Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has described Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho's management style as 'aggressive' and far different to his own.
Del Bosque, a former Madrid manager and the man in charge when they last won the European Cup in 2002, did though reject the idea that he was missed by his old club. "There are many varying factors like the character and personality of the coach," he told an event hosted by Marca Espana, a political body that promotes the image of Spain at home and abroad.
"Mourinho seems like a very aggressive coach. I, on the other hand, am more calm. There may be a world between these two extremes, but the most important things is that the group functions. The rest is of secondary importance.
"I don't think they miss me. We are talking about the best club of the 20th century and one of the best currently.
"Madrid are a strong and extraordinary organisation that maintains, along with Barcelona, an incredible level that everyone who enjoys football likes to see."
Del Bosque also took the opportunity to address the ongoing controversial topic of Spain playing friendly games in far-flung destinations.
Already this season the World and European champions have played away games in Panama and Puerto Rico and also clashed with Uruguay in Qatar a fortnight ago.
However, rather than being an unnecessary strain on his players, del Bosque insists it is an honour to be invited to play in such games.
"For us it is an honour to go there. The national team is in demand in many countries throughout the world.
"It makes us happy to represent our country like modest ambassadors of the Spanish brand and we are proud to do so. However, there are those that rather than helping seem to be against it."
The 62-year-old also doesn't believe another two clashes between Madrid and Barcelona in the next 10 days will hamper relations inside the Spanish camp for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Finland and France.
"In the Madrid-Barca game we saw a few days ago the debates after the game were not about the great game we saw, but the unnecessary controversy over whether there had been something in the car park or something else on the pitch. People are always looking for the bad in football and not the good.
"We have many Catalan or Basque payers and I have never had to remind anyone that we are in the Spanish national team.
"The best example is the three goalkeepers. One from Madrid (Iker Casillas) with over 100 caps, another from Cordoba (Pepe Reina) with 20 odd caps and a Catalan (Victor Valdes) with just five.
"And yet it is the best relationship that there is in the team."
Source: AFP
