Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho watched how late substitute Alvaro Morata scored a late winner against Levante to keep his side in the battle for the BBVA Primera Liga title and then presented himself as the defender of the club's youth system.

Morata, in theory the fourth striker in the Madrid squad, was only introduced with 10 minutes remaining in the game against a physical Levante with the score 1-1 thanks to a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, who was substituted at half time after receiving an ugly challenge from Levante's David Navarro, and an equalizer from Levante substitute Angel.

A draw would have left Madrid 10 points behind Barca in the race for the title, but after just four minutes on the pitch Morata scored a glancing header to give his side the win.

Morata justified his introduction in the match, but the fact he was only given a limited amount of time despite Ronaldo's injury and the fact that Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema were both missing with physical problems, seems to highlight that Mourinho has little faith in the club's youth system.

The Madrid coach has recently been questioned over his reluctance to use Nacho Fernando at left back despite injuries to Fabio Coentrao, Alvaro Arbeloa and Marcelo and a look at the minutes enjoyed by players from the Madrid youth system under Mourinho bears this out.

Although plenty of players have made their first team debuts under Mourinho none of them have even got close to establishing themselves in the first team squad and nearly all of the time they have had on the pitch has been either 'dead time' with a result already decided beyond doubt, or in friendly matches or games against opponents of much lesser quality such as in the Copa del Rey.

However, when asked about Morata, who has played less than 200 minutes first team football all season, Mourinho reacted angrily to suggestions he was holding back the youngster's progress.

"I am the one who brought him into the first team. I am the one who took him on three pre-season tours and I am the one who stopped him leaving the club and the one who directs him," said the Real Madrid coach.

"We have Higuain and Benzema and if they don't play people will say that I am mad, but I don't care about that. The player (Morata) is growing both as a footballer and as a person. People can talk but we will carry on with what we are doing," he added.

Mourinho was asked whether or not he was taking advantage of the situation after being criticized for his handling of the youth system.

"The merit is mine in helping his growth and training and not allowing him to leave," continued Mourinho citing two current Spain internationals are players who were allowed to leave the Madrid youth system in the past.

"(Juan) Mata went and (Alvaro) Negredo also went, but I was not responsible for them," he concluded. Endi

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