MADRID — Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was left fuming after his side went down 2-0 to Barcelona in an ugly UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg Wednesday — a deficit he believes is too great to overcome.
Real was reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute when defender Pepe was dismissed for a late challenge on Barcelona’s Dani Alves, with replays suggesting the decision was harsh.
Mourinho was also sent to the stands for showing his displeasure to referee Wolfgang Stark and was left baffled by the decisions of the match official.
There were far too many acts of petulance and play-acting from both sides during the contest at Santiago Bernabeu, according to Sky Sports, with Lionel Messi’s two goals — the second of which was utterly sublime — deciding the contest.
But Mourinho simply wanted answers over Pepe’s red card, which rules him out of the second leg at Camp Nou, while Sergio Ramos will also miss out after being booked for a foul on Messi.
“Another miracle with 10 men wasn’t possible,” said an angry Mourinho, whose side was overwhelmed 5-0 on its previous visit to Barcelona this season.
“Yes, I think we are eliminated. We will go to Camp Nou with everything and to get a result but I can’t see it. We will be without Pepe and Ramos who didn’t do anything and neither did I.
“I just want to know why? Why did Pepe get sent off? I just want someone to explain. Why did it happen? If I say what I think my career ends today.
“Sometimes I am a little bit disgusted to live in this world, but this is the world we live in.”
In a bizarre press conference, Mourinho went on to highlight Barca’s semi-final victory over his former club Chelsea in 2009, the Inter Milan semi-final from last season and now “the scandal of the Bernabeu,” suggesting unfair red cards were issued to teams playing the Catalan side.
“This thing happens in each semi-final,” he said. “I am here just to ask this question and I hope to get the answer one day.”
Messi notched the opener in the 76th minute and grabbed his second with three minutes left to play, picking up the ball inside Real’s half before accelerating away from three incoming defenders, sidestepping two more, drawing Iker Casillas out of the Real goal and rolling the ball past him.
The sublime finish took his tally for the season to a jaw-dropping 52 goals.
With two away goals under its belt, Barca goes into next week’s second leg at the Camp Nou as strong favorite to reach the final of Europe’s premier club tournament, which takes place next month at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Read more: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11945_6900988,00.html