Mourinho hints at England comeback

MADRID - Agence France-Presse

Real Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho implies he will not be working at the Spanish giants next season and could make a return to Premier League. REUTERS photo

Jose Mourinho has hinted that he could be set for a return to England after seeing his Real Madrid side go out of the Champions League at the semifinal stage for the third consecutive season.

Real very nearly staged a remarkable late comeback to progress to the final after goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos gave the team a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on the night, but the Germans’ 4-1 victory in last week’s first-leg was enough for a 4-3 aggregate win.

And afterwards Mourinho refused to confirm that he will still be in charge of the Spanish champions next season.
“My future is not important, it is Real Madrid that are important,” he said.

“I know that in England I am loved. I am loved by the fans and the media who are fair with me. They criticise me and give me credit when I deserve it. I know I am loved by the clubs, especially one. In Spain it is different because people hate me, many of whom are in this room, and it is difficult because I love the club and the president and we have made this team which is ready to achieve big things.”

After a frantic opening 15 minutes by Madrid, in which it had three clear chances to score, Dortmund seemed to have drawn the sting from its opponents until the host’s late onslaught, and Mourinho lamented not having scored earlier.

“We started very strongly, with intensity, we pressured them and the circulation of the ball was excellent. The earlier you score a goal the better chance you have to come back. We missed important chances and that meant in the second half we had to risk everything.

“I’m proud of the way we kept going till the end.”