Mourinho more relaxed after cup triumph
Reuters - Friday 22 April 2011, 20:04
MADRID - Jose Mourinho is feeling more
relaxed at Real Madrid after landing his first piece of
silverware for the club in the midweek King's Cup Final against
arch-rivals Barcelona, the Portuguese coach said on Friday.
"We won a cup which is all the more valuable because of the
quality of our adversary and the moment that sticks with me is
my embrace from the president (Florentino Perez)," Mourinho told
a news conference.
"To feel that people want me, and that I will be here for
more than one year, makes me feel more relaxed. My teams are
(always) better in the second season."
The former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto coach's future at
the Bernabeu has been the subject of media speculation despite
him being in the first season of a four-year deal.
The pressure to win a trophy for Real in Mourinho's debut
campaign eased after Wednesday's 1-0 King's Cup win over runaway
La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Mourinho also dismissed media reports linking him with a
return next season to Inter, the team he led to a Champions
League-Serie A-Italian Cup treble last year.
Real trail the Spanish league leaders by eight points with
six matches remaining and visit third-placed Valencia on
Saturday before doing battle with Barca again in a Champions
League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Injuries will keep out Emmanuel Adebayor, Angel Di Maria and
Sami Khedira for the game against Valencia at the Mestalla -
the venue for Real's win in the King's Cup.
Germany midfielder Khedira's leg injury is likely to rule
him out of the midweek match with Barca as well.
"He won't play tomorrow or next Wednesday, almost
certainly," said Mourinho. "But we hope he'll be back as soon as
possible."