Real Madrid legend reveals Mourinho’s tactics to beat Barcelona – ‘Beat them by hitting’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid do not have a lot to boast about from the period when Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona team dominated the sport.

The Catalans were unplayable and largely acclaimed as the best team in the world by far. To this day, they continue to hold the title of the most well-oiled team in football history.

One game where Real Madrid did manage to get the better of Guardiola’s side, however, was the Copa del Rey final at Mestalla in April 2011 in a game that was considered highly controversial.

In that game, the Blaugrana had a rightful goal denied on the night while Real Madrid got away with seriously dirty play as many saw it.

Di Maria recalls the final

Angel Di Maria was critical for Real Madrid in that famous win over Barcelona, even assisting Cristiano Ronaldo for the only goal in the game.

Angel Di Maria was afraid of hitting Lionel Messi. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Speaking to Clank, he confessed to the tactics utilised by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to beat their arch-rivals on the night and how their only option was to play dirty.

“The only way to beat that Barcelona was by hitting, putting in and running more than them. And that somehow led to madness on the field.”

“At times I was afraid that they would injure Lionel Messi. I was more concerned about nothing happening to him than anything else,” he added on the course the game took.

Elaborating on the night that was bittersweet for Los Blancos, the World Cup winner said, “The game in Mestalla was very hard, that final was kick and kick. At one point I had to kick Leo, who was going against us.”

He then added on how it was difficult to be so harsh on his good friend and international teammate but how he put it all aside for Real Madrid on the night.

“I lifted him up and said ‘Sorry Leo, but if I didn’t take you down you could score.’ I had no other choice. It was playing that way, it was impossible to stop,” he admitted.