SPAIN: Mourinho accepts blame for shock loss

Embattled Real Madrid manager Portuguese-born Jose Mourinho has admitted that he alone is to blame for his team's shock 2-3 loss against lowly side Real Zaragoza on Saturday afternoon.

The enigmatic coach, twice winner of the UEFA Champions League Cup with two different clubs, excluded some of his key players in yesterday's match like former World Player Cristiano Ronaldo, and his club struggled against relegation thretened Zaragoza.

"I am the only one to blame for this defeat because as a coach I wasn't capable of motivating the team in the first half. In the second half we were better but we gave them three goals," Mourinho said after the match.

The former Inter Milan coach however had words for those who might have ruled out his team from the La Liga title race already.

"I hope no one thinks that we have given up on the title,"  Mourinho cautioned.

Meanwhile La Liga log leaders  Barcelona dropped three points on a day that close challengers Real failed to capitalise on their stuttering.

Barca were beaten 1-2 by Real Sociedad.

It never rains for Mourinho these days. After losing 0-2 to Barca in the Champions semi-final first leg at home, and receiving both stinging criticism and support from Spanish media, Mourinho has been heavily criticised by former Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink for his comments about referees.

In his criticism of what he referred to as favouritism of Barca in the Champions League, the Special One referred to a 2009 semi-final defeat of Chelsea by the Barca Hiddink was Chelesea coach then, and he does not take kindly to Mourinho's comments.

"Mourinho has gone too far. Wit all his critical remarks he wants to divert attention from the way he made his team play," Hiddink lashed out.

"Before I knew it, he got me involved. Jose coampred the Real-Barcxa game with the Chelsea-Barca semi-final in 2009 when I was manager at Stamford Bridge.

 "We missed out on the final too,  but the big difference is that we did not moan about conspiracies," Hiddink, who is now the new Turkey coach added.

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