Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has ruled out a return to the Bernabeu home, as his side prepare to face Los Blancos in the Champions League qualifying round. With Alvaro Arbeloa’s future uncertain beyond the summer, it has been suggested that Mourinho could be on the verge of a return.
Arbeloa took over without a host of potential replacements for Xabi Alonso. Jurgen Klopp’s name continues to pop up, but the former Liverpool boss has distanced himself from the job. President Florentino Perez also holds Mourinho in high esteem.
“Yes, you can,” Mourinho replied when asked if it was possible to say no to Real Madrid, then explained that he had not spoken to Perez since the start of the season.
“The last time I signed with Benfica. He told me that he was very happy because I signed for a big team. He didn’t come to the last game; I hope he will be there tomorrow and I will talk to him. We are good friends,” he told Diario AS.
“I don’t want to spread news that doesn’t exist” – Mourinho
The Portuguese manager continued to sing the praises of everyone at the Bernabeu for the second time in the past month. Even if he can get out of his current contract to join Real Madrid, Mourinho has played down the idea.
“I gave everything I had to Real Madrid. I did things well and some things badly, but I gave everything. When a professional gives everything, there is a connection that lasts forever. My feeling after these 12 years with the fans of Madrid is the same as mine: they respect me and respect me a lot. It’s nice for me.”
“I don’t want to stir up issues that don’t exist. I still have one year left on my contract with Benfica; it’s special because it’s election time and we wanted to protect a new president. It has an easy clause to break. I have nothing against Real Madrid. I’d like to get rid of Real Madrid, but I’d really like Arbeloa to win La Liga and stay at Real Madrid for many years and he has a true Madrid talent for many years. Personality.”
Mourinho’s time at Real Madrid, despite the love of some, remains highly controversial, due to his behavior on the phone and in the press room.
“There is nothing I can change because there is nothing I can change now, I am happy that I gave everything.
Mourinho: ‘Leaving was the best thing for me and Real Madrid’
Similarly, he did not regret leaving Real Madrid. Mourinho left after four years in charge of the Copa del Rey and the Liga title to show for his efforts in terms of major honors, but they were able to bring down Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
“I must be one of the few Real Madrid coaches to leave without being fired. If you leave of your own accord, you are not jealous. I left with a clear conscience. I will never forget what the president told me when I left: ‘Now comes the easy part, the hard part is over.’ My family is the most important thing to me, and that was the best thing.”
“It was also the best thing for Real Madrid. After difficult, difficult, turbulent years, everything Real Madrid has done since then has only brought me joy. I don’t feel part of anything; the credit belongs to those who were there. The Estádio da Luz is Real Madrid’s stadium of joy. They lost, but they were not eliminated; they won the Champions League title here.”
Real Madrid will be hoping to get revenge on Benfica on Tuesday night at the Estadio da Luz, although this time in the second leg in Madrid they go back. Kylian Mbappe will return to action, but Raul Asencio is missing through suspension. There were good moments for Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who did not participate in their first meeting.
