Mourinho blames bad luck and fatigue for flop
Reuters - Thursday 26 April 2012, 00:24
Jose Mourinho blamed fatigue
from their 'Clasico' win and sheer bad luck for Real Madrid's
failure to reach the Champions League final on Wednesday.
The nine-times European champions had been convinced they
were going to reach the final, buoyed by their 2-1 La Liga win
at Barcelona on Saturday, and by their arch-rivals' shock defeat
to Chelsea on Tuesday.
With the league title all but in the bag, seven points clear
with four left to play, Mourinho in only his second season at
the helm looked like he had it within his grasp to also steal
Barca's European crown too.
"There was no luck," Mourinho said with a resigned smile.
"It's difficult to reach two semis in two years and not make the
final. We deserved to win.
"I remember a [Champions League] semi-final against
Liverpool which was exactly the same where we had to play a game
to compete in another championship before, and they didn't have
that pressure, and we lost.
"It was the same here. We played with everyone on the
weekend and our opponents didn't.
"Apart from freshness, the team played great though. These
players aren't supermen, that is just a film. The players went
to their very limits," he added after having knelt on the
touchline as if he was praying while he watched his players take
penalties.
"Barca played a derby and two days later they were knocked
out. It isn't easy. That's why you have to really value teams
who win doubles or trebles."
Mourinho seemed to end the speculation that he might leave
Madrid at the end of the campaign, when asked about his future,
even though he still has two years left on his four-year deal at
the Bernabeu.
"If we continue with this empathy, this club and this team
has margin to improve and grow," the Portuguese said.
"If the club and the players think I and they can keep
bringing something to this. I will continue."
Deprived of a meeting with his former club Chelsea in
Munich, he was clear about who he hoped would win.
"John Terry is missing but Chelsea are there. I hope it is a
good final. I want the Blues to win but I respect Reds,"
Mourinho said, as he praised their battling display with ten men
at the Nou Camp.
And he ended with a dig at Pep Guardiola's side.
"Chelsea were heroes yesterday," he added. "Some people
think they are masters of the game, and look down on teams like
them or Inter but they know nothing about things such as effort
and character.
"Chelsea deserve to be there in the final and so do Bayern."