Atlético Madrid vs Chelsea, Champions League semi-final (Tuesday, April 22, 19.45)

The neatest way to summarize what Jose Mourinho and Co face in Madrid tonight is that Chelsea are about to endure the most unsettling prospect of facing ‘themselves’.

Atletico are Chelsea of April 2005. Thibaut Courtois is Petr Cech, Diego Costa is Didier Drogba and above all Diego Simeone is Mourinho at his very best.

Little wonder under-pressure Jose wants to repatriate Courtois next season and is well on his way to signing Diego Costa.

• Betting: Can the ‘new Chelsea’ beat the ‘old Chelsea?

Similarities with Chelsea 2005

Back in 2005 the Blues were horribly difficult to defeat and reached this semi-final stage by defeating both Porto and FC Barcelona – just as Atleti have done this season. But the greater similarities are in attitude, system, work ethic, all-for-one-and-one-for-all spirit.

Simeone is a street-tough man who isn’t afraid to admit he relies on his understanding of the Zodiac and horoscopes as part of his man-management techniques

‘Sanitarians need a lot of affection, but if you’re born under Scorpio you respond better to a bit of tough love. My star sign is Taurus – we can be a bit difficult to deal with. We’ll give you our heart and soul but only if you treat us well. If you try to force us to do something against our will, watch out.’

Tease him if you dare

Just like Mourinho used to have the ultimate capacity to achieve, Simeone has brought all his players, reserves too, to the boil at the same time – and kept them simmering all season. It’s one hell of a trick.

Simeone’s promise to his president

You could compare him to both Pep Guardiola and Mourinho for his absolute intensity – every minute of every working day. And in his spare time. He’ll often go to the cinema, catch the first 15 minutes but then become utterly overtaken by some new thought on training, or a rival, or the last match and need to walk out so that he can make notes.

Friends and family have tired of asking him whether he enjoyed a television programme, a movie or a concert. Usually he’ll have taken in about five per cent of what they have – because his restless football mind won’t let him alone.

Three trophies ago he took over with Atletico sliding down the table and able to peer over their shoulder at the relegation zone. He told his new president:

‘I’m going to make it unpleasant to play us, teams are going to suffer’.

He did. And they have

To this day his motto is: ‘If your car isn’t quite top notch then you have to find a way to puncture the other guy’s tyres so that you can keep up with him.’

What Terry and Lampard think…

When I spoke to John Terry and Frank Lampard (above in 2006) at Cobham last week and asked them about this tie each man pointed out that the general impression of Chelsea having had an extremely favourable draw in avoiding Real Madrid and Bayern didn’t tally with their views of the Spanish league leaders.

Each of them watches Spanish football and while each is respectful of the team it’s also Diego Simeone’s electric buzz of energy, animation and activity on the touchline which has impressed them.

My words, not theirs, but I think they see a version of Mourinho – just younger and as hungry as the Portuguese was back then.

For those who are trying to size up this match it’s important to point out that often Atletico’s margins are the smallest. Lots of 1-0 and 2-1 wins. An indication of rigour, but also an indication that if Chelsea can ‘do a job’ on them then taking a draw or a one-goal win back to London isn’t utterly impossible.

• Betting: Fancy Hunter’s tip of a tight Chelsea result?

More to Atleti than Costa

However, there’s a great deal to say that’s pro-Atletico. In all 23 Liga and Champions League games at the Calderon this season they’ve conceded just 10 times.

Notwithstanding the eye-catching nature of Courtois’ and Costa’s work this is a team – genuinely a terrific blend of youth, experience, pace, positional play, mental toughness. Will to win.

• For example, although the headline figure is that Costa (above), potentially Spain’s starting World Cup No9, has 35 goals this season it’s important to note than in Atletico’s last 12 games (since their last defeat) there have been nine different scorers – Costa, Villa, Koke, Raúl Garcia, Gabi, Diego, Godín, Arda Turan and Miranda.
• In those same games there have been nine individual goal-assist producers – Villa, Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Gabi, Raúl Garcia, Diego Arda, Adrian and Miranda.

Try picking a first goalscorer out of that lot. Atletico have Spain’s best set-play record offensively – they practice remorselessly and very often get it right.

That, allied to the fact that Atleti are noticeably good in the air in both attacking and defensive situations would suggest that conceding free kicks in the last third must be ‘verboten’ for Chelsea.

A little note for those who like in-play, should Atleti get a penalty and Costa is on the field he is likely to continue taking them – despite the fact that he’s missed four of eight this season.

Little details like that could well decide the whole tie and progress to Lisbon.

It’s old Chelsea against new Chelsea. May the better Chelsea win.

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Graham Hunter reveals the ripple effects caused by Pep Guardiola’s move to Bayern Munich

I don’t know of anyone who can prove Sir Isaac Newton was a Bayern Munich fan but I’m nearly sure the 18th century physicist had something like Pep Guardiola’s sudden decision to sign for the Bavarians in mind when he came up with this third law of motion; that for each and every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction.

Joy, bratwurst sandwiches, steins of strong lager and plans to dominate the Champions League forever in most of Bavaria.

Bitter tears, recriminations, thousand-yard stares and loud ‘why oh, oh, whys’ in Russian and Arabic haunting the Premier League.

That sort of thing.

So if Pep Guardiola (41) is the pebble which breaks the water’s surface and sends ripples spreading out in all directions — who all gets their feet wet?

BOO, HISS: Abramovich has been left with Rafa Benitez at Chelsea, but not for long

#1. What happens now at Chelesa with Rafa Benitez and will Abramovich leave?

You have to wonder whether comrade Abramovich bent a few solid gold teaspoons in impotent rage yesterday, pushed away the side plate of beluga caviar and kicked the cat?

The Russian’s desire to import Barça-style football to Stamford Bridge is well established and having failed to persuade Guardiola last May the door was left firmly open for the Catalan to step in, and earn wealth beyond any normal man’s dreams, from this summer onwards.

Rafa Benitez’s interim appointment until the end of this season spoke volumes about the Chelsea owner’s confidence that by buying diminutive, technically gifted players like Oscar, Hazard, Mata and, I hear, Isco in the next transfer market he could sway Guardiola.

Txiki Begiristain, now in charge of Manchester City’s football direction but once Guardiola’s boss at Barça also said “no” to Abramovich. That’s not a good indication of how much these smart, successful football philosophers trust Chelsea’s strategy and consistency under Abramovich’s rule.

Nor did Benitez pick a particularly good night for his team to draw 2-2 with relegation strugglers Southampton. Booed off the pitch after a performance which means the European Champions have now won just one of their seven home Premier League matches under the Spaniard can only have served to implant another thorn in Abramovich’s side.

If either the Russian wants shot of Benitez by the end of the season or if the former Real Madrid youth team coach gets the call to return to the Bernabéu then what is the Chelsea owner left with?

Carlo Ancelotti’s title win wasn’t sufficient to appease him, Roberto Di Matteo’s remarkable Champions League odyssey had a five month feel-good factor and now Guardiola has chosen a walk near the Black Forest ahead of walking down the King’s Road. (With apologies to all fans of Horst Jankowski and the mod band Squire)

Where does Abramovich turn? Is it feasible that with the fans booing the club for its treatment of Frank Lampard, for the sacking of Di Matteo, for the run of sterile home performances and now with the rejection of Guardiola stinging worse than a paper-cut the Russian billionaire might, just, start to feel his comittment to the club ebbing away?

CONTRACT TIME: Sergio Busquets could fancy a move north. And bring his pepper with him

#2. Who will be the first Barcelona player to move to Bayern?

Obviously, there were always going to be repercussions at Guardiola’s Alma Mater.

The first came for poor old Tito Vilanova on Wednesday night, after Barça’s 2-2 draw against 10-man Málaga, when his press conference was pretty much hijacked by Spanish, Catalan, Italian and German journalists. All wanted to ask him about his friend and former boss signing for the Bavarians more than about the surprise home draw in the Copa del Rey quarter final.

There wasn’t any doubting Vilanova’s sincerity when, in order, he stated that a) he hadn’t known anything about it despite having met Guardiola in New York last week b) he was utterly delighted that a force for good in football was returning to the top level of the European game and c) that Bayern appeared a smart choice for Pep given that it was one of the all-time great football clubs.

But it didn’t take long for him to look a little piqued that the tantalising cup quarter final was being relegated to second place … or that Guardiola’s every move at Bayern looms as being a subject for every fourth or fifth question of each damn press conference next season.

More seriously, of course, there is the question about whether any key men at the Camp Nou — technical staff or stellar playing talents — might migrate and fly north in the summer?

Victor Valdés is in the throes of contract re-negotiations as is Sergio Busquets. The Barça Academy is full of glowing young tyro-talents — prime for plucking by Pep.

Normally Barça treat all that as an occupational hazard of forming exceptional young players and haggle for big fees which are then pumped back into youth development.

But it was only 48 hours ago that FCB President Sandro Rosell alleged Manchester City had been attempting to wave petrodollars in the direction of some Barça talent. Whether his attempt to boom out a ‘hands-off’ message was convincing remains to be seen.

If I were either the agent of Valdés, Busquets or anyone in line for an imminent contract renewal I’d be dancing a feverish jig of joy right now to the tune of ‘We’re in the money, we’re in the money…”

SPECIAL ONE: Difficult times for Jose Mourinho at Real and Bayern are a huge foe

#3. Will Jose move to Germany just to get piss Pep off?

Now the Special One has always had a devilish sense of humour and, equally, he’s always boasted about being the only man capable of picking off major trophies in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. So perhaps next season he’ll head-hunt Bochum or SpVgg Greuther Fürth, demand the manager’s job and storm into the Bundesliga title fight just to get under Pep’s skin again. Don’t pretend you weren’t already thinking about him doing something like that.

As for the ripples in the pond reaching President Pérez’s toes, it might not be a bad thing. Bayern are already Madrid’s most redoutable European foe.

And not just because of Los Blancos’ elimination at the hands of FCB in the Champions League semi final last April. Of Madrid’s twenty Champions’ Cup meetings with Bayern they’ve only won seven and the goals scored are 33-26 in the Bavarian’s favour.

So for them to add the arch anti-Madridista in Guardiola, with the guarantee that Bayern’s attention to detail and ruthlessness when it comes to winning trophies will increase, it must seem a trifle ominous to the President of the Spanish champions.

Moreover Bayern, like Barça, have a guiding football and business philosophy which is starkly different to Madrid’s and the Bundesliga leaders also put enormous faith in their own youth development policies. Time for Florentino to look and learn?

And finally…

THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER: Pep can get the best out of Javi Martinez

#4. The situation for the Bayern squad, Javi Martinez and Spain

It’s simple to explain why Bayern is a natural fit for Guardiola. Ambitious, well-run, attentive to detail, a club with a Bavarian identity rather than German just as Barça feels itself firstly as a Catalan institution rather than a Spanish outfit. It’s also pretty clear what Guardiola brings to the party.

Basically this is all, ‘winning machine gets Formula One petrol in its engine — GO! GO! GO!’ as Murray Walker used to screech.

But there will be some stalled engines. Guardiola is maniacal about detail, quite right too. His demands are high and they are incessant. Without question he will encounter one or two at Bayern who either think, or worse still say: “Es tut mir leid, aber das ist nicht, wie wir die Dinge hier tun.”

Which, roughly, means: “That’s all very well pal but that’s not the way we do things around here you know.”

A deadline missed, a little bit of larking around during training, a stretching exercise only 95% completed, a late night ahead of a match… too many appearances in sponsors’ adverts.

If anyone at Bayern Munich’s Säbener Straße training centre doubts what kind of tightening of the leash is coming they need only phone Samuel Eto’o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Yaya Touré.

As for Javi Martínez, I suspect good times lie ahead. His €40m price tag has occasionally chafed this season. Hands up anyone who is totally shocked?

Okay, please leave the classroom.

But he now fulfills the right side of the two-man midfield, with Bastian Schweinsteiger, in retiring manager Jupp Heynckes’ regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

However, there could be no better ex-midfielder to become maestro to the talented, athletic Basque who can look closely at Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets now and believe: “I’m capable of making them fight much harder for their places in the world champions’ starting XI.”

I’m certain their shared language, ability, outlook and professionalism will unite Guardiola and Martínez, to the great benefit of the latter.

Then, dear reader, there is you and I…

RETURN OF THE KING: Whatever way you look at it, Pep Guardiola’s comeback is good for football

Neutral or partisan, German, Spanish, Catalan, Bavarian, Scottish, English, Irish or Welsh we should all be thrilled to the core that the beautiful game has one of his most attractive participants back again.

Viel Glück Herr Guardiola.

• Graham Hunter on La Liga for the Paddy Power Blog
  
• Betting: Bundesliga
• Betting: La Liga

Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based, British soccer writer whose passionate insight on La Liga can regularly be seen and heard on TV and radio. He also writes for the Paddy Power Blog on Spanish football. Follow Graham on twitter here.

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This is not as common a fixture as one might think given the two clubs’ dominance of the Spanish league, with the Copa del Rey perhaps not treated with as much respect as the FA Cup for example.

However, these two giants did clash in the Super Cup last season after Jose Mourinho won his first piece of silverware for Real via the Cup route, with Barcelona coming out on top.

The Blaugrana secured a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu in the first-leg before edging the return encounter 3-2 to land the spoils – although it was not a portent of things to come.

The two arch rivals clashed six times in total last season and although Barcelona only lost one of those matches, it was the crucial league fixture late in the season that effectively ended their hopes of usurping Real at the top.

Pep Guardiola’s men had earlier got the better of Los Merengues 3-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga and progressed in the Copa del Rey on the back of a 2-1 away win (4-3 on aggregate) but it is the league success that may have given Real the confidence that they can more than compete with the previously perceived ‘best team in football’.

With home advantage, Barcelona have been installed as 5/6 favourites in the match betting following a successful start under Tito Vilanova – a 5-1 home win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Real Madrid made a less than convincing beginning to the new campaign as they were held 1-1 at the Bernabeu to last season’s ‘best of the rest’ Valencia, and they are available at 3/1 to get their first win on Thursday, with 11/4 on offer for the draw.

Lionel Messi continued from where he left off last season, bagging a brace at the weekend, and it is no surprise to see him installed as the 5/2 favourite to be the first/last goalscorer on Thursday, 4/7 Anytime.

The price on a home win may well tempt some given Barca’s record at the Nou Camp – it was their road form that let them down in La Liga last season – but the same could be said on Real’s odds of 3/1.

They were not at their best at the weekend but there is no doubt that Mourinho will have his troops ready and motivated for tomorrow’s clash and they rarely put in two disappointing performances on the bounce.

More can certainly be expected of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is priced at 4/1 to open the scoring and 11/10 anytime, with Sunday scorer Gonzalo Higuain next best at 7/1 and 15/8 respectively.

Mourinho’s men have a pretty good record at the Nou Camp of late with a win, two draws and one defeat from their last four visits so it could well pay to oppose the home side.

Regardless of the victor, there has been a strong trend of goals between the two, which is unsurprisingly reflected in the betting – Over 2.5 Goals at 8/13, Under 2.5 Goals at 6/5, while 4 or more goals is on offer at 7/4.

It is of course a two-legged affair so there may not be that sort of desperation from the side that is behind but at odds of 50/1 a 2-2 draw, which occurred twice last season, could reward those searching for the big prices.

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There are few better at coping with this kind of pressure than the former Internazionale and Chelsea manager and games don’t come much bigger in club football than Wednesday’s encounter in the Spanish capital.

Real find themselves a goal down after the first leg in Munich but have what could well be the all-important away gaol already in the bag ahead of the return leg.

Mourinho’s men look like they will be crowned La Liga champions this season, after a gutsy performance against Barcelona at  Camp Nou last weekend.

That will have given the Real squad plenty of confidence going into their clash with Bayern, as their smash-and-grab, counter-attacking performance in Catalonia was perfect considering the free passing opposition.

Once again it was that man Cristiano Ronaldo (5/2 first goalscorer) who bagged the winner against Barca and he is someone Bayern will be fully aware of but the question is will they be able to stop the former Manchester United star again?

The Bundesliga outfit managed to keep the Portuguese international off the scoresheet at the Allianz Arena in the first leg and they will be desperate to do the same again but it will be difficult, considering his presence in the air and his ability to shoot off both feet.

Bayern (7/2 Champions League outright) looked like a real threat on home turf and the duo of Frank Ribery and Mario Gomez got themselves a goal each in an impressive 2-1 win in Bavaria.

The big question will be how Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes looks to approach this game considering his team’s slender lead after the first leg?

Striker Gomez (6/1 first goalscorer) has insisted Bayern will be looking to attack and if they were to get the first goal at the Bernabeu it would be a real hammers blow for the Spanish giants.

Sitting back is not really an option for Munich, as Real with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo will just pile on the pressure and over 90 minutes, you would expect a Bundesliga side to concede at least one goal, especially against a side with quality of Mourinho’s men.

Bayern have a very slim chance of claiming their domestic title this season and so all their focus will be on getting a result in Madrid and securing a place in the final of the competition at their very own ground.

However that away goal from Ozil in the first leg may come back to haunt them and it would not be surprising to see Real (5/2 Champions League outright) produce another smash and grab performance, to edge themselves through to the showpiece event of the European club season.

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Andre Villas-Boas

The Portuguese paid the price for a string of poor displays at home and in Europe and now the hunt for another new manager begins, so who are the contenders for the Chelsea hotseat?

Jose Mourinho

The ex-Blues messiah still looks the most likely man to bring the European Cup to Stamford Bridge for the first time, but can Chelsea persuade Mourinho to return to the club?

The Real Madrid (5/2 – Champions League Outright) boss has recently hinted about a future return to England and was even spotted in London this month, reportedly searching for property.

Although many were tipping him to replace Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, the lure of a return to Chelsea may tempt him to west rather than north London.

Whether Roman Abramovich is keen to look to Mourinho again is another question, but the 49-year-old still seems the best option among the experienced runners and riders for the post.

Rafa Benitez

The Spaniard is among the favourites to succeed AVB, having been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in 2012 and his European pedigree is why he is near the top of the list of potential candidates.

Benitez led Liverpool to Champions League success in 2005, beating Chelsea in the semi-finals, and also took the Reds to the final in 2007. On top of that, the 51-year-old lifted the UEFA Cup during his time in charge of Valencia (7/1 – Europa League Winners).

Although Benitez is desperate to get back into management, the rivalry was fierce with Chelsea during his reign at Anfield and that may work against him.

Pep Guardiola

The Barcelona boss has indicated that he will step down from his post at the Nou Camp over the next couple of years, as he seeks a new challenge.

A two-time Champions League winner, Guardiola wants his team to play good football whilst being successful. The 41-year-old speaks fluent English and would demand the respect of the high-profile players at Stamford Bridge.

Barca (5/4f – Champions League Outright) would be loathe to lose him and would Chelsea’s owner be willing to give him time to build a Blues revolution?

Fabio Capello

The Italian is out of work following his decision to step down as England boss – a return to Italy is his preffered choice – but could he be tempted to give the Premier League a go?

The ex-AC Milan chief has enjoyed European and domestic success on several occasions during his time at both the San Siro and during his reign at Real Madrid. His relationship with Chelsea’s England (8/1 – Euro 2012 Outright) contingent may also tempt Blues officials to consider the 65-year-old.

Capello has had his run ins with star players during previous stints with big clubs and his strict regime has often frustrated today’s high-profile players.

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Jose Mourinho

The ‘Special One’ worked as a translator for former Barca boss Sir Bobby Robson, before being promoted to assistant manager under Louis van Gaal.

Since then, Barca fans have been sick of the sight of the Portuguese mastermind with his latest insult to the Nou Camp faithful being the way he helped Inter Milan deny the Catalan club the chance of winning the Champions League in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona are just one point behind league leaders Real Madrid and go into this mouth watering clash on the back a 8-0 demolition of poor old Almeria in La Liga and an impressive 3-0 away performance against Panathinaikos in the Champions League.

You cannot help but match up two of the world’s superstars for this clash, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi looking to outdo each other in this massive game.

Messi is in scintillating form for Barca, bagging himself 23 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season. Ronaldo is also enjoying a dazzling season, with 18 goals in 19 games, as his tricks continue to baffle defenders in La Liga and the Champions League.

Obviously this game will not just come down to these two superstars with the likes of David Villa, Gonzalo Higuain, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta all capable of stealing the headlines.

With the game at the Nou Camp, Barca will be favourites but with Real in their current form and Mourinho’s abilities to mastermind the most unlikely of wins, the team from the capital might just nick this one.

In the Serie A, table toppers AC Milan are on the road as they take on Sampdoria on Saturday (Sampdoria 19/10, draw 21/10, AC Milan 5/4 – Match Betting).

Milan sit just three points ahead of Lazio, who are chasing hard, whilst city rivals Inter trail the leaders by nine points.

Sampdoria had a strong start to the season but have dropped points in recent months and currently find themselves in eight place in the league.

They go into this one after a 3-2 win over Serie A strugglers Lecce, but will come up against tough opposition as they face a Milan side that have lost only one of their last eleven games in the league.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in fine form for Milan since he joined the Italian side on loan from Barcelona and he could be the star of the show, with the Brazilian tricksters Robinho and Ronaldinho providing the service.

This should be another three away points for AC Milan, as they look to win their first Serie A title since 2004.

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Reports this week have claimed the Portuguese Football Federation want the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager to take over on a temporary basis after the sacking of Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz was dismissed last week after being handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping officials ahead of the World Cup.

Prior to that, he had presided over a home draw with Cyprus and a defeat in Norway in Group H to dent Portugal’s hopes of making it to Ukraine and Poland.

Portugal face Denmark at home and Iceland away next month and speculation had suggested the FPF would turn to the self-proclaimed ?Special One? on a two-game basis.

However, Casillas, who led all-conquering Spain at the World Cup in the summer, says Mourinho does not have the time to devote to his country?s cause.

He said: “I think it would give him too much. I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid.

“I don’t think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid.”

Mourinho himself admits the idea could be a non-starter although he has not completely ruled the proposition out completely.

Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s trip to Real Sociedad this weekend (Sociedad 6/1, draw  16/5, Madrid 4/11), he told a press conference:  “If it were not for Real Madrid I would do it for free.

“But if you ask me right now if I can go, I think not. I have a contract with Real Madrid. I do not say no, but in the natural way of things, I do not think this is the time.”

Mourinho added: “Real Madrid have every right in the world to put an obstacle in the way.

“And if you put the slightest obstacle there, I can’t go.

“To say no to Portugal is impossible because of my personal pride and my passion for Portugal, but at the moment I cannot say yes.”

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Jose Mourinho

England were tipped for great things at this summer’s World Cup but put in some of the worst displays seen in a long time by the national side at a major championships.

Draws with the USA and Algeria were followed by a narrow 1-0 victory over Slovenia but that only delayed the inevitable as Germany crushed Capello’s men 4-1 to send them packing at the last-16 stage of the tournament.

The Italian tactician has a superb managerial record at club level, having guided Real Madrid to the Spanish title in his two one-year spells at the Bernabeu, while also winning titles at AC Milan, Roma and Juventus, although Juve were later stripped of their titles due to the match-fixing scandal.

Capello is known to be a tough disciplinarian and takes no nonsense from players. Many pundits felt this would be good for the national side, as it is often difficult to gel together players from so many different clubs.

But Mourinho, who won two Premiership titles while in charge at Chelsea, disagrees and feels that England’s problem is that they currently have a manager who is unable to empathise with players who might not agree with his way of thinking (Real Madrid 9/2 to win Champions League).

“The problem is the manager,” the Real Madrid boss told the Daily Mirror. “Capello will not work for England. He has a one-track relationship with players. Ask anyone here at Real Madrid. He can’t change. You cannot go around just shouting at players. They need to feel special.

“It is clear. Capello will not work for England. He does not know the players. They are frightened of him and they can’t play for him.

“For me, it is a mess for England. Players need clear tactics. They cannot be confused about what they have to do. It is the manager’s fault. And it is a big shame.”

Capello’s inability to communicate with his players has been questioned ever since the South African debacle and the veteran manager has been branded a ‘donkey’ by a British tabloid on Wednesday.

He has been given a vote of confidence by the FA and will be in charge for England’s Euro 2012 campaign, starting with two qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland on 3 and 7 September respectively.

Whether or not he is still at the helm at the end of qualification remains to be seen, with England’s fans running out of patience for a return to winning ways and success at a major event.

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The much-decorated coach has yet to sign a contract with Spain’s prestigious capital club but is convinced he has the pedigree and profile to finally mount a challenge to great rivals Barcelona and bring European success back to the Bernabeu.

Speaking about his goals in La Liga, the 47-year-old told Spanish sports daily AS: “I want to win the league, because no player or coach has won the English, Italian and Spanish leagues and I would like to be the first to do it, and also to be the first coach to lift three Champions Leagues with three different teams.

“I would also like to discover a player from the youth team and make him into a star. I have a lot of motivations. I don’t want to lose humility, so I cannot come out and say that I’m going to win the league when you are up against a super team like Barca.”

Real embarked on a 250-million euros spending spree this time last year but ended the season trophyless under Manuel Pellegrini, who was sacked on Wednesday.

Mourinho has already earmarked targets he has in mind as he looks to put his own stamp on his new-look team.

He tried to sign Gerrard from Liverpool when he was manager of Chelsea and knows all about England team-mate Lampard’s qualities from his trophy-laden tenure at Stamford Bridge (England – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Mourinho said: “I like players in the final part of their careers. I love to have some players who are 33 or 34 years old…they are players that you buy and you won’t recover this money, but if they give you good performances for two or three years you’ve got your money’s worth.

“Both (Gerrard and Lampard) are great players who always give everything.”

Real are waiting for Mourinho to resolve his contract, which runs until 2012, with Internazionale before they can unveil the two-time Champions League winner.

The La Liga giants have only won two major trophies in seven years and failed to get beyond the last 16 of the Champions League in any of the last six seasons.

Mourinho, fresh from guiding Inter to a historic treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles, has also dismissed suggestions he will want to be the centre of attention, insisting the team comes before any personal gains.

He added: “I will arrive with pride for my professional work, but with much humility because Real Madrid are much bigger than all of us.”

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Although it has not been made official yet, it is no secret that José Mourinho will be managing Real Madrid next season in what can only be bad news for Barcelona as Mourinho has developed a taste for victory over the Catalan side.

‘The Special One’ has already issued a harsh warning to los Galacticos by saying that there are no stars in his team and adding that he envisions a deal to be completed after meeting officials in Madrid.

Mourinho told a Portuguese television station that Jorge Mendes, his agent, has met with Madrid representatives and as a result a deal is almost certain but added that he wants to meet with the representatives from Madrid first so as to get a full understanding of the role.

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It is rumoured that Mourinho will join Madrid on a four year deal worth €10 million per season.

“I want to meet people, know exactly what they want from me and the conditions, not the structures, because these I already know, to avoid any doubts when I begin my work. I think all will be consummated.”

“The stars now are Inter, they are the European champions. My message to the players of Real Madrid, if I train them, is that they are not stars, the star is not the coach, the star is the team. If they all accept this like when I was at Porto, Chelsea or Inter, the victories will come.”

Mourinho, who led Inter to glory in the Champions League on Saturday night, said that there are a number of reasons for taking over the role.

“It will be a huge challenge to contest the League against Barcelona. They are a great team and have proved it by almost reaching 100 points. Trying to win the Champions League is an incentive as they have not won it in eight years,” he added.

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“It’s an incentive because everyone says it’s a lost cause because my profile doesn’t fit Real Madrid or the club does not have the profile that I think a club must have.”

One thing is for sure though, Madrid will hand Mourinho a massive cheque book and Mourinho will spend it. Expect next season’s La Liga title race to be another fascinating battle between two of Europe’s elite clubs.

Related posts:

1. Jose Mourinho to Quit? “My only options are Madrid or Inter”
2. Champions League Final Build Up. Robben Expects Inter to Attack, Inter Expects Mourinho To Go
3. Inter ’s Mourinho Proves to be the Special One Again

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