Soccer:Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's decision not to speak to the media ahead of tomorrow's 'El Clasico' with Barcelona resulted in a walk-out by scores of journalists at the start of today's press conference, which was held by assistant coach Aitor Karanka.

It was revealed earlier today that Karanka, as has happened on occasions this season, would speak to the media in place of Mourinho prior to the table-topping clash between the two Spanish superpowers at the Bernabeu.

That did not go down well with the assembled journalists at Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground and many took the decision to stage a walk-out as soon as Karanka arrived.

When Karanka did come out he was accompanied by Mourinho, but as soon as it was confirmed the Portuguese would not be answering any questions, it was estimated that more than 100 journalists and television crews from several different countries left the room.

Karanka then fielded questions from the journalists who stayed, but Mourinho remained silent.

Filippo Ricci, a journalist with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport who was among those who left, explained: “What happened was Mourinho decided not to come to the press conference, the usual press conference before the Clasico, and to send out Aitor Karanka.

“The press didn’t like this decision and decided to quit the press centre as he was coming in. The surprise was that Mourinho also came into the press centre, but when the press officer said Mourinho wasn’t getting any questions, at that moment around half to three-quarters of the press centre left.”