Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has refuted claims that the squad, led by Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, have told him to choose between the players and Jose Mourinho.
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Reports had suggested the duo gave the supremo the ultimatum at a meeting on Tuesday, but Perez is adamant there exists no discord between the Portuguese boss and the Madrid squad, and that the reason for their meeting was to discuss bonuses for the season.
Perez held a meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday to address the issue.
"After the serious incident which happened today I have broken my policy of not speaking about day-to-day matters at the club," Perez said. "It is totally false that at the dinner held with the captains and the director general an ultimatum about the coach was issued, or anything similar.
"The only reason for the meal was to work out the bonuses for the current season. The meeting took place in a magnificent atmosphere with a responsible attitude on the part of the captains.
"What is published is not correct - neither in its content nor its meaning. I accept that some criticism can take place, although that seems to me unjust, but there are ethical limits which everyone must respect."
Perez believes the story was published in order to pressure both him and Mourinho into leaving the club.
"Nobody called me, not me or anyone who was at that meal, to check the truth of this lie or to get our version," he said. "It is very serious. I understand that the departure of someone from the club, the coach or the president, is an objective for someone, but to use a lie to achieve this does not seem ethical to me. I am here to say this very clearly: what was published is simply a lie."
When asked if he had spoken to the former Chelsea and Inter boss about the subject of the reported meeting on Tuesday, or whether or not the players had informed him of their supposed disillusionment with regards to Mourinho's coaching style, the former politician stated that the only purpose of the surprise meeting was to clarify the falsity of the story published in Marca.
"I have just come here to say the information was false and that people are trying to destabilise the club," he said. "I have the responsibility to defend this club, its honour and its 110 years of history.
"I would say someone was not happy that we had the success of reaching the Copa del Rey semi-final and wanted to destabilise the club.
"The level of responsibility of the captains is incompatible with the published information. You can speak with the four people. I am speaking in the name of the club and its players."
This latest controversy comes hot on the heels of a reported rift between Mourinho and star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who claimed earlier in the season that he was 'unhappy' at the club, as well as the decision to drop club captain Iker Casillas in favour of back-up keeper Antonio Adan.
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