Jose: I want to be loved

Speculation ... Jose Mourinho refuses to commit to Real Madrid.

Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League exit will be music to Roman Abramovich's ears, with Jose Mourinho declaring that next season "I want to be where people love me".

When asked after Real Madrid lost their semi-final tie to Borussia Dortmund if he would remain at the Bernabeu, Mourinho replied: "maybe not". 

Speculation has been feverish all season that Mourinho would leave the Spanish capital for a return to Chelsea, in the Premier League. 

Now that Madrid are out of the Champions League - Mourinho's final frontier at the club - he said at his press conference: 

"In England I'm loved by fans and the media, fairly criticised or credited when I deserve. In Spain some hate me, even in this room.'

"I have a contract at Madrid. But contracts are broken when people want. But I've respect for the president. In England I'm loved.

"Let's see if Madrid will win with or without me. If they will without, anyway I will be happy."

Madrid, 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, still have a chance for silverware in the Copa Del Rey final against Atletico Madrid next month. 

"I didn't make a decision because I have a contract. But more than a contract, because in football contracts you break it when people want to break, is the respect I have for the club and the respect I have for the president," he said.

"That's why I want to play the final, I want to finish the season, I want to try to win the final, I want to try to finish second and at the end of the season I want to sit in front of Florentino Perez - my president, my friend - and decide the best for me.

"I like the club, I like the president, I need to be honest and fair and at the end of the season I speak." 

The stars have aligned for a return to Stamford Bridge, where Rafael Benitez will depart in the summer. 

Barely minutes after Madrid's elimination, the Mirror was reporting: "Jose Mourinho crashed out of the Champions League last night, but will be given an incredible £100m transfer kitty to rebuild Chelsea if he makes the move back to the Blues this summer."

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