Mourinho wants Real Madrid out Champions League!

Lisbon, Feb 16 (EFE).-

Benfica coach José Mourinho said Monday he would relish eliminating Real Madrid from the Champions League and hopes former player Álvaro Arbeloa goes on to win the Spanish league title.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s match in Lisbon, Mourinho made clear his competitive intentions against the Spanish powerhouse he once managed.

“I would like to knock Real Madrid out,” Mourinho said. He added that he hopes Arbeloa, whom he coached during his time at Madrid, “wins La Liga.”

Mourinho praised Arbeloa as “a coach with great ability, strong Madridismo and the personality needed to manage Real Madrid.”

Asked whether he could see himself returning to the Madrid bench, Mourinho dismissed the idea. “With Real Madrid, zero,” he said, noting he still has one year remaining on his contract with Benfica.

Despite his competitive stance, Mourinho also spoke warmly about Madrid and its president, Florentino Pérez, whom he expects to greet before the match.

Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 in their most recent group-stage meeting, but Mourinho said he expects a different challenge this time.

“Tactically, they are a different team,” he said. “I’ve focused on their matches against Valencia and Real Sociedad, where they showed a different tactical mindset. We have to play the way I want, not the way Real Madrid want us to play.”

Mourinho predicted Tuesday’s game “will not be a copy” of the previous encounter on Jan. 28 and said Benfica aims to approach the first leg “with joy” while embracing the occasion.

He also confirmed that all players are available, including Colombia international midfielder Richard Ríos, who has been sidelined for a month with injury, and Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Aursnes, a key figure in Benfica’s midfield. EFE

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