Mourinho in despair as curse of Barcelona strikes again
Real Madrid produce a rousing display at the Camp Nou but still go out of the Copa del Rey
THE curse of Barcelona struck Jose Mourinho yet again last night as his Real Madrid side were knocked out of the Spanish Cup despite producing a rousing comeback at the Camp Nou, and the frustrated manager admitted his devastated players now felt it was "impossible" to win in Barcelona.
As rumours swirled around the Portuguese's future as boss of Los Blancos his team produced probably their best first-half performance against their Clasico rivals since he took over. Yet they still found themselves 2-0 down at the break, thanks to goals from Pedro and Dani Alves, and 4-1 down on aggregate.
In the second half the Barcelona fans decided to have some fun at the Special One's expense and began singing songs begging him not to leave Real, as their team coasted towards what looked like a fourth straight win over their bitter rivals.
However, Mourinho's players rallied in the second half, perhaps stung by the mockery tumbling from the stands. First Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back before Karim Benzema made it 2-2 on the night.
Another goal for Real would have earned Mourinho his first win at the Nou Camp in nine attempts and sent his side through, but instead he endured the familiar sight of one of his players being sent off. Sergio Ramos, the player whose row with Mourinho last started the rumours about his future, was given his marching orders when he received a second yellow card.
After the game Mourinho said his players believed it was "impossible to win" at the Camp Nou. After so many failed attempts he must be inclined to agree with them. Not only has the Portuguese manager failed on nine occasions, he has managed to win just one Clasico since he arrived in Madrid (last year's Copa del Rey final). In that time Barca have won five of the ten meetings and four have been drawn.
Indeed, Madrid have won only one of the last 14 meeting between the two and the last time they beat Barca in the league was in 2008.
There is only one way Mourinho can save his job now, says The Times, win La Liga and the Champions League. "Fail to win the league and Florentino Perez, the Real owner, will have no choice but to dismiss him. Win La Liga - a bittersweet triumph, so evident is Barcelona's superiority - and fail in the Champions League: likewise." ·
