After Real Madrid bowed out of the Champions League in a similar fashion to the last two editions (semi-final exit), the Spanish sport media who took their time to praise the players’ resolve to stage a comeback at the Bernabeu also criticized Mourinho’s post match antics.
Mourinho was satirical and straight to the point as ever in the press room after Tuesday night’s game. The Portuguese made lots of comments; one of which echoed the sounds of prejudice was his claim to have been treated unfairly by the Spanish media and that he would prefer to work where his achievements were properly appreciated.
“I know am loved in England, where the media treats me fairly,” Mourinho said, in response to an English reporter’s question. “Criticising me when they have to; but giving credit when I deserve it. In Spain the situation is a bit different, because some people hate me. Many of them are in this room.”
The Madrid press treated Mourinho’s post match comments with a reserved approach on Monday morning. Most of the publications criticised Mourinho for different reasons.
AS’ accused him of ‘navel- gazing,’ in the sense that he had concentrated most of his post- match comments on his own future, rather than Madrid’s exit from the Champions League.
Tomas Roncero a writer for AS’ also claimed to be “hurt that Mourinho, on the night that we suffered a terrible punch in the stomach, announced that he was possibly leaving. In three years he has not understood the greatness of this club.”
Mourinho’s antics must have gotten on the nerves of Madrid’s Press Media for them to question his credibility. Mourinho’s fond recollection of his coming then the re- introduction of Madrid’s dominance on the European stage was also placed under the microscope by the press.
“Vicente del Bosque won two Champions League and two La Liga titles in his three years in charge,” AS’ said.
Another issue worrying the Madridistas is the fact that Mourinho’s exit is always likely to create a void wherever he’s been, as at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Under a headline, in English, of ‘All you need is Klopp,’ Miguel Serrano wrote in Marca that “no coach in the world is capable of filling the enormous void that the ‘Special One’ will leave,” he scanned through the list of other candidates before suggesting the German is the only man for the job.
Mundo Deportivo’s headline bade “Adios Decima,” while Sport chose a similar headline: “Adios Mou- consuming failure.
Mourinho who now have the Copa del Rey as his only opportunity of redeeming his trophyless 2013 season has been considered a failure in the Spanish capital, depending on who you are talking with.
“Madrid is now left in a trance, with its fans divided,” Josep M Artells wrote in Mundo Deportivo.
