Messi: Barcelona one step from La Liga title

By Miles Chambers

The Argentine has revealed he is feeling good as he works his way back to full fitness following hamstring problems in April


Lionel Messi, who starred as a substitute in Barcelona's 4-2 win over Betis on Sunday, shared his excitement that the club are just one win away from securing La Liga.

The Blaugrana saw their dominance in Spain in recent years ended last season when Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid romped to a record points tally to deny Pep Guardiola's side the trophy.

However, Tito Vilanova has guided the Catalans to being on the verge of taking back the Primera Division crown and, with a victory against Atletico Madrid set to guarantee it mathematically, Messi has expressed his excitement at the thought of wrapping up La Liga and returning to full fitness.

"We won [against Betis] and we are one step from the title," he said on his Weibo social media profile. "I felt really good in the minutes I have played - I'm happy!"

The Argentine was out of action during parts of April because of a hamstring injury and many pundits highlighted his sub-par performance and subsequent absence in the Champions League semi-final legs against Bayern Munich as key to their exit.

Wrapping up La Liga would go some way to healing the wounds left from that 7-0 hammering at the hands of this season's Bundesliga victors.

Iker, Pepe, Ramos, Ronaldo - how Jose Mourinho fell out with almost his entire Real Madrid squad

ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

The players gathered around a television at the club's training ground at Valdebebas on Tuesday to watch Jose Mourinho's pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's La Liga clash with Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. And not for the first time, they did not like what they saw.

Nor did Florentino Perez. Earlier in the day, the Madrid president had called for unity in trying times as club controversies continue to overshadow matters on the football field itself and Mourinho's polemical possession approaches its sticky end. In a bid to restore calm and avoid further unwanted distractions as Real look to clinch second place and build again ahead of the final of the Copa del Rey later this month, Perez asked his coach to send out assistant Aitor Karanka to Tuesday's media briefing. He was ignored.

Instead, Mourinho used the gathering to criticise club captain Iker Casillas and to respond publicly to Pepe after the defender had stuck up for the goalkeeper following Madrid's 4-3 win at home to Valladolid on Saturday.

For Mourinho, Pepe's switch of sides had perhaps been the ultimate betrayal. The coach has stood by his defender through a series of on-pitch controversies, including his dismissal in the 2010-11 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, a stamp on Lionel Messi's hand the following season and many more incidents beside. The Portugal defender, more than any other player, seemed to represent his boss's 'us-against-the-world' siege mentality as battles began on the pitch. He was in his coach's camp, not Iker's, and had even been tipped to become one of the 50-year-old's first signings at Chelsea this summer. Not now.

Pepe told Canal Plus that Casillas deserved more respect, after the Portuguese had taken another swipe at the goalkeeper on Friday by saying he should have signed Diego Lopez back in 2011. "The boss's quotes were not the most suitable," the defender said. "Iker is an institution for both Real Madrid and Spain."

NO LOVE LOST WITH JOSE MOURINHO
IKER CASILLAS
	Once described by Mourinho as the best in the world, Iker has been cast aside by his coach since the January arrival of Diego Lopez.
PEPE
	Pepe was perhaps Mourinho's greatest ally, but that changed after the Portugal defender stuck up for Casillas at the weekend.
SERGIO RAMOS
	The defender has been publicly criticised by his coach on several occasions and is unhappy at being singled out by the Madrid boss.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
	Essentially blamed for the side's poor start in La Liga, Madrid's star man is losing patience with his countryman too.

But on Tuesday, Mourinho hit back. And how. The Portuguese told the assembled Madrid media that his defender was unhappy at losing his place in the side. "Pepe has a problem," he said. "And his name is Raphael Varane."

"That's the whole story. It isn't easy for a man aged 31 with a lot of experience behind him to be blown out of the water by a kid of 19. It's very simple. The problem is very simple. Pepe's life has changed."

So has Mourinho's. Respected and admired at first for an authoritarian approach rarely seen by bosses at Madrid, the Portuguese is losing friends fast at the Bernabeu and, according toMarca, he has the unconditional support of just three first-team footballers: Diego Lopez, Luka Modric and Michael Essien.

Those three, of course, remain grateful for their Madrid moves: Diego Lopez was, until recently, a Sevilla substitute, Modric made the significant step up from Tottenham after Mourinho convinced Real to splash big cash in the summer and Essien is a player who refers to the Portuguese as 'daddy'.

Meanwhile, even previous staunch supporters such as Alvaro Arbeloa and Jose Callejon have lost patience with their coach this term, with Mourinho's treatment of Casillas the final straw for much of the first-team squad.

On Tuesday, Mourinho explained why he preferred Diego Lopez to Iker in what seemed an honest appraisal of the two gifted goalkeepers. "I like Diego more because he plays more with his feet, he comes off his line and dominates in the area. Iker is a fantastic goalkeeper between the posts, but I like a different kind of goalkeeper."

At face value, it sounds like a reasonable and understandable explanation. After all, Diego Lopez has been brilliant since his January move and arguably cannot be dislodged on current form. However, there is much more to it than that.

In 2011, Mourinho claimed Casillas was the world's best goalkeeper and also backed the Spain skipper to claim the Ballon d'Or. Even then, there had been problems between the pair, yet the relationship remained rosy - at least for the most part.

The Portuguese, however, has long believed the keeper to be in a privileged position at Madrid and has seriously questioned the 31-year-old's commitment in training and during matches. He is also well aware, and uncomfortable, that the player's partner - sports journalist Sara Carbonero - is privy to inside information on the goings-on behind the big white walls at the Bernabeu. In January, Carbonero revealed what many had suspected when she told Mexican station Televisaof divisions behind the scenes between Mourinho and the players. And it takes little imagination to identify her source.

Mourinho may genuinely prefer Lopez to Casillas, but the club captain was originally dropped in December for Antonio Adan, who has long since disappeared from the first-team radar. Back then, Mourinho spoke of a 'comfort zone', a player without competition for his place, yet Casillas remains convinced he was left out for personal reasons.

He and Sergio Ramos are the two players who have stood up to their coach more than the rest and in January, Marca claimed that the pair had told Florentino: "Presi, in June, either Mourinho leaves, or we will..."

Ramos has had his own problems with Mourinho and after public criticism from the Portuguese following a defeat at Sevilla, he questioned his coach's decision to wash the team's dirty linen in public - and was duly dropped for the Champions League clash at home to Manchester City days later. The pair's relationship has remained rocky ever since.

But perhaps the final straw for Madrid fans came when Mourinho questioned Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday. "We started the league [in a] sad [state]," he said, in a clear reference to his player's problems at the beginning of the campaign. "And because we were sad, we lost points."

However, Madrid fans will recall that the day Ronaldo revealed his 'sadness', he also scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Granada. Back in September, the forward may have been slightly below his brilliant best, but the whole team was in a sorry state and blaming Cristiano appears a cowardly act from Mourinho, especially just three days after the former Manchester United forward had placed his body on the line by playing when unfit in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund.

Already angered by the treatment of Casillas, Madrid fans simply could not tolerate criticism of the player who has carried them to their greatest heights over these last three campaigns and duly jeered Mourinho on Saturday when his name was announced at the Bernabeu. Now, with almost all of his players against him and many more fans turning their backs as well, the Portuguese's final days in Spain are approaching. And even if they do claim the Copa in nine days' time, it will be far from a happy ending for Mourinho in Madrid.

Revealed: How tearful Sir Alex Ferguson broke the news of his retirement to players & staff

The Scot held a meeting with the first-team squad on Wednesday morning before choking up as he addressed the entire staff at the club's Carrington training centre

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

Sir Alex Ferguson broke down in tears during an emotional goodbye to Manchester United staff on Wednesday morning following the announcement of his decision to retire, Goal.com can reveal.
The Scot will step down as United manager at the end of the season following 26 years at Old Trafford during which he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles.

Sir Alex arrived at the club's Carrington training base at 06.50BST and made a series of phonecalls amid intense speculation that he was set to quit.

Once the entire first-team squad had arrived for training, the 71-year-old held an eight-minute meeting with the players and senior staff during where he informed them of his decision.

Sources say that the players were "quiet and shocked" as they left the meeting, with some clearly emotional. Sir Alex was the last man out of the room and was seen supportively patting assistant manager Mike Phelan on the back.

At 09.20BST, around the same time that United made an official announcement on their website, Sir Alex went to the main dining hall at Carrington to address the entire staff, from the tea ladies to the coaches.

The atmosphere was described as "pensive" and "sombre". By then, everyone knew what was going on.

During a speech that lasted between eight and 10 minutes, the veteran boss choked up and became tearful as he thanked them for their support over the years and spoke of the wonderful support within the "United family".

Sir Alex became particularly emotional as he revealed that some people present - particularly technical staff - may lose their jobs as a consequence of his retirement.

After he finished talking, the Scot received a standing ovation as he shuffled out of the room, still clearly emotional as he brings an end to an extraordinary career at United since he took over from Ron Atkinson in November 1986.

He was scheduled to hold a one-on-one sit-down interview with the club's in-house television station, MUTV, at 10.30BST and it was unclear whether he still intended to join the United players at Chester races later on Wednesday.

It's Moyes: Manchester United to name Everton boss as Sir Alex Ferguson successor

Goal.com understands that the recently crowned Premier League champions are set to confirm that the Toffees manager will take over at Old Trafford at the end of the season




EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

David Moyes is set to be appointed the new manager of Manchester United in the next 24 hours,Goal.com understands.

The Everton boss is expected to be announced as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, who revealed on Wednesday morning that he is stepping down at the end of the season.

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Sources have told Goal.com that the United players learned at the club's Carrington training ground today that Moyes is the man who has been lined up to take over from Sir Alex.

Everton have said that they have not been approached by the new Premier League champions to negotiate Moyes' release but it is understood that the Scot has agreed a deal to take over at Old Trafford.

The 50-year-old will have to resign from his post at Goodison Park to complete the formalities of a switch to United but he is out of contract at the end of the season and the process is set to be a swift, smooth and amicable one.

Moyes is a long-time friend of Sir Alex and the pair are set to enjoy a close relationship next season, given that Sir Alex is moving upstairs to join United's board of directors.

It is believed that Moyes has been personally cherry-picked by Sir Alex ahead of a number of Continental managers with proven European credentials.

The decision would then have been ratified by the United board, including the Glazer family, who own the club, and current chief executive David Gill, but they are believed to have been comfortable with Sir Alex having the biggest say in the identity of the man who takes his seat in the dugout.

A close circle of senior United figures have kept the plans shrouded in secrecy to avoid a repeat of the situation in 2001-02 when Sir Alex felt the team were destabilised after he announced his intention to retire at the end of the campaign, only to later change his mind.



MANCHESTER UNITED LATEST

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Moyes has established Everton as a top-six club during his 11-year reign on Merseyside despite having a budget that is dwarfed by his immediate rivals.

He has not won a trophy since moving to Goodison Park in March 2002 but United are putting greater store in his Premier League experience, motivational qualities, coaching nous and ability to get the most out of his players.

Everton are on course to finish above Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the Premier League for the second consecutive season, a highly commendable achievement given the disparity in resources of the two clubs.

Gill, who will also leave Old Trafford this summer, has consistently said that United would seek an experienced candidate whenever the time came to make their first managerial appointment since November 1986.

Sir Alex held an emotional meeting with the players and senior coaching staff on Wednesday morning to tell them of his decision to step down as manager before he went to the main dining hall at Carrington to address a broader spectrum of club employees.

The indication given to staff is that Moyes is the man who will soon be announced as the new United boss.

Muller: Bayern extremely fired up to win Champions League

The Germany international has underlined FCB's desire to make amends for last year's loss and is keen to follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane

By Stefan Coerts
Thomas Muller has made it clear that Bayern Munich are desperate for Champions League glory this term after missing out on the European title in 2010 and 2012.

The Bundesliga champions beat Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals to book their ticket for the showpiece against Borussia Dortmund on May 25 and Muller has stressed they're all fired up to bring the trophy back home at last.

"We came so close last year, but we’ve come back even stronger this term. We've shown exactly the right reaction, from start to finish. Every player is extremely fired up," the Germany international told the official Bayern website.

"We've sent out a signal in this semi-final and we don't want to be stopped now. We have a huge desire to pick up this cup.

"I don't know how it would feel if you make the Champions League final three times in four years as a pro and still don't win it."

Like Muller, former Juventus and Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane lost his first two Champions League finals as well before winning the trophy at his third attempt and the versatile attacker is keen to emulate the Frenchman.

"If necessary, I’ll go to the hairdressers and have a cut like Zidane's if it means I win the thing!"

Dortmund hopeful Gotze will be fit for Champions League final

The attacking midfielder has torn a thigh muscle, but his club are optimistic about his chances of recovering in time for the final at Wembley
Borussia Dortmund are hopeful that Mario Gotze will be match fit in time for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 25.

The Germany international sustained a thigh problem in Dortmund's 2-0 loss against Real Madrid on Tuesday and head coach Jurgen Klopp initially feared that the 20-year-old could miss the remainder of the season due to the knock.

Nevertheless, Dortmund have now revealed that the Champions League final is a realistic option for Gotze following a medical assessment.

"Mario Gotze has suffered a torn thigh muscle in the away game against Madrid. Extensive examination performed by club doctor Markus Braun has confirmed the initial diagnosis," a statement on the club's website reads.

"Dr. Braun has stated that participating in the Champions League final on May 25 at Wembley against Bayern Munich is a realistic goal for Gotze."

The final of European club football's elite competition could be Gotze's last match for Dortmund as he will leave the club for the club's opponents in the May 25 final - and their main Bundesliga rivals - Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.

Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich (Agg 0-7): Rampant Germans complete humiliation

A wonderful strike from Robben, Muller's effort and Pique's unfortunate own goal sealed a crushing victory for die Roten, who move on to the first all-German clash in the final
Bayern Munich ensured it will be an all-German Champions League final after they defeatedBarcelona 3-0 and completed a 7-0 aggregate victory on Wednesday night.
Arjen Robben fired a perfect left-footed effort past Victor Valdes to make it 1-0, before an own goal from Gerard Pique and Thomas Muller's strike added insult to injury for the hosts.

Lionel Messi was named on the bench prior to kick-off, but despite that blow Barcelona began on the front foot and enjoyed a positive opening 20 minutes, even if it was bereft of the clear opportunities their early endeavours perhaps deserved.

The Catalans began to suffer against a Bayern defence that was organised and committed around the box, and were forced to try their luck from deep. This almost paid off midway through the first half; Pedro let loose with a fierce effort 35 metres out, but Manuel Neuer was equal to it, in what was the best opening of the first 45 minutes.

Dani Alves then whipped a cross into the box that found Cesc Fabregas. The ex-Arsenal man did well to chest down to Xavi, who found himself free, but the midfielder uncharacteristically lost his cool and fired his volley well over the crossbar.

Despite these moments of pressure, die Roten coped well with the hosts' advances and always looked dangerous breaking from their own half. Robben and Franck Ribery in particular stood out with all-action performances, stretching the Barca backline, albeit without creating too many clear openings before heading in for the interval.

Just three minutes after half-time, the game was over as a contest. David Alaba showed terrific vision deep on the left flank to find Robben on the opposite side of the pitch and though he still had work to do, the Dutchman cut inside of Adriano and fired left-footed past Victor Valdes.

The Blaugrana did not give up after that fatal blow and kept forwards, but there was no joy for the likes of David Villa as they were suffocated in the final third. Indeed, Bayern were the team that continued to enjoy the best opportunities; Robben side footed wide of the post with the goal in full view, after a storming run down the left from Ribery had spilt open the Liga leaders.

Messi remained on the sidelines throughout the 90 minutes, unused as Tito Vilanova recognised that the game was beyond the reach of his charges. Further confirmation was provided by the hapless Gerard Pique, who sliced a cross into his own net with 18 minutes to go. A convincing defeat soon turned into a humiliation when Thomas Muller rose to head in the third, as Bayern marched into their third Champions League final in four years.

The Bavarians' victory tees up a first-ever all-German final in Europe's premier club competition, as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece at Wembley on May 25.

PSG step up pursuit of €35m Isco

The race is intensifying for the Spain star, with the big-spending French giants in pole position for a summer move having scouted the 21-year-old in a recent Liga match
EXCLUSIVE
by Francisco Acedo and Kris Voakes

Paris Saint-Germain are set to raise the stakes in the race for Malaga star Isco after the club sent scouts to watch the player in action last weekend.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Monaco have shown an interest in the 21-year-old but the Andalusians have remained steadfast in their refusal not to negotiate below the former Valencia man's €35 million release clause.

Now PSG are ready to usurp fellow suitors after sporting director Leonardo ordered scouts to watch Isco in Malaga's 2-1 Liga victory over Getafe at La Rosaleda on Sunday. The French club's presence could well spark other clubs into action as the chase intensifies for Isco, who has a contract with the Liga outfit until 2016.

The transfer tussle comes on the back of a second season of stand-out performances from the forward, which helped Manuel Pellegrini's side reach the last eight of the Champions League and have seen the side head into the final five games of the league season in the running for a top-four place.

There could be further uncertainty ahead for the Qatari-owned side, with Isco's unclear future mirroring that of his coach. According to reports in the Spanish press this week, Pellegrini has met with Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain over the possibility of replacing Roberto Mancini as coach at Eastlands.

"The only thing we know is that Manuel is happy at Malaga," said Vicente Casado, the club's director general when asked about the reports. "And it is known that everyone appreciates him."

The 59-year-old is contracted to Malaga until June 2015, but the club are expecting interest from Europe's big guns this summer and have been linked with Javier Aguirre, of Espanyol, to replace the Chilean should he be tempted away.

A Malaga source has told Goal there have been no fresh discussions about Pellegrini's future in the wake of the club's successful run in the Champions League, which saw them come within minutes of a place in the semi-finals.

Rodgers snubs Liverpool qualification for Europe via Fair Play League

Finland, Norway and Sweden are currently positioned to get an extra spot in the Europa League but, should England move up the rankings, the Reds could be afforded a place

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that he does not want to qualify for the Europa League via Uefa's Fair Play League.

LIVERPOOL LATEST
5/1	Steven Gerrard is 5/1 with William Hill to score in a Liverpool win over Everton

Europe's governing body awards an extra place in the second-tier competition to the three leagues with the best disciplinary records over the course of a season and England currently lie fourth behind Finland, Sweden and Norway.

The Premier League teams ahead of Liverpool in the rankings - Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United - are all likely to qualify for Europe due to their league placings, meaning that the Reds would be next in line, but Rodgers is not interested, with qualification starting on July 18.

The Liverpool boss told reporters: "It's highly unlikely we'd get that route, as it is for the top three countries and we are fourth, but it is not something I would be keen on.

"I want to get there through the right means, through our performance level, and if we have to have a year where we are not in Europe it is going to give us an opportunity to push on."

Bayern not better than Barcelona, says belligerent Dani Alves

The Brazilian defender has admitted that the Bundesliga champions deservedly progressed but feels they are not necessarily the better team

Dani Alves believes that Barcelona's 7-0 aggregate defeat against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League does not necessarily mean that the Bundesliga champions are the better team.

The Bavarians won 4-0 at home in the first leg before sealing the deal with a 3-0 victory in the return at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

However, even though Alves has admitted that Bayern were too strong this time around, he feels things can go differently again next time around.

"I do not think that Bayern are better than Barcelona per se. But they were better this time around and deservedly made it to the final. We were not at our best and that shows at this level," Alves told reporters.

"The only thing left for us is simply to salute them and congratulate them. Bayern have a great team. They had their chances and they took them clinically.

"It's just another indication that this great tournament continuously makes you face the most powerful rivals. We played with a lot of intensity tonight but we didn't score and that's been the difference in this leg."

The right-back then went on to urge his team-mates to turn their focus to La Liga again.

"Now we have a very important prize left to win, the league. It's important to put that to bed as quickly as possible, then it will be time to reflect on how we need to improve in order to have one more chance to win this terrific competition."

Barcelona resume domestic action on Sunday at home against Betis.

'Barcelona are a different team without Messi' - Heynckes

The 67-year-old coach hailed his side's "clever" performance on Wednesday night, but feels they were fortunate not to have had to contend with the Argentine ace
Jupp Heynckes believes Bayern Munich were lucky that Lionel Messi did not feature for Barcelonain the Bavarians' 3-0 win at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

The Argentine watched on from the substitutes bench as Arjen Robben's stunner, a Gerard Pique own goal, and Thomas Muller's late strike condemned his side to a 7-0 aggregate defeat in the Champions League semi-final.

And while Heynckes was proud of his team's focus in the tie, he acknowledged the Blaugrana are a different prospect without their talismanic attacker.

"I think it was clearly noticeable that my team entered this game extremely focused," he told reporters after the match. "We played great right from the start. However, there is no denying it – Barcelona is a different team without [Lionel] Messi.

"Still, I am sure no one expected us to win 7-0 on aggregate. I would not say that we witnessed an end of an era tonight. Barcelona were missing a lot of players and we showed a clever performance."

Bayern will now contest the final on May 25 against Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, and Heynckes feels BVB's place at Wembley is fully deserved, albeit a little surprising.

"Dortmund deserve to be in the final, as they are playing a great season as well," he continued. "Sure, it is a small surprise that they reached the final. I obviously hope that we can be successful in Wembley. We will now reflect on what we achieved tonight, enjoy the moment and then put our focus on the game against Dortmund on the weekend [in the Bundesliga]."

Much has been made of the future of Heynckes as the arrival of Pep Guardiola draws ever closer, but the 67-year-old has stressed there has been no contact with Real Madrid over a possible return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Madrid have not been in contact with me," he remarked to Marca after Wednesday's match.

"On May 9 I turn 68, I think I should be thinking about taking a break."

Why Jose Mourinho failed to bring La Decima to Real Madrid

The Portuguese has agreed a deal to leave the Spanish capital without having won the Champions League with los Blancos. So what went wrong in his three terms?
ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward at the Santiago Bernabeu

The atmosphere was electric. Real Madrid left it late and were ultimately unable to claim an all-important third goal needed to defeat Dortmund on Tuesday and advance to next month's Champions League final at Wembley. For the third year in a row, Jose Mourinho's men fell at the penultimate hurdle and, as the Portuguese prepares for a future far away from Spain, Madrid fans were left wondering what might have been by Tuesday's gallant effort.

Mourinho likes to leave the fans wanting more. At all of his previous clubs, he had departed at the peak of his powers, amid a mixture of affection and anger at the prospect of life under another coach. But that has not been quite the case at Madrid. The Portuguese told ITV on Tuesday night. "I love to be somewhere people love me to be." It was the clearest indication yet that his future lies elsewhere this summer, while Goal.com confirmed on Wednesday that he had agreed a return to Chelsea this summer.

But maybe Madrid will end up missing Mourinho too. As a group of Madridistas shuffled into a cafe in the city's centre on Wednesday morning to end their night as a new day began, the talk turned to the 50-year-old coach. "Did you see what Mourinho said last night?" asked one of the fans in disbelief. "He said that we don't love him enough... Unbelievable. Everyone loves him."

MOURINHO'S EUROPEAN EXITS
SEMI-FINAL 2010-11
Real Madrid	0-2	Barcelona
Barcelona	1-1	Real Madird
SEMI-FINAL 2011-12
Bayern Munich	2-1	Real Madrid
Real  Madrid	2-1	Bayern Munich
SEMI-FINAL 2012-13
Dortmund	4-1	Real Madrid
Real Madrid	2-0	Dortmund

That may not have been a wholly accurate appraisal of the Portuguese's situation at Madrid as this term has seen the former Chelsea and Inter boss both cheered and jeered at the Bernabeu, with many other fans preferring to keep quiet altogether when his name is announced on the tannoy.

There was no such silence on Tuesday, though. Nor negativity. Madrid fans realised that this was a night on which they needed to support their side fully - and they did just that. In fact, even though the final result was insufficient, pride was restored and many observers commented that the team had played an heroic match true to the club's values. Not something heard too often when it comes to Mourinho's Madrid.

On the whole, Mourinho's spell in Spain has been successful. The Portuguese has claimed one Liga title, a Copa del Rey (with the possibility of a second to come) and a Spanish Supercopa, while closing the gap on the best-ever Barcelona side and also restoring Madrid to their rightful place among Europe's elite.

Three successive semi-finals in the continent's premier club competition may seem normal now, but Madrid had failed to make it beyond the last 16 in the six previous editions of the tournament and had not featured in the last four since 2003, when Vicente del Bosque was coach.

Having claimed the Champions League crown at the Bernabeu with Inter in 2010, however, Mourinho was expected to bring the trophy back to Madrid for the first time since 2002. Indeed, at his first press conference he spoke glowingly at the prospect of winning the competition with a third different team. Three years on, though, it has not quite happened. So where exactly did it go wrong?

Tuesday's game highlighted the need to sign a new striker, something which Mourinho has failed to address in his entire time at the club. Had Gonzalo Higuain converted an excellent early chance, things may have been oh so different. Karim Benzema did impress with a goal and an assist after coming on, but his contribution is also far too erratic, while the Portuguese has also been unable to identify a right-back, another weak link in the side. With Alvaro Arbeloa injured, midfielder Michael Essien started there on Tuesday. And he did well, but Madrid can do better - particularly in a Champions League semi-final.

Player disputes, a prickly press relationship, problems with fans and confrontations with club colleagues have not helped Mourinho either and he does indeed seem less loved in Spain than at his other sides. Madrid are also a much more demanding club than any of his other teams; he is expected to win, win well and entertain too - so his brand of football was perhaps never going to please. None of those factors have helped in general terms, although none will have affected the team on Tuesday.

Coincidentally, Mourinho's other two semi-final exits at Madrid came against the other two sides in the last four this time - Barcelona and Bayern. And the two ties against the Germans saw the Portuguese's side away from home in the first leg.

Most players and coaches prefer to play at home in the second match. Not Mourinho. "I like to play at home in the first match," he said after the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu against Manchester United in the last 16 in February. "Then you know exactly what you need to do [in the second match] and there are no doubts."

Indeed, a look at some of Mourinho's finest results in the Champions League knockout stages shows that many did come with the home leg played first. These include Porto's win over Manchester United in 2004, Inter's victories against Barcelona and Chelsea in 2010, and Madrid's passage versus Sir Alex Ferguson's side this term.

Looking at the three semi-final defeats, it seems to be in the first match where the doubts have crept in. Against Barca in 2010-11, the Portuguese picked Pepe as an enforcer in a three-man midfield and saw the plan (which had worked days earlier in the final of the Copa del Rey) backfire as the defender was sent off. The coach also received criticism from fans for his ultra-defensive formation in a home match (with little more than 30 per cent possession) and ended up losing 2-0 as Messi struck twice against 10 men late in the game. A much more positive Madrid drew the second match 1-1 at Camp Nou when Mourinho seemed to finally discover another way of playing the Catalan club.

A year later, he almost got away with it as Madrid came within a minute of sealing a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena, but a defensive lapse late in the game allowed Mario Gomez to hit a winner which would prove decisive. It was no less than Bayern had deserved, however, and Mourinho's approach appeared overly cautious, albeit against a strong side. In the return, Real raced into a two-goal lead but were pegged back and eventually edged out on penalties.

Something similar occurred this season. The damage was not done on Tuesday, but last Wednesday in his side's dismal display in Dortmund. Madrid lacked width and intensity in a sterile showing as Mourinho got it all wrong tactically with a virtually untried 4-1-4-1 formation in which the players looked anything but comfortable.

The result was the disastrous 4-1 defeat in Dortmund and, ultimately, it proved to be an insurmountable scoreline on Tuesday. As in the previous two semi-finals, Mourinho's men came out and attacked in the second leg, yet it was a conservative approach in the first match which has arguably cost his Madrid team from making it all the way to the final over the last three years.

Had he been more proactive in his approach instead of just reactive after the first matches, Madrid may have had their Decima by now - and Mourinho his Tercera. As it is, both will have to wait.

Deals agreed: Mourinho & Falcao are Chelsea-bound

After months of negotiations the European champions have reached a breakthrough in their efforts to bring back the Special One and recruit the prolific Atletico Madrid striker

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Jose Mourinho has agreed a deal to re-join Chelsea as their manager this summer – and is poised to bring €59 million striker Radamel Falcao with him.

Goal.com understands that the Real Madrid boss is expected to be unveiled in the Stamford Bridge hot seat at the end of the season following a breakthrough in negotiations with the club over the last week.

The Chelsea high command, led by Roman Abramovich, have been in talks with Mourinho’s camp for months about a sensational return for the man who led the club to two Premier League titles during his first spell in charge from 2004-2007.

Negotiations have centred on how much control Mourinho will have in recruiting players and staff, as well as his place in a management structure where low-profile technical director Michael Emenalo holds the levers of power.

It is believed that, following a series of twists and turns during discussions, an agreement in principle has been reached for the Portuguese to take over from interim manager Rafael Benitez this summer.

Mourinho is expected to put pen to paper and formalise the deal when he ends his three-year spell in Madrid at the end of next month.

A report in Germany last week claimed that Chelsea were on the brink of landing both Mourinho and Atletico Madrid’s spearhead Falcao.

Goal.com understands that the European champions have since made further progress with both deals and are confident that Mourinho will announce the prolific Colombian, who is also represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, as one of his first signings.

BEN HAYWARD, GOAL.COM INTERNATIONAL

Jose Mourinho has been here before. Just under three years ago, also at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Portuguese lifted his second Champions League trophy, with Inter, and then moved on straight away - just as he had done with Porto six years earlier. After leading Inter to their first European Cup success since 1965, Mourinho revealed he was moving to Madrid, but was much more coy in the press room moments later. "I haven't decided yet," he told the international media. And in any case it would be hard to leave, because he loved Inter, he explained. But his mind had been made up and something similar happened on Tuesday night. "Would he be staying at Madrid?" he was asked. "Maybe not - I love to be where people love me to be," was his reply. So anywhere but Spain, then, given all the problems he has had with players, press and just about everybody else. Down in the press room itself, he was less forthcoming and claimed he may still be at the Spanish side next term. But he won't be. His earlier words gave the game away - he has never truly felt the love at Madrid and now is the time to move on to a place where he really does feel appreciated. So Chelsea seems ideal.

Chelsea, who came close to landing Falcao last August and then again in January, have been in talks with Atletico top brass for weeks about the structure of a deal which is complicated by uncertainty over the future of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been extremely impressive since joining the Spanish club on loan at the start of last season.

Chelsea are prepared to allow the Belgian keeper to continue his development by staying in Madrid for another season if it eases Falcao's path to west London.

The Blues have made it clear that they are willing to activate the €59m release clause in the striker’s Atletico contract.

The deal is a complex one because of third-party ownership issues - with Mendes part of a consortium holding an interest in Falcao - but Chelsea have intensified their efforts to land the front man in a bid to ensure the transfer can be completed.

The London club have made Falcao a contract offer and it is believed that personal terms have already been agreed on a deal that is likely to make the striker one of the highest paid players in Premier League history.

Goal.com exclusively revealed in March that the former Porto man is chasing a deal worth around €295,000 per week.

Mourinho and senior Chelsea officials regard the Colombian, who has scored 32 goals in 36 games for Atletico this season, as an upgrade on current front men Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.

Falcao has the pedigree and star quality which Chelsea thought they had acquired with the £50m purchase of Torres in January 2010, but the Spaniard is now likely to be put up for sale to help fund the purchase of the player earmarked to be his replacement.

Podolski to undergo ankle operation in the summer

The Germany international has been advised to have corrective surgery on the injury problem that has troubled him ever since he joined Arsenal during the previous close season

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Correspondent
Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is set to have ankle surgery at the end of the season, Goal can reveal.

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It is understood that the Gunners star, who has been hampered by a long-standing complaint since joining the club last summer, has had injections before matches to help nurse him through the second half of the season.

Arsenal's medical staff have advised that the Germany international undergoes corrective surgery on the troublesome joint, believed to be his left ankle, to clear up the problem for good.

This could rule Podolski out of Germany's end-of-season friendlies against Ecuador and USA on May 29 and June 2.

The former Koln striker was a regular for the north Londoners in the opening two-thirds of the season but his ankle problem, combined with a calf injury, kept him out of the starting line-up for more than two months.

The 27-year-old led the Gunners' front line against Manchester United on Sunday in the absence of the suspended Olivier Giroud.

However, Podolski was substituted and has completed 90 minutes only four times in his 39 appearances for the club this season.

Benitez: Chelsea will play strongest team against Basel

 

The interim manager says he will not run the risk of the Swiss side overturning their one-goal deficit from the first leg and danger the Blues' passage to the Europa League final

Rafa Benitez intends to start his strongest team in Chelsea's Europa League clash with Basel on Thursday evening.
The Blues take a one-goal advantage and two away goals into the Stamford Bridge clash following David Luiz's last-gasp winner in the first leg, but first-choice left-back Ashley Cole is suspended after picking up another booking.

But Benitez is not willing to risk Basel overturning the scoreline after knocking out the likes of Tottenham on their way to a first-ever European semi-final, and will call upon his most talented troops to confirm Chelsea's passage to the final.

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"Winning a trophy is important to everyone. We are not in the final yet and we are playing against a tough team," Benitez was quoted as saying on the club's official Twitter feed.
"The main thing is to win tomorrow so we'll play the best team, it doesn't matter how many bookings a player has so far.

"Basel will come trying to score, they did it against Spurs and I am sure they will have the same approach. They need to score."
Benitez, though, is wary of complacency during the match, with a number of his youngsters - the likes of Oscar, Victor Moses and Eden Hazard - experiencing their first European semi-final.
"Chelsea has a lot of young players with talent who are settling here. Hazard is one but I think he'll be better in future," he added.

"We have a good team and we are so close to the final we have to be concentrated. I have a lot of confidence in my players.