Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes playing in the Champions League
final is more important than La Liga ahead of his side's clash with
Bayern Munich in their semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu.
Madrid trail 2-1 from the first leg but Mourinho feels his players'
composure bodes well as he looks to set up a possible showdown in the
final against his former club Chelsea.
He said: "I don't know if the Champions League is more important
than the league, because the best team always wins the league and this
isn't always the case in Europe.
"However, the final of the Champions League is the most important
thing in football. Today is almost like a long-awaited final, but I see
calmness in the players. I don't like an excess of emotion, nor a lack
of it."
Mourinho claimed he had been bereft of fortune in previous matches at the last-four stage after twice losing to Liverpool
(in 2005 and 2007) - when at Chelsea - and again to arch-rivals
Barcelona last season - a defeat he blamed on a UEFA conspiracy.
"Overall I have not been lucky in semi-finals of the Champions League," he said.
"I lost one with Chelsea (2005) due to a goal that wasn't a goal,
the ball didn't cross the line. Another season (2007) we lost on
penalties and when you lose a semi-final on penalties it is due to bad
luck and I lost the semi-final last season because of what everyone
knows."
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes is preparing for a "battle of the giants".
He said: "It is going to be spectacular. It is going to be a real treat with everything which belongs in such a football game.
"Just a fortnight ago, people were saying that Barcelona are the be
all and end all, but now Real have gone and won in Barcelona.
"It will be a battle of the giants. Both clubs have a great history
and I am looking forward to it, and I hope it has a positive outcome for
us."
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