Mourinho talks up Chelsea return
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, May 2, 2013
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Mourinho hints at Chelsea return. |
Jose Mourinho's possible departure from Real Madrid at the end of the season would leave club president Florentino Perez in a tricky position as he seeks an adequate replacement for the man he has constantly lauded as "the best coach in the world".
Obsessed with winning the 10th continental crown that has eluded Real since 2002, Perez hired the controversial Portuguese at great expense in 2010 after he led Inter Milan to the Champions League title.
After Tuesday's elimination from Europe's elite club competition by Borussia Dortmund, when Real failed to overturn a 1-4 deficit in its semifinal second leg at the Bernabeu, Mourinho dropped his strongest hint yet that his time in the Spanish capital is drawing to a close.
Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos scored late goals to give Real hope but it fell just short and Dortmund went through to the May 25 final 4-3 on aggregate.
Asked after the game if he would stay on next term, Mourinho said: "Maybe not. I don't know but I want to be where people love me to be."
"I am loved by some clubs, especially one (Chelsea). In Spain it is different, some people hate me, many of you in this (press) room," he added.
If he does leave Real at the end of the season, he will have led it to one La Liga title, and, if it beats Atletico Madrid in this month's final, two Copa titles.
Mourinho's combative character may have had a negative impact on the club's image that will leave behind a damaging legacy. He has had greater resources than any other Madrid manager has ever had.
When he brought on Kaka and Benzema from the bench as a last throw of the dice on Tuesday, he was introducing two players that between them cost nearly double what it took to assemble the entire Dortmund squad.
His stint at Real will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, primarily for sneaking up behind Tito Vilanova, then assistant Barcelona coach, during a brawl and poking a finger in his eye, continual complaints about refereeing bias, ugly clashes with journalists and Real officials and dark hints that Barcelona get favorable treatment from governing body UEFA.
He has also sidelined club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, a hero to many supporters.
Some reports in Spain have suggested Perez is lining up Carlo Ancelotti, currently in charge at Paris St-Germain, to replace Mourinho. The Italian is a very different personality to the outspoken Mourinho and won the Champions League with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. Perhaps the understated and respectful Ancelotti is just what Real need to restore calm and finally get their hands on the "decima", or 10th European title.
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