I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 805: Chapter 56: Nobody Cares_2

Unlike Real Madrid, Barcelona can’t afford to lose.

Guardiola, however, stated that they wouldn’t let up on the away game, ”I believe my players will strive to win this match, rather than thinking about losing. Real Madrid is a formidable opponent, and you must think about how to beat them from the outset...”

In terms of the league, Barcelona is at a disadvantage, but when considering both major cup competitions, Guardiola’s team is not necessarily incapable.

The reason is simple, Guardiola’s team is currently in better overall condition.

No one paid attention to the Tottenham match, if not for Mourinho’s interview, people might have forgotten about the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals with Tottenham.

Before giving their all on Wednesday to secure a spot in the semi-finals, Real Madrid’s coach Mourinho expressed to the UEFA official website that he hopes Real Madrid players can taste the flavor of the Champions Cup in crucial events, experience the feeling of the Champions Cup, and draw the necessary growth nutrients from it.

As the nine-time Champions League winner, Real Madrid achieved a 4-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals. Mourinho commented on this: ”You must consider our players’ level, but some of them have never participated in a quarter-final, feeling and tasting participating in this event for the first time—this event, in my opinion, is the most important event in the world, which greatly benefits you. This will not hinder their performance or put them under pressure, quite the opposite, they must enjoy these moments, as they are unique moments. Additionally, Tottenham played very well in England during the Champions League matches, in a lively atmosphere, that feeling is wonderful.”

Despite the first leg’s 4-0 victory over Tottenham, Mourinho did not dare to be complacent for the second leg, saying: ”Tottenham knows how to play, they are a British team, they uphold British tradition. Tottenham has a British coach who cannot deny his culture and background, shaped by many matches in the Premier League. Yet, on the other hand, they also have people with a different understanding of football; they have Modric, Van der Vaart, Sandro—a Croatian player, a Dutch player, a Brazilian player—all players with entirely different football cultures. Tottenham is a team built on this mixed culture, I really like such a team.”

If Mourinho helps Real Madrid win the Champions League, he will become the first in history to lead three different teams to win the Champions League. Regarding this, he said: ”If you talk about this, it involves various records. Winning three trophies at the same club and winning three trophies at three different clubs during different periods in three different countries are completely different. I hope to achieve this accomplishment, but I cannot always be thinking about it. I look forward to the team playing at a high level, playing unforgettable matches. I look forward to doing everything perfectly to make the fans happy. Winning the Champions League trophy is something that can truly impact the fans, and I hope to win the trophy more than once before my coaching career ends, but I won’t think about it all the time.”

At the end of the interview, Mourinho also described his difficult times at Real Madrid: ”The entire structure of Real Madrid is very huge, and it’s hard to keep everything under control. Real Madrid is a very demanding club, you have to do your utmost to show your best side. But this is what I am happy to see because I knew things wouldn’t be so simple. I know Real Madrid’s structure is far from perfect, that’s why I came here, and I will focus on doing my job well. We must broaden our horizons to build the club better and earn the honor worthy of being the best club of the 20th century.”

The second leg against Tottenham soon ended.

Real Madrid beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 away and successfully advanced to the Champions League semi-finals. Mourinho did not feel elated after the match; indeed, he had long shifted his focus from this match, and in the post-match press conference, he spoke more about Barcelona and the upcoming four national derbies.

The Portuguese stated: ”Barcelona is a successful team, but anything can happen in a match.” He also remarked sarcastically, ”We shall wait to see the results of the match against Barcelona. Barcelona is the kind of team that can reasonably win if they play well because they are a great team, but even if they play poorly, they can still win.”

Among the four matches against Barcelona, Mourinho believes ”the most important is the next one,” meaning the La Liga match this Saturday at the Bernabeu Stadium.

”Each match is different, my theory is to take matches one at a time, I will start preparing tomorrow for Saturday’s match rather than the King’s Cup final.”

Mourinho also believes that Real Madrid has a responsibility to reach the Champions League semi-finals, ”From a historical perspective, Real Madrid must arrive here—at the antechamber of the finals. Although we’re a young team, reaching the semi-finals is very normal. Real Madrid is a team under construction, but advancing to the semi-finals is truly normal, and the club must think this way.”

Regarding the match against Tottenham, Real Madrid’s main central defender Cavaleiro received a card in the match and will not be able to play in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona. Mourinho explained why he let Cavaleiro, who was close to suspension, play: ”Other players will play in the first leg, Cavaleiro will play in the second leg. After watching the first half against Tottenham, it was obvious that you can’t joke around with them, they had two scoring opportunities in the first half. I think it makes sense for us to field a strong lineup, Tottenham has opportunities. Although 4-0 is a big lead, if they scored in the first half, with the fervent atmosphere from the fans and their high level, they could give us trouble.”

On the issue of Cavaleiro’s suspension, Mourinho incidentally mocked Barcelona and UEFA: ”Players on the pitch always carry a bit of risk, the World of Football will undoubtedly have something to say: other coaches, other players can manipulate bookings, but we cannot. Not everyone is equal; some can manipulate bookings, some cannot. We can also manipulate bookings, but if we do so, now my players and I have been penalized. At Bernabeu, leading 4-0, I didn’t want to manipulate bookings. After that, in a similar situation, another team manipulated bookings. My greatest concern now is that three defenders have cards. Against Tottenham, I did not summon Albiol, then Pepe was suspended, now Cavaleiro is suspended.”

Mourinho spoke little about the match against Tottenham, ”The match was not easy, but every moment we controlled the match. We fought to maintain the advantage, the match proved we must demonstrate the highest level.” Before the press conference prior to Barcelona’s match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Guardiola made a rare verbal slip, claiming that after eliminating Shakhtar Donetsk, Barcelona would enter the finals, leading to a misunderstanding that Barcelona did not regard Real Madrid as a semi-final opponent. In response, Mourinho mocked again: ”We are a team that respects opponents; we have not considered the finals, only the semi-finals.”

What are your wishes for the 4 matches against Barcelona? Mourinho surprised again: ”My primary wish is to see Real Madrid still have 11 men on the field at the end of the match. A key to playing against Barcelona is whether you can manage to have 11 men on the field at the end of the match. For some reason, there is always someone getting sent off when fighting against them.” Mourinho also praised the match referee: ”In a match like today, if it’s not a top referee, if it’s a less experienced referee than Rizzoli, then likely we’d have been penalized with a penalty.”

As for his future, Mourinho stated: ”British football is my natural habitat, that’s where I want to go back to, but next season I will still be at Real Madrid—unless the media fires me. C. Ronaldo to AC Milan? Nothing is impossible, but it would require a very unreasonable, extremely crazy offer. Only the chairman of Real Madrid can decide everything; C. Ronaldo is a great player, and I don’t think anyone can afford his transfer fee. Me joining Manchester City? That’s impossible.”

Mourinho also expressed, Real Madrid entering the semi-finals or the King’s Cup final is not enough, but must put in more effort to become legendary. ”I have been in football for many years, and I am very clear, you can do very well, you can meticulously build a team for the future, but if you are unable to win anything, then your work will quickly be forgotten. That’s how football is. Precisely because of this, merely entering the Champions League semi-finals or King’s Cup final is not enough, you must achieve more.