Spain (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first own-goal of his otherwise stellar career to condemn Real Madrid to a 1-0 defeat at Granada on Saturday, as Jose Mourinho’s side fell into the same funk that has dogged it all season against lesser-name opponents.
Ronaldo’s career is packed with goals of all sorts and from all angles, but in 10 1/2 seasons he never had found the back of his team’s net until he headed a corner over goalkeeper Diego Lopez in a flubbed attempt to clear the ball 22 minutes in.
Madrid’s latest slip, however, rested on the entire team as the defending champion failed to get a shot on target until Ronaldo finally found the mark after 58 minutes.
Madrid’s fifth loss in 12 away games this season left it 15 points behind Barcelona before the Spanish league leader visits Valencia on Sunday. Atletico Madrid is four points ahead of Madrid heading into Sunday’s game against Real Betis.
Mourinho Speaks
“When we win and everyone plays well it’s the result of self management, but when we lose it’s the responsibility of the coach,” Mourinho told reporters. “So we didn’t play well today, we weren’t ourselves, so now I’m the one responsible.
“We didn’t manage a draw, and the result bothers me. It bothers me also that in the first half we were terrible, and, even if we tied in the second half, there would have been very little to be satisfied about.”
The Portuguese also questioned why Barcelona, who could go 18 points clear on Sunday, were given a day extra after their Copa del Rey semi-final clash on Wednesday.
“It’s been clear for a long time that teams do not have control of their calender. It was a huge and physically exhausting game on Wednesday, yet one team plays today, while the other plays tomorrow. It has always been the case,” he continued angrily.
“A few of our players who played today were tired, because they worked tremendously in the full game against Barcelona.
“But I don’t know why there were others who played today and were tired, yet they were either on the bench, or in the stands, on Wednesday.”