The two clubs met in the competition at this stage in 2004, when Zinedine Zidane was sent off before half time, at which point Jorge Valdano spoke to one of the officials. After the match restarted Sevilla had a man sent off, and believe that Real influenced the referee’s decision.
Sevilla have also shown a TV ad of their players stripping to the waist and wearing war paint, striking aggressive poses and with the Portuguese for “we are going to leave you without a title” as the subtext.
Aitor Karanka, Mourinho’s assistant, said: “He doesn’t want to be punished for trying to defend the club. He wants normality and has decided I appear instead. He doesn’t want to add to what’s coming from Sevilla. Whatever he says will be used to punish him.”
