Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Monday he was happy to take flak if it means he has managed to motivate his players rather than sit back and enjoy cordial relations with them.

“As a coach I prefer to draw criticism for my aggressive style in a press conference because I try to play on the hurt pride of my players rather than to be politically correct and continue to lose,” said Mourinho, who is determined to knock leaders Barcelona off their perch in La Liga but also deliver European glory.

Real have made a slow start to the league campaign and fine themselves eight points adrift of Barca after two early defeats.

But he feels that their last-gasp Champions League pool win over Manchester City and a draw at the Nou Camp has indicated that things are looking up.

“We are still eight points off the pace but the team came out (of those matches) stronger.”

Mourinho has several times in recent months spoken of how one day he will return to England - he hopes after becoming the first man to win the Champions League with three clubs if he can end Real’s decade-long drought.

But he says for now he is is happy in Madrid.

“I think I am apppreciated. Clearly not by everybody, which is normal. I continue to think there are pseudo-supporteurs, but the dyed-in-the-wool Madrileno, the one with the scarf round his neck, the ones you