'Dissatisfied' Mourinho clears way for Inter exit

Gordon Tynan
Tuesday 18 May 2010 19:00 EDT
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(AP)

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Jose Mourinho has reiterated his future will be decided after Saturday's Champions League final, dismissing suggestions he has already agreed to coach Real Madrid but insisting he has "given everything possible" for Internazionale.

Mourinho again claimed he cares deeply for the fans of Inter and also appreciates everything the club has done for him in his two years at San Siro. But the millions of euros he earns and all of the titles he has won cannot take away the resentment he feels towards some in Italy who have, according to the Portuguese coach, shown him a lack of respect.

For that reason, Mourinho admits he could end up walking away from the Nerazzurri, even if he engineers a famous win over Bayern Munich at Real's Bernabeu home on Saturday. "It's not a problem of contract or money and that makes me slightly embarrassed because of what I earn considering the [world economic] crisis there is," Mourinho said. "It's a problem of personal satisfaction, to feel respected or not in a football nation where I have had so many problems."

Many believe Mourinho to be on his way to Real, where he was praised after leading Inter past Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. "It's not true that I'm the Real coach," Mourinho said. "After the final, I want to think about my future. Obviously, Inter cannot do anything more to make me feel happy and feel important.

"The players are fantastic, so are the fans and everyone at the club. The result of Saturday's game means nothing. It will not change the fact that I have given everything possible."

Mourinho stressed that he has a good relationship with his employers. "Inter doesn't owe me anything and I owe nothing to Inter, because I've given everything," he said. He believes the club will make sure the right man is in charge if he does choose to depart. In true Mourinho style, he said: "My successor? The club chose me and chose well."

Inter fans and all of Italian and Spanish football will be monitoring Mourinho's situation in the coming days. Perhaps failure to beat Bayern in the Champions League final would serve as the impetus for Mourinho to stay and finish what he started, to lead Inter to the top in Europe. However, should he guide Inter to victory on Saturday, he may opt for a new challenge, despite having time to run on his existing contract.

"The result of the final will not affect my decision regarding my future," said the former Chelsea manager. "At this time, I am the Inter coach. I have a contract until 2012 or 2013, I don't remember."

The Inter striker Diego Milito admits he hopes Mourinho will remain in charge at the club next season. "We hope he will remain with us," said Milito. "He is very important to us."

The Nerazzurri travel to Madrid today knowing that they are on the cusp of history, with the Italian giants, who have just won their fifth successive Scudetto and the Italian Cup, within touching distance of the treble. "We have to think of how we are going to approach Bayern," Milito said yesterday. "Up to now, we have not been able to talk among us about this because we have had so many important games. From tomorrow, we will start to organise ourselves. Bayern has a very good team, with great players."

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