Jose Mourinho refused to make excuses for Real Madrid's humiliating 5-0 defeat to champion Barcelona in the Clasico at Camp Nou on Monday, admitting his 'Galacticos' had been well below-par but dismissed suggestions the margin of victory reflected the difference between the two sides.

"It is a result for one team that played well and punishment for one that played very poorly and we deserved to lose," said Mourinho.

"I don't think you can say the result reflects the difference between the two teams and the championship isn't over today and there is still a lot for us to play for in this league as we are only two points behind."

Real's wounded players have now lost five successive Clasicos to Barcelona, with their last victory coming back in April 2008, and must pick themselves up for Saturday's home match against Valencia.

"We have to show character. I spoke to the players in the dressing-room and when you lose 5-0 like today you have to come back with desire to train hard and win matches again," said Mourinho. "The next game is Saturday, which is a shame because I wish it was tomorrow as that would be the best thing."

On a personal note, it was a disappointing night for Mourinho on his return to Camp Nou, where he used to work as a translator under Bobby Robson and where he became public enemy No 1 when his Inter Milan defeated Barcelona in last season's Champions League semifinals.

"Sometimes you come away with good results, as I did with Chelsea and Inter Milan, but sometimes it doesn't work out," said Mourinho. "I am sad, of course, because we lost and I expected much more as we had been playing well."

Agence France-Presse