are worthy of it,” Mourinho said.

“One point is one point, not ten. Obviously I would like to be in the lead by one point, but that is nothing.”