Another Portuguese European champion? Not on Jose Mourinho’s watch.
Both Sporting CP and FC Porto are still active on the continent, but it’s the former that would cause the biggest upset by far.
Sporting came back from 3-0 down in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt to win the second 5-0 and book a quarter-final spot against Arsenal.
Should Rui Borges side keep the momentum going and somehow win the final, Benfica fans will be gutted, and so will their manager.
“If you ask me, and I know you’ll tear me apart, if I’d like Sporting to be European champions, I wouldn’t,” Mourinho said in his press conference.
“I really wouldn’t. I was the last one in Portugal, and I really wouldn’t like it.”
The 2004 champion with Porto then went on to soften the blow for Borges.
“I was happy for Portuguese football because these are important points,” he added.
“I was happy for Rui Borges, who was heavily criticized after losing a game that, okay, he shouldn’t have lost, but look, I also lost there and by a bigger margin.
“I was happy for Rui, and I always say that Portuguese teams are always contenders to win the Europa League, and FC Porto and Sp. Braga are there to win the Europa League.
“Winning the Champions League is a more complicated thing…”
Asked for his take on his rival Lisbon coach, Borges simply said: “That’s the manager’s honest opinion.
“I’m Portuguese, I always want the Portuguese to win.”
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