ITV defend cutting Jose Mourinho short with Real Madrid boss on verge of revealing future plans

Mourinho had time to indicate his future lies away from the Bernabeu

Jose Mourinho (GETTY IMAGES)

After cutting short Jose Mourinho in an interview in which the Real Madrid manager appeared to be offering the clearest indication yet that he will return to Chelsea - ITV today defended their actions.

In a post-match interview following his side's Champions League exit to Borussia Dortmund, Mourinho was asked if he would target the competition again with Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager responded: "Maybe not... I want to be where people love me."

However, with the former Inter Milan boss appearing in a frank and open mood to talk about his future, interviewer Gabriel Clarke cut him off abruptly saying: "We'll take that as England. We've got to go."

The decision to halt the interview with Mourinho led to widespread criticism on social media site Twitter.

Yet today, ITV defended their actions.

An ITV statement read: "Our reporter Gabriel Clarke managed to land an unexpected interview with Jose Mourinho with only two minutes left before the end of last night's Champions League programme on ITV.

"At that stage it was too late to arrange an over-run of the broadcast beyond the allotted time. However, in a very tight, live situation, we showed as much as we possibly could of their exchange to viewers."