Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said the Copa del Rey final triumph over Barcelona shows his side can compete with their rivals and can come out on top in the clubs' forthcoming Champions League semi-final tie.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said the Copa del Rey final triumph over Barcelona shows his side can compete with their rivals and can come out on top in the clubs' forthcoming Champions League semi-final tie.
Mourinho picked up his first trophy as Real Madrid boss following a hard-fought 1-0 win, which saw his side ride their luck at times before edging out their fierce rivals thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's header in extra-time.
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Angel di Maria, who set up the goal for the Portuguese, was later sent off but Madrid held on to give Mourinho a first trophy in Spain.
"I am thrilled to win the Copa del Rey - it is something special," Mourinho said after the game.
"It's a fantastic triumph against a great team like Barcelona - and we deserved it."
Mourinho's men were humbled by Barca in his first Clasico, a 5-0 drubbing at the Nou Camp in late December.
But a 1-1 draw at home to the Catalans in the Primera Division renewed optimism and Mourinho believes this triumph shows his team can match the Spanish champions.
"We can take them on over two games; we have just done that," he said.
"There is no reason we can't beat them in the Champions League because we have just drawn once against them and then beaten them."
And the former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach says the Copa del Rey is just the beginning for this Madrid side.
Ronaldo, the matchwinner said he knew the first goal would prove crucial.
"We knew that whoever scored first would win it - and so it proved," he said.
"Mourinho has given us a winning spirit and this is a really important trophy for us - it was an objective we had for this season and we have achieved it."
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was philosophical in defeat after losing his first final as coach of the Catalan club.
"It's always better to win than to lose," Guardiola said after the game.
"But life is like that - you can't always win."
Despite failing to beat Madrid in their two meetings in the last few days Guardiola is adamant his side can bounce back.
"We will pick ourselves up - of course we will," he said.
"These players have been playing together for a long time and we'll bounce back."
Midfielder Xavi added: "We still have the best two titles to play for."
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