Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho turned up at a press conference Friday on the eve of a league clash against arch-rival Barcelona but refused to speak.
"Jose Mourinho will not answer any question," a club spokesman said at the start of the news conference, causing many journalists to abandon Real's press center in protest.
Assistant coach Aitor Karanka attempted to justify the Portuguese coach's decision to remain mute.
"Every time he speaks, everything he says gets magnified, he does not want his words to be magnified," he said as a stone-faced Mourinho sat beside him and faced the journalists who stayed at the press conference.
Karanka rejected suggestions that Mourinho's refusal to talk was disrespectful of Real fans or would soil the club's image.
"What the fans want is for Real Madrid to be where it is today, they want a coach who works hard every day, who demonstrates that he is 100 percent with the club, independent of whether or not he speaks," he said.
Real will face Barcelona at home on Saturday in La Liga play ahead of three more "Clasicos" in less than three weeks, in the Spanish Cup final and the Champions League semi-finals.
Mourinho watched Sporting Gijon win 1-0 at the Bernabeu in Real's last home league game, ending his nine-year, 150-match unbeaten home league record.
