NOU CAMP ICON Johan Cruyff has launched a scathing attack on Real Madrid over their criticism of refereeing decisions.
Real enforced a media blackout during the course of last week in protest against the perceived standard of refereeing after the team’s 1-1 draw at Villarreal, which allowed Barcelona to close the gap at the top of the La Liga table to six points.
“Madrid are sore losers looking for excuses,” Cruyff wrote in his column for El Periodico de Catalunya. ”Against Malaga and Villarreal, they did not do any worse than when they played against Betis or Rayo Vallecano.
“They won matches when they did not deserve to and they drew matches when they had everything to win. It is just that simple. Nowadays, Madrid either win or they are left angry. There is no middle ground.”
The 64-year-old then stressed that this La Liga title is Madrid’s to lose, while casting doubt over Los Blancos’ success in the long run.
“Barca cannot win La Liga,” Cruyff said. “They cannot win it no matter how great they are. They cannot win it because, when you are 10 points behind Madrid with 12 matches left, you cannot win it not even if you win all those games.
“But football tells me that Barca’s growth is proportional to all the doubts that Madrid generate. While Pep Guardiola’s players have nothing that troubles them, Jose Mourinho’s side already see ghosts everywhere.”
Barca host Athletic Bilbao in this weekend’s La Liga fixture, while Madrid visit Osasuna.
