Wednesday, 6th April, 2011
Jose Mourinho believes that the Champions League quarter-final tie between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur is not yet dead despite Los Blancos winning 4-0 at the Bernabeu last night.
Real Madrid stormed into the lead after just four minutes when former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor leaped high to head the Spaniards in front. Worse came for Spurs almost at once as Peter Crouch was sent off for a second bookable offence, before Adebayor headed a second home ten minutes into the second half.
At 2-0, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp’s thoughts were simply on survival ahead of the second leg. But those were soon shattered as Angel di Maria cut inside from the right flank and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top left hand corner of Heurelho Gomes’ net. When Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a fourth with just three minutes left it did truly look game over. But that is not how Mourinho sees the balance of the tie.
"I know at this level, eleven against ten, it’s almost impossible", said the Portuguese, highlighting how much Crouch’s sending off affected the game.
"But I know the English mentality. With the English concept of football, it’s not over.
"We’re not in the semis. Last time Real Madrid played in the quarters we also won at home, 4-2 I think [against Monaco] and then we were out."
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