Higuain: Mourinho a great motivator

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has praised Jose Mourinho’s motivational skills after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Mallorca in La Liga.

Real were trailing 1-0 at half-time, but goals from Higuain and Jose Callejon after the break helped the table-toppers claim all three points.

“What the coach tells us in the dressing room stays there. Mourinho is a natural motivator and it shows on the pitch,” Higuain said.

“We gave our all after half-time due to things turning out badly for us in the first half. Thank God we managed to win.”

“We knew the match would be complicated and that we would face a Mallorca side different to last year’s. We must now savour this victory and rest. There’s enough time to prepare for the (Copa del Rey) clash against Barcelona.”

Real hold an eight-point lead over Barca in the league table, although Pep Guardiola’s men play Real Betis on Sunday.