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Xabi Alonso: Jose Mourinho is "a leader"

Alonso: Mourinho is
© PA Photos
Xabi Alonso praises Jose Mourinho's leadership qualities and Real Madrid's style of football.

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has insisted that coach Jose Mourinho is "a leader" ahead of Saturday's El Clasico against Barcelona in La Liga.

Alonso also praised Mourinho's more direct, counter-attacking style of football as opposed to Barcelona's short passing, pressing game.

"He's a leader," AS quotes Alonso as saying. "When you have a group that supports a coach and believes in his ideas; that is being a leader. For me he is one of the best in the world.

"Our game is not tiki-taka. Our goal is clear - the opponent. We make rapid transitions from defence to attack, with deep passes that create many chances. Our football is more than just circulating the ball to be able to create a scoring chance."

Real are third in La Liga, 16 points behind leaders Barca and four points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid.

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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho in the stands at Old Trafford to watch his team's Champions League opponents Manchester United play against Everton on February 10, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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