Former Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has provided an insight into the lasting fallout from his side’s heartbreaking Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich back in 2012.
The Santiago Bernabéu clash, for those who may not remember, is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of European club football’s elite competition.
After Bayern emerged on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline in Munich in the tie’s opener, the German champions made the trip to Spain’s capital two weeks later, with a spot in the Champions League final on the line.
It was hosts Real Madrid, though, who ultimately emerged on the right side of a 2-1 full-time result.
Proceedings, from here, were sent to extra-time, and before long, an ensuing penalty shootout.
And when all was said and done in a breathless ten-kick affair, the evening’s visitors held their nerve, triumphing 3-2 to march on to an eventual showpiece defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
Of those to have failed to convert in the Bernabéu shootout, some of world football’s most recognisable names featured front and centre, including the likes of Kaká, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, and Philipp Lahm.
Perhaps most surprising of all, though, was the miss of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, widely considered one of the greatest ‘big game’ players of all-time, saw his effort from 12 yards expertly kept out by Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal.
And, as alluded to above, so devastated was the Portuguese frontman by his role in Real Madrid’s Champions League exit, that he was paid a post-match visit by fellow countryman and then-manager José Mourinho.
Speaking in an interview released by Prime Video this week, legendary tactician Mourinho was drawn on the fallout from ‘that’ night in Madrid.
And the 61-year-old went on to admit that, despite having been suffering badly himself, he made the trip to the house of Cristiano Ronaldo, at the request of super agent Jorge Mendes:
“I cried, of course not on the pitch or in the dressing room. But driving home, yes. And when I’m going home already down, I get a call from (agent) Jorge Mendes: “Do me a favour: go to Cristiano’s house, because he’s dead.” I told him: “I’m also dead!” But I did it, so… Prepare yourself, no tears and let’s go to Cristiano’s house. He was exactly the way I was. We were destroyed.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
