Skip to main content

Real Madrid - The Champions League draw from hell for Manchester United. Via HITC SPORT

Manchester United could draw Porto or Celtic in the Champions League on Thursday, but Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo could be their nightmare if the draw is not kind to them.


Jose Mourinho’s side are 13 points behind Barcelona already, and they have little hope of defending their league title as a result, meaning they only really have the Champions League to play for.

When Jose Mourinho was appointed at Real Madrid his main job was undoubtedly to win the Champions League for the club. That his side reasserted some measure of domestic dominance by winning the league title over Barcelona last season was a great success, but it is their first European glory since 2002 that the club were seeking when they brought in the Portuguese manager.

It was also European glory that made Mourinho move to Spain, as he aims to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs. An uneasy alliance has been present between the club’s board and their outspoken manager since his appointment, as each look to complete their own aims despite repeated disagreements.

Mourinho’s spell at Real Madrid looks certain to end in the summer, meaning that this is the last year he can potentially win the Champions League with the club. Their league form has been a disaster so far this season, but this will mean little to either the clubs board or Mourinho himself if he can mastermind a win in Europe.

The campaign hasn’t gone perfectly so far, with Madrid finishing behind Dortmund in their group to create the possibility of a nightmare first knockout round tie against the likes of Bayern Munich, who put them out in last year’s semi-final.

However as the Portuguese manager has been keen to point out himself, on the last two occasions he has finished second in his Champions League group he has won the title. Also with the league title already looking unlikely, Madrid and Mourinho will now be completely focussed on the Champions League, and few would argue that on a given match day, a fresh Real Madrid squad paired with Mourinho as manager cannot match any team in the world.

The idea of a last hurrah in Madrid no doubt appeals to Mourinho’s sense of his own narrative, and should he win the trophy no-one could argue his time there wasn’t a success.

For all their struggles so far this season, Real Madrid are amongst the very favourites for the Champions League, and you’d be brave to bet against Mourinho leaving Madrid on the highest of notes.

Manchester United fans will have to cross their fingers they do not become casualties along the way.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jones With A Knee Surgery

Bleacher Report Writes: Manchester United defender Phil Jones is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines after having surgery on a knee injury, the club has announced.   Jones, 20, has yet to make an appearance this season after hurting his back during pre-season and suffered this latest injury in training. "Phil Jones has had surgery on a knee meniscus tear sustained in training," said a United spokesman. "It will require six to eight weeks of rehabilitation." Jones, whose last competitive appearance for United was against Sunderland on the final day of last season, is understood to have suffered his latest injury in training earlier this week. The England international was sent for a scan on his right knee which has confirmed he requires an extensive period of rehabilitation. Jones was believed to be close to returning following back spasms when he damaged his knee. ...
5 comments
International News

Read What Shakira Says. Via Yahoo!

Looking at  Shakira  and her fabulous figure you might be surprised to learn it was only three months ago that she gave birth to son Milan. But the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer reveals that dropping the pounds was no cake walk. While promoting “The Voice” in Pasadena, California, on Monday, the blond bombshell revealed, "[Losing baby weight] is the only thing that’s been a little stressful … I knew I had to come back here to do ‘The Voice’ two months after I had delivered a baby. I didn’t have my four months of maternity like every woman on Earth has. I’m not trying to complain, but it’s been a process full of challenges.” Photo source: omg INSIDER & Yahoo The 36-year-old mama added that the pressure to shed the baby weight at record speed is something that she feels the previous generations didn't face. She said, “I think that our mothers and grandmothers weren’t under the pressure women of today are after delivering a baby. My dad says there’s nothing better than meat...
Post a Comment
International News

Britney Spears' Busy Vegas Weekend With New Beau. Via abc News

Britney Spears keeps it busy in Sin City. The "Scream & Shout" singer spent last weekend in Las Vegas but she wouldn't have come at all if her much-discussed Vegas residency was not a "done deal," the Las Vegas Sun reported. With new boyfriend David Lucado in tow, Spears flew to Vegas Friday and checked into Caesars Palace, the Sun reported. She attended a charity Cirque du Soleil performance, sneaking in just as the curtain went up and leaving just before the show ended. Spearstweeted a photo of herself, Lucado and her manager, Larry Rudolph, smiling in their seats together. Spears' management and production team met with executives at Caesars Entertainment Saturday, which owns Planet Hollywood, and then checked out the PH Live theater, where Brit will have her residency. Spears, Lucado and her entourage then lunched at the Meatball Spot restaurant, owned by Top Chef Seattle contestant Carla Pellegrino. The couple chowed down on meatball s...
Post a Comment
International News