Real Madrid president Perez defends under fire Mourinho

 MADRID, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this Saturday defended under-fire coach Jose Mourinho at an event with the club's supporters.

Perez used the award of medals to some of the oldest Real Madrid club members to praise Mourinho's work after the Portuguese¹ trainer has been criticized in recent weeks.

The fact that Madrid are only third in the league table, 11 points behind bitter rivals FC Barcelona have led many to speculate that Mourinho is planning to abandon the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the campaign, despite having a contract until the end of June 2016.

Mourinho has also dropped hints that he could be tiring of Real Madrid, amid rumors² of a breakdown³ in relations with several players in the dressing⁴ room.

His relationship with Perez has also been called into doubt with the press openly speculating that coach and president were no longer as close as they had been, something Perez worked hard to deny.

"Real Madrid have got the best coach in the world, who has an impressive past record and who has the most demanding job there is in the world," said Perez.

"Mourinho has had to put up with attacks and unfair criticism and some of them have been a direct affront⁵ to his dignity, but I want to use this moment to express my recognition to Jose Mourinho, my confidence in his work and all of my affection," he said.

Perez also refused to accept that his club was out of the title race despite their 11 point deficit⁶ to Barcelona and a five point gap behind Atletico Madrid.

"There are no impossible challenges here as the coach and players all know. We have already been able to celebrate this season after winning the Supercup," he said.

1 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

2 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

4 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

5 affront   

n./v.侮辱，触怒

参考例句：

• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
• This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。