Mourinho exit will not affect Madrid – Valdano

The former los Blancos director believes the Spanish club will not suffer if the Portuguese boss opts to leave this summer, while he had a word of praise for German football

Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano is convinced his old club will go unscathed if coach Jose Mourinho leaves at the season’s end.

Mourinho’s future in the Spanish capital has been well documented since Tuesday night’s elimination at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.

Valdano, who worked along side Mourinho for a period before a public spat between the two saw him leave the club, is certain things will carry on as usual at Madrid even if the Portuguese coach does move on.

“Real Madrid are still an extraordinary side. From this point of view, it will not matter if there is a change in coach,” Valdano told Cadena Ser.

“Real Madrid are a very big and complex club, there are thousands of people behind the scenes.”

Asked what coaches he thought could replace Mourinho, he said: “[Carlo] Ancelotti is a great man, he is diligent, calm and has the capacity to create something special. He has the ability to work naturally even under controversial conditions.

“But, I admire [Jurgen] Klopp a lot. He has the optimism that can bring his team joy. 

“German football and Bayern Munich know where they want to go. They are doing so with a great style of football.”

Valdano also touched on how los Blancos almost overturned the deficit against the Germans in Tuesday’s night game.

“Coming back is part of Real Madrid’s fabric,” he added.

“It’s part of its image and it’s very impressive. Barcelona are different, they have great faith in their philosophy, but they do not have a history of coming back in the big ties.”

Ronaldo to PSG possible, 80% chance Mourinho will go to Chelsea – Mendes

The Real Madrid ace’s representative has refused to rule out a move to Ligue 1 for the Portuguese superstar, adding that Mourinho could end up at his former club

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could end up at Paris Saint-Germain this summer, while coach Jose Mourinho has an “80 per cent chance” of joining Chelsea, according to their agent Jorge Mendes.

Ronaldo, 28, has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu following revelations the attacker was unhappy at the club earlier this year, while Mourinho’s failure to bring president Florentino Perez “la Decima” in the Champions League and a disappointing campaign in La Liga has weakened his position at Madrid, with the 50-year-old himself strongly hinting at an exit from the club this week.

Both are represented by Jorge Mendes and, speaking to Radio Mana Mana, the agent gave his clearest indication yet that the pair could be on the way out of Madrid at the end of this season.

He said: “When players are strong it’s normal that top teams can be interested. Paris Saint-Germain is a possibility [for Ronaldo].

“After the game against Dortmund, Mourinho talked with Real Madrid and he was pretty clear: he wants to leave and Chelsea is a likely destination at 80%.”

Madrid are preparing for a clash against Valladolid on Saturday, where failure to win could hand Barcelona the Liga title.

Mourinho: My record speaks for itself

The Portuguese says he doesn’t need to defend himself because he has won so much, causing an unfair amount of expectation to be thrust upon him

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he should be judged by his achievements and not by his failure to win the Champions League with the club.

The Portuguese has won league titles in four different countries and is one of only three coaches to win the Champions League with two different clubs. He also holds the record for the most points and goals scored in a Liga season.

But Mourinho has not yet been able to lift European football’s greatest prize in his time at the Santiago Bernabeu and he hit out at critics for failing to note his impressive list of achievements.

“I am always hoping there is some ‘smart guy’ who will ask me a question which requires a piece of paper,” the 50-year-old told reporters at a press conference.

“The record league title is mine; I have played in three Champions League semi-finals, which doesn’t personally leave me satisfied. [But] it can’t be easy because 18 coaches in 21 years [have only reached] five Champions League semi-finals at Real Madrid. The bad guy is Mourinho, with three in three seasons.

“My work is never valued in absolute terms but in terms of what I have achieved and that’s my fault because I have won so much that the expectations are always much higher than what I am able to achieve later on.

“You journalists will want to wipe me off the list but you won’t be able to – only when there is a team which wins 101 points [in La Liga]. Twenty years without winning the Copa – and we won it. The records of (100 points, 121 goals) is mine, it can’t be deleted and it doesn’t feed my ego.”

Mourinho has been strongly-linked with a return to Chelsea this summer and could well call time on his stay in Madrid at the end of the season.

I regret not signing Lopez earlier, says Mourinho

The Portuguese has taken a swipe at Iker Casillas by suggesting that he should have been replaced at an earlier stage

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has confessed that he wishes he had signed goalkeeper Diego Lopez earlier during his stay at Santiago Bernabeu.

The 31-year-old joined Madrid from Sevilla in the winter transfer window to replace the injured Iker Casillas and has since made the spot between the sticks his own.

Mourinho has now made it clear that the Santiago Bernabeu side had already set their sights on Lopez before, but eventually decided not to bring him in, a decision the Portuguese now regrets.

“Would I do anything differently if I had the chance to do the past three years over again? I should have brought in Diego Lopez after my first year. We didn’t do enough to sign him. It’s a real shame,” Mourinho said at a press conference.

More to follow…

Real Madrid-Real Valladolid Betting Preview: Back a low-scoring first half at the Bernabeu

Our man in the Spanish capital Phil Kitromilides believes a subdued affair on Saturday night will see few goals and has a 5/2 value bet

Following the drama of their Champions League semi final exit to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, it is back to earth with a crashing bump on Saturday night for Real Madrid.

The Bernabeu experienced its best atmosphere in years for the match against the Germans, yet it is likely to be decidedly deflated for the visit of Valladolid.

With the league title all but relinquished Madrid have little more than pride to play for, while the visitors have all but secured their top flight status for another season.

Bet365 price a home victory at 2/11 (1.18) while the side from the region of Castille and Leon can be backed at 12/1 (13.00).

It is hard to second guess what kind of team will be fielded by Madrid in a match of minimal significance with the Copa del Rey final two weeks away.

Certainly it will be far from full strength side and as such, backing a high-scoring encounter does not appeal.

Instead Going against one of our usual bets and backing under 1.5 goals in the first half at 5/6 (1.83) looks like a solid selection. In their last few league games at home Madrid have started slowly and there is every reason to think they might do that again on Saturday.

Furthermore, Valladolid, for their part, have failed to score a first-half goal away from home in any of their last six matches.

For a value bet back under 2.5 goals in the game at 5/2 (3.50).

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