Mourinho leaves future in the air

Madrid, April 3 (IANS)

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho again avoided answering questions over his future at the club as he spoke to the press ahead of his team’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg game at home to Galatasaray.

Mourinho has a contract with Real Madrid until 2016, but doubts were raised as to whether or not he would see that out last weekend when he spoke to Sky TV in England and said he was committed to the club until the end of the season, reports Xinhua.

Given the rumours of a falling out between the manager and several players in the squad, including Spain international goalkeeper Iker Casillas, about whom he was also questioned, Mourinho’s comments led to him being questioned over his long term future at Real Madrid and he again failed to give a clear answer.

“I am not important,” he said in reply. “The important thing is the results, the important thing is not my future, but me. We have two objectives this season. We have the Cope del Rey and the quarterfinals of the Champions League. We will try and finish in an adequate manner and then we will see what happens.”

Iker Casillas was again left out of the Madrid squad, despite having been given the all-clear to play again following a broken bone in his hand, 10 days ago. Mourinho, who at the weekend had said it was unlikely the club captain would figure Wednesday, insisted he was being fair to the goalkeeper.

“He is training well and he has to carry on working while he waits for his opportunity. I think I have always been honest with Casillas,” he added, before turning on a reporter who had asked him a question about the keeper.

“I don’t accept that anyone plays by right and that a player should play no matter how they are. A coach who concedes that privilege is hurting the player. You cannot make a player first choice just because of his status and the titles you have won,” said Mourinho.

“You cannot allow some to play by right in Real Madrid, you have to battle for titles with the players who are in the best form not with the players who have the longest history,” he said, before turning his attention back to Wednesday’s game.

“The most important thing is for us to score enough goals to get though the round. It doesn’t matter who scores and who doesn’t score. The main thing for me is that we work well as a team,” he said, adding that with a semi-final place was at stake and the players had no need for extra motivation.