Osasuna match 'easy' for Mourinho

Published Sep. 12, 2010 12:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jose Mourinho reflected on an "easy" night's work for Real Madrid as they downed Osasuna 1-0 to give the Portuguese coach his first league win.

However, the former Inter Milan coach knows there is still room for improvement after seeing his slow-starting side fail to impress the home fans during a disappointing first half at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho, whose side took the spoils thanks to a solitary Ricardo Carvalho goal just after half-time, said following after the match: "It didn't seem a difficult game to me, it was easy to win. We haven't had any problems at the back nor have we seen (Iker) Casillas in any difficult situations.

"We didn't play a great game, although we were better in the second half. But I'm building a team and it's important to have gone two games without conceding a goal and without Casillas needing to make any saves.

"We've controlled the game easily, without any problems. That only thing we've lacked is some calm and clarity, which will come with time and work. I'm sure we would have been calmer if we had gone 2-0 up.

"I'm going away happy with the three points and with the total control of the game. I was on the bench without any type of pressure or fear."

Madrid, who drew 0-0 with Real Mallorca in their opening game of the season, struggled to create much in the opening period against a tough-tackling Osasuna side, with visiting goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez needing to make only one save, off Cristiano Ronaldo.

Gonzalo Higuain, who had a number of opportunities in the second half as Madrid improved, also shot into the side-netting from a tight angle just before the break after skipping past Ricardo.

Aside from those openings though Madrid did not impress in the first 45 minutes and the Bernabeu fans, seeing their new-look team up close in competition for the first time, whistled their discontent as the players left the pitch.

When asked about the reaction of the fans at half-time, Mourinho said: "They pay me, the fans can whistle when they want to. I will continue doing my job and one day try to give total satisfaction to the fans. I will never have a negative word about the fans of Real Madrid. I prefer the support of the fans in difficult moments, but I will never criticise."

He added: "I understand that the fans want more, I also want more and the players want more."