Jose Mourinho 'not obsessed' with winning Champions League with Real Madrid

Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Goal.com

Portuguese coach plays down significance of potentially bringing Europe's biggest prize to the Spanish capital as he prepares to finish the job against Tottenham

Jose Mourinho has said winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is not an obsession, but he would like to turn his hands towards doing so this season.

Having already won the competition with Porto in 2004 and Inter last year, Mourinho has set-up his Madrid side for potential success as they attempt to finish off Tottenham having defeated them 4-0 in last week's quarter-final, first-leg.

But, the record of winning the competition with three different clubs is there for the taking.

"If you think about it, it's a different kind of record," he told uefa.com.

"It's one thing to win three cups with the same club and a different one to win the cup three times with three different clubs in different countries, and in very different time periods.

"I would like to achieve it, of course, but without being obsessed by it.

"I'm passionate about playing games on an extraordinary level, games that you'll never forget.

"I'm passionate about doing things well and making people happy. Winning a Champions League trophy is something that truly has an impact on the fans. Until the end of my career, I will always be trying to win it one more time, but without it ever becoming an obsession."

And his band of Madrid men are up for the cup as they warm up for the return leg at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night.

"You have to consider the quality of our players, but some of them have never played in the quarter-finals," he said.

"To taste and feel this for the first time, the emotion connected to this competition – a competition that for me is the most important in world football – can only help them

"This doesn't jeopardise their potential or put them under pressure.

"On the contrary: they have to enjoy these moments, moments that are unique. On top of that, Tottenham are playing very well and to play a Champions League match in England, with such a spectacular atmosphere, is fantastic."

But, despite their comfortable aggregate lead, Mourinho knows the Premier League outfit won't want to give up easily at home.

He continued: "They know how they need to play.

"They're an English team and they'll always be one. They have an English coach [Harry Redknapp] who can't deny his culture and background, which has been shaped by so many games in England.

"On the other hand, they have people who see football in a different way. They have [Luka] Modric, they have [Rafael] van der Vaart, they have Sandro – a Brazilian player, a Dutch one and a Croatian, people with a completely different football culture. From that mix comes a team I like a lot."