I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 846: Chapter 75: Not Over Yet!

At the post-match press conference, Mourinho looked displeased, but he still praised Barcelona: ”We are talking about a magnificent team—Barcelona, no one should change my original words.” But then he shifted gears and expressed dissatisfaction: ”But I just don’t understand why in a match like today, originally evenly matched, someone has to make changes. The referee’s role in the match is supposed to ensure equality between the two, then the better team wins. Pepe being sent off is someone trying to solve a problem, and it couldn’t be solved until he was sent off. In the match against Lyon, Gourcuff’s handball in the penalty area wasn’t called, I initially thought the referee didn’t see it, but now I think they’ve reached an agreement not to let Real Madrid pass the Round of 16.”

Regarding his own ejection, Mourinho said: ”I didn’t say anything to the referee. I just smiled and gave him a thumbs up.” Why did Barcelona win? Mourinho gave an eerie answer: ”I don’t know if it’s because they advertised for the United Nations Children’s Fund, or because of their influence with Villa (the Spanish Football Association President) at UEFA, or because Barcelona is very lovable. I still have to congratulate them on being an outstanding team, congratulate them on their energy, this kind of power to flip things around is not easily obtained. Other teams have no chance. But I still want to ask—’why?’”

Mourinho evidently believes there was a hidden hand behind Real Madrid’s loss but held back: ”If I say everything I know, then my career will end today. I just have one question: why choose referees like Overbo, Debruyne, Busacca and Stark? Every time it’s the same in the semifinals. Why was Chelsea unable to reach the final two years ago? Why did Inter, under the pressure of playing with only 10 men for a long time, have to rely on a miracle to save? Today’s match, if not a player short, would have ended 1-0,.....”

”I might carry this question for life, I hope one day someone can give me an answer, of course not in this press conference, this time I was dismissed by a referee who twisted black and white; this referee initially adjudged the opposition player to have committed a foul, but turned around and sent off Pepe. Today everyone saw that eliminating Barcelona is an impossible task. They have to get to the final. My words can only stop here.” Mourinho also mocked Barcelona: ”Why does such a great club still need referee assistance?”

Regarding his feelings at this moment, Mourinho revealed: ”I’m not sad, nor do I feel regretful, the most important thing is to return home and enjoy family joy. Tomorrow is another day. I just want to ask why, if the Barcelona people are honest, they surely know they’re an excellent team, but they also know what they’ve done. We’re supposed to observe the spirit of fair play, only the referee can answer why change a 1-0 match.” Regarding the conflict during halftime, Mourinho refused to comment: ”I was the first to enter the locker room, I saw nothing.”

In response to Guardiola’s press conference remark, ”We will win through actions on the field,” Mourinho said: ”Guardiola gave the response he should have made, he also touched on a bit of politics, but that’s his own business. I’ve won two Champions League titles, both achieved on the field. We sweat, fought, and held our heads high to win. I led Porto to the championship, a country Portugal under normal circumstances couldn’t win the Champions Cup. I also led Inter to win, that was the first time in 50 years. Guardiola is an outstanding coach, but that Champions League he won, if it were me, I’d be ashamed to take because of the ’Stanford Bridge scandal,’ now there’s the ’Bernabeu scandal.’ I hope a good coach like Guardiola one day should win a truly complete championship. I sincerely hope one day he can win a pure, untarnished Champions League title, without involving any scandals.”