Angel Di Maria said, speaking to Sport newspaper, that Jose Mourinho instilled in the mind of every Real Madrid player during his first spell at the club that the only way to beat Barcelona was to hit them. Di Maria's recollection also covered a 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou and his apology to Lionel Messi after kicking him during the 2011 Copa del Rey final.
Mourinho's message
Di Maria said: "Mourinho instilled in the mind of every Real Madrid player that the only way to beat Barcelona was to hit them."
The 5-0 at Camp Nou
Di Maria referred to Real Madrid's 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou. He said: "I don't think I've played a game in which I touched the ball so little, like that 5-0 at the Camp Nou."
Di Maria added: "I was trying to press, but the ball was never where I went."
He also said: "It was unbelievable."
National team and Clasico meetings
Di Maria said: "In the national team, everyone was friends, and they would easily beat any national team they faced, but when they played against each other, they would trade punches."
Apology to Messi
Di Maria said he apologised to Lionel Messi after kicking him during the 2011 Copa del Rey final. He said: "I apologised to him, but if you don't bring him down, you won't be able to stop them from scoring the goal."