Jose Mourinho: Manchester United were the Special Ones

Posted Wednesday, March 06, 2013 by The Sun

JOSE MOURINHO insisted Manchester United deserved to be in the Champions League quarter-finals after a night of controversy at Old Trafford.

United led Real Madrid through a Sergio Ramos own goal and were completely in control until Nani was sent off in the 56th minute for catching Alvaro Arbeloa with a high boot.

After that, goals from sub Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo — on his return to his old club — earned Real a 2-1 win to put them through 3-2 on aggregate.

But Real boss Mourinho said: “We didn’t play well and didn’t deserve to win. But football is like this. I’m not talking about the decision as I’m not sure about it.

“But independent of that, the best team lost.

“I doubt 11 v 11 that we would win the match.”

Mourinho brought Modric into the action as soon as Nani was dismissed and the former Spurs man changed the game with a stunning strike on 66 minutes before Ronaldo grabbed the winner three minutes later.

Mourinho said: “I had the feeling Modric could change the match. He brought qualities into the game that we didn’t have before.”

Real came into this match on the back of two superb wins over deadly rivals Barcelona.

But Mourinho was not too proud to admit his men got lucky here.

He said: “I was a bit frustrated because we played so amazingly well against Barcelona and I was waiting for more — for my team to come here and express their football in a different way.

“I know they are giants physically and mentally and know they are fantastic and have a manager able to organise people and motivate people — I know all that.

“But I was waiting to come here and play that way.”

Mourinho now has his sights set on becoming the first coach to win the competition three times with three different teams — but knows there are still plenty of hurdles to come, despite having knocked out one of the favourites.

Mourinho said: “There are so many teams and obstacles left in this competition but this one was an important one especially after the result of the first leg.”

The former Chelsea chief admitted that the night had reignited his love for the English game and that he wanted to return one day as a manager.

He said: “Everyone knows I love it. Everyone knows one day I will be back. That is for sure, unless nobody wants me. If someone wants me, I have to be back.

“I enjoy it so much, all the time and in this game, independent of the result, it’s great to be here.”

It was an especially emotional night for Ronaldo, who got an incredible reception before the game. He refused to celebrate when he scored the winning goal and later expressed his sadness that United had gone out.

He said: “The reception was unbelievable. It was an emotional moment for me, for both games, especially tonight.

“I do not have words to explain how I feel. The supporters made me feel shy as I did not play how I play all the time.

“Anyway, I helped my team and I feel a little happy inside — on the other hand I feel sad as Manchester United are out.”

Now Ronaldo is targeting another Champions League crown to go with the one he won with United in 2008.

Ron said: “We have a long way to go. We beat one of the best teams in the world. We’ll go step by step but we are in good shape.”

Ronaldo refused to dismiss the prospect of returning to United one day. He said: “The future we never know, but the supporters here and the club are massive. But at this moment I am very happy in Madrid and I want to be there.”

With Ferguson ‘too distraught’ to speak about the game it was left to his assistant Mike Phelan to express his disappointment.

He said: “We felt as though we had the tactics right for the game and felt as though we were comfortable at times.

“We scored the goal that put us in a commanding position. But then the game totally changed.

“The decision was amazing but we had to carry on. Playing Madrid with 11 men is very difficult. In a game of this magnitude, with all the world watching, we feel very disappointed.”