Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was at his pragmatic best today, saying that even if Tottenham Hotspur score five goals, Real Madrid would still be able to score and go through to the semi-finals of the Champions League (where they would meet Barcelona).

Mourinho, speaking at a news conference at White Hart Lane ahead of the Madrid – Tottenham game on Wednesday, said his team were coming to “finish the job” and would be looking to win rather than defend their comfortable lead. No team has ever overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit to advance in any European competition and Mourinho is not about to let his side become the first to suffer such an unlikely fate.

Mourinho:

“We have to respect Tottenham and we have to respect football, because football sometimes can betray you and we cannot give them the chance of doing that.

That’s why we are coming here to play seriously, especially for me and people like Xabi (Alonso) who know the mentality of English stadiums and English supporters, English teams. They will try everything.

Harry Redknapp (Tottenham’s manager) is a good friend of mine and if I put myself in Harry’s position, imagine we had lost 4-0 here and we go to Madrid for the second leg, I wouldn’t throw in the towel. I would do everything with my players to try and get a miracle.

The only thing I say is we have to respect our opponents.

We have to play seriously, but at the same time I don’t think five goals will be enough for Tottenham to beat us, because I think we are coming here to score goals.”

When asked about the prospect of facing Barcelona in the Champions League semi finals, Mourinho said:

“Playing Barcelona means nothing to me now, it is all about tomorrow’s game and I will pick my best side for the match.

I think that some of the players find themselves in a slightly complicated, tough situation — a delicate situation.

The players need to be intelligent, they need to be bright, they need to be aware. They know what their own situation is.

I think we have to respect the opponent, we know there is quite a difference in the scoreline, but we still have a job to finish tomorrow night.”

Champions League Betting Tip

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