Mourinho skips Barcelona pre-match press briefing

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has opted for silence ahead of Saturday’s “clasico” against Barcelona in the Spanish league.

Mourinho sent assistant Aitor Karanka to face journalists at a press conference Friday after the team’s final training session before the match at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Karanka was curt when twice asked why Mourinho was absent—saying the Madrid coach had appeared at “more than 30” press conferences and did not need to give further explanations.

Karanka said Madrid, which leads Barcelona by three points, was preparing “in the same way as for any other match.”

Center back Ricardo Carvalho is Madrid’s main absentee through injury, while fellow defender Alvaro Arbeloa is also struggling for fitness.