Jose Mourinho praised his players' adaptability after Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Levante

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho praised his players' adaptability after they coped with atrocious conditions and an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge with a 2-1 win at a waterlogged Levante on Sunday.

"The team had to draw on all its character and strength and we were deserved winners. I had never won here and they are three extremely important points." Mourinho even suggested some may have enjoyed the spectacle of the players trying to cope with the ball holding up on the sodden surface. "For all of us who have played football, whether well or badly, it was a party when you played in the rain as a kid and I think that in their way, people like it," he said. "The more technical side and the referee have more problems, the fans too because it's cold and raining. That's part of football too and you have to adapt." Spanish media reported that Levante captain Sergio Ballesteros had clashed with Real defender Pepe near the dressing rooms after the game and police officers had to intervene to calm down officials and players from both teams. And Sergio Ramos lashed out at Levante's Ballesteros in the aftermath of Real Madrid's win, insisting boxing would be a more suitable sport for the defender. "If he doesn't like football and prefers boxing, then he should just switch sports," Ramos was quoted as saying by AS. "You get tired of people like him. He's a bad loser. Ask him what happened in the tunnel. We did our job on the pitch and we are happy with the win."