News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » Mourinho in verbal duel with Madrid officials over Portugal job

Mourinho in verbal duel with Madrid officials over Portugal job

September 20, 2010 11:28 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Jose Mourinho has said he was frustrated by what appeared to be Real Madrid's objections to his temporarily coaching the Portuguese national team for two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have approached the two-time Champions League winner to see if he would take charge for the games at home to Denmark on October 8 and away to Iceland four days later.

"I don't understand why Real will not let me coach Portugal when I will have almost nothing to do in Madrid," Mourinho told Portuguese television, in quotes picked up by the Spanish media, after their 2-1 La Liga victory at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

jose mourinho"I will have nine days holiday in Madrid while there are international matches."

Real's director general Jorge Valdano moved quickly to clarify the club's position.

"There has not been an official request from Portugal so we have not declared our position," he said.

"It has been a huge story in the media so the president of the Portuguese federation rang (Real president) Florentino Perez, but this was to say they had dropped the idea.

"We gave this to mean the issue was over. Mourinho is put out because everyone would like to help their country and this reflects well on him, but there isn't anyone to blame at the club."

Mourinho had told a news conference at Real's training ground on Friday he was unable to accept the offer as he believed his club would not have reacted positively to his absence.

Portugal sacked Carlos Queiroz this month after he was suspended for six months for insulting anti-doping agents before the World Cup and have yet to name a replacement.

They have had a poor start to their qualifying campaign, with a 4-4 home draw against Cyprus.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024