Champions League: We’re still in it, insists Mourinho

Real coach says his side can turn things around after 2-1 first-leg loss.

MUNICH: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted the Spanish giants can turn things around in the return leg despite losing 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final first-leg.

Germany striker Mario Gomez hit an 88th-minute winner in the first-leg to make Bayern the favourites  to reach the May 19 final at their own Allianz Arena stadium against either holders Barcelona or Chelsea.

After France winger Franck Ribery gave Bayern an early lead, Real’s Mesut Ozil equalised before Gomez’s winning strike, but Mourinho says his team can hit back at their Bernabeu stadium next Wednesday.

“We have the second-leg to come and it’s not like we have to make a historical comeback, what we have to do is very achievable,” said Mourinho, whose team are away to Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday in the Spanish league. “If we win at home, we are there. I’m optimistic we can return here to play in the final.

“I think a more justified result would have been a draw, but that’s football. I still think the team can do it, the fans will be behind us, just like the fans helped Bayern.”

Mourinho said English referee Howard Webb had made a mistake in awarding Bayern’s opening goal as replays showed Ribery fired home with a Bayern player offside, but he refused to criticise the official.

“We had the feeling that one team could get through with a lucky punch and they made it. Their first goal was offside, that is clear. I accept the referee’s decision, but he shouldn’t have given the goal.”

Bayern ‘deserved to win’

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes was delighted with his team’s performance as they preserved their remarkable record of having never lost at home to Madrid, with nine wins and a draw in their 10 meetings in Munich since 1976.

“We deserved to win, it was a hard bit of work,” said the 66-year-old. “I had said we would play with passion for 90 minutes and the players did just that, they gave their all. I must pay a great compliment to my team, they ran very hard and played a great game.”

Heynckes also singled out match-winner Gomez for his tireless display.

“He worked hard for the 90 minutes and won back several balls we had lost and he deserved to get the winner.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2012.