MADRID — Real Madrid President Florentino Perez angrily denied a report in Marca sports daily Thursday saying there was a rift between coach Jose Mourinho and club captains Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. The two Spanish internationals backed Perez and Mourinho with a separate statement on the club's website, denying the newspaper's story of a “him or us” ultimatum. In an unusual move for the construction magnate, Perez called a news conference at the Bernabeu Stadium to address the report, which he said was “simply a lie” and was “designed to destabilize the club”. Marca's morning edition said, without naming the source, that players were threatening to leave if Mourinho continued. The alleged ultimatum was given at a meal with Perez and director general Jose Angel Sanchez this week, according to the paper. “As you can see I have changed my normal practice of not commenting on the club's day-to-day affairs,” a grim-faced Perez told reporters. “It is completely false that at the meal with the captains we had on Tuesday any kind of ultimatum was given regarding the coach or anything of the kind,” he added. “As is normal for the month of January, we had a meal including the two captains, the director general and myself with the sole aim of agreeing the bonuses for the various competitions we are contesting this season. “I believe that there are ethical limits that have to be respected, also for those who do not support our project.” Real, Sevilla into Cup semis Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals of the Spanish Cup Wednesday after a 1-1 draw at Valencia saw Jose Mourinho's side progress 3-1 on aggregate. Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Madrid, Karim Benzema gave Real the lead a minute before half-time but Tino Costa leveled for the home side on 52 minutes following Fabio Coentrao's dismissal. Real also saw Angel di Maria dismissed late on. Sevilla also clinched its berth in the last four following a 4-0 rout of Real Zaragoza. After a goalless first leg, Zaragoza's cause was hampered by a 26th-minute red card to Jose Manuel Fernandez as Alvaro Negredo and Ivan Rakitic struck before the interval. Fran Gonzalez then received his marching orders as Zaragoza was reduced to nine men on 65 minutes before further strikes from Negredo and Manu del Moral completed the demolition. Roma edges Inter AS Roma quickly renewed acquaintances with Inter Milan but this time won 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico to seize the advantage in their Italian Cup semifinal first leg Wednesday. The host, who drew 1-1 with Inter in the league Sunday, raced into a 2-0 lead after Alessandro Florenzi rose highest to head in after 13 minutes and striker Mattia Destro also nodded in a cross just after the half hour. Rodrigo Palacio pulled one back for Inter a minute before the break when he escaped the offside trap and turned in Esteban Cambiasso's free kick with the home defense all at sea. — Agencies
