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Champions League semi-final draw: Jose Mourinho not bothered if Chelsea face Real Madrid

Friday's draw could see Mourinho come up against his former employer

Simon Rice
Wednesday 09 April 2014 17:34 BST
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Jose Mourinho joins in the bundle with his players celebrating Chelsea’s late goal
Jose Mourinho joins in the bundle with his players celebrating Chelsea’s late goal

Jose Mourinho is not fussed whether Chelsea are drawn against Real Madrid in Friday's Champions League semi-final draw.

The Blues turned around a 3-1 first leg deficit at Stamford Bridge last night with a 2-0 win that saw them progress on away goals.

It ensured Chelsea will take their place in Friday's draw along with Real Madrid and the winners of tonight's games between Bayern Munich and Manchester United and Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

However, being drawn against the one other team already with their name in the hat it perhaps the most tantalising prospect. It would see Mourinho come up against his former employers with whom he had a testing relationship. While he may have delivered La Liga during his three years at the Bernabeu, he was unable to end their wait for a European Cup - the task he was really employed for. Mourinho took them to the semi-finals every year he was there.

If Chelsea are drawn against Real Madrid it would be he who stands in the way of the Spanish giants getting one step closer to ending that wait, and going one better than he could achieve. Surely Mourinho would relish the opportunity to dash those hopes.

Yet after last night's victory, secured with a late Demba Ba strike, Mourinho insisted he had no particular preference as to who his side face.

"It doesn’t matter. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico [Madrid], Bayern [Munich], Manchester [United].. it doesn’t matter," he said.

"We are in the semi-finals. If the quarter-finals had eight fantastic teams, imagine the four that will reach the semi-finals. Anything can happen."

Despite taking his team to within 180 minutes of a Champions League final appearance Mourinho again took the opportunity to downplay his team.

"A big opponent is waiting for us in the semi-final but it doesn’t matter who. They know we are a team with a special spirit even if we are not in the maximum of our potential."

Following last night's win, few would doubt Chelsea have the potential to repeat the triumph of 2012.

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