Mourinho says Benfica fate wont impact his future amid Real Madrid links
Jose Mourinho insists Benficas Champions League fate will not influence whether he leaves for Real Madrid.
The 63-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to the Bernabeu to replace Alvaro Arbeloa following a difficult season for Real.
Mourinho took over at Benfica in September and has led the side to an unbeaten season in the Portuguese league with one match remaining.
But a draw with Braga on Monday evening leaves them two points behind second-placed Sporting Lisbon ahead of Saturdays clash with Estoril.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Mourinho said: Youre talking about Real Madrid, Im not talking about Real Madrid. Im talking about Benfica, and the work weve been doing wont change because were second or third.
Thats not whats going to influence my future. Obviously, Benfica wants to play in the Champions League, and so do I as a coach, but it has no influence whatsoever.
Mourinho managed Real from 2010 to 2013, winning one league title as well as the Copa del Rey.
A miserable campaign for Los Blancos was capped on Sunday evening when defeat at Barcelona sealed title for their rivals, while dressing-room unrest has also burst into the public domain.
Ex-Chelsea and Brighton defender Lamptey terminates Fiorentina contract
Former Chelsea and Brighton right-back Tariq Lamptey has left Serie A club Fiorentina after a mutual agreement was reached to terminate his contract.
The Ghana international picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee in September last year, just weeks after signing from Brighton.
The 25-year-old made only two appearances for Fiorentina, totalling 25 minutes of action.
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Alonso to Chelsea? 'Having Real on his CV will attract owners'
Alonso emerges as best candidate for Chelsea job
Latest from Your Site News' Kaveh Solhekol:
Xabi Alonso has emerged as the candidate with the best CV for the Chelsea job.
Chelsea want a manager with experience at the highest level.
Alonso is highly regarded because of his playing career and his managerial record at Bayer Leverkusen.
There is also a general feeling that he wasn't given enough time at Real Madrid and he would have been successful if he had kept his job.
Chelsea are focusing on the FA Cup final but work is going on in the background involving their sporting directors and the representatives of the managers they are targeting.
'Chelsea exploring deal to appoint Alonso'
Chelsea are exploring a deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as the clubs new head coach, according to The Athletic.
Alonso is said to be open to the possibility of replacing Liam Rosenior, with Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola also a "strong contender".
Alonso has been out of management since being sacked by Real Madrid in January after just seven months in charge, having joined from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Iraola confirmed in April that he will leave Bournemouth when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Merse: Silva to replace Rosenior at Chelsea?
Your Site' Paul Merson:
"You always think Xabi Alonso is going to be the next Liverpool manager - I'd keep Slot, because of what he did last year.
"But unless he's been told he's not getting the Liverpool job, he might say yeah it's a good fit.
"He was brilliant at Leverkusen, he messed with the wrong people at Real Madrid. You can't do that, messing with Vinicius Junior, so it'll be interesting.
"I like him, he was a special player and did great in Germany but not so much in Spain. Plus, he hasn't managed in the Premier League.
"I think it could be Marco Silva. He ticks the boxes. Iraola won't like what he sees with Chelsea being outrun in every game, I don't know how he'd turn that around.
"Silva's only up the road too, wouldn't have to move, he's been in the Premier League a long time and is steady. He's done a really good job at Fulham."
Cancelo hints he could stay at Barcelona
Joao Cancelo has hinted that his future could lie at Barcelona after winning the LaLiga title.
The Portuguese full-back admitted he has already made a decision on his future, but stopped short of confirming whether he will remain at Barca beyond his loan spell from Al Hilal.
I know what I want. I cannot say it publicly, but we will see what happens from now on, said Cancelo.
The 31-year-old described Barcelona as a very special club and revealed he had supported the club even before joining. His latest league triumph saw him make history as the first player to win league titles in four of Europes five major leagues Italy, England, Germany and Spain.
Cancelo also aimed criticism at Al Hilal, claiming the Saudi club failed to keep promises.
There were people who did not tell me the truth, he said. They told me they were going to register me in the Saudi League squad, then the moment of truth came and they did not do it.
"But I am always the one with the bad personality. At least I keep my word. I am a man of my word, I never change my word for anything, I have always been the same, my personality is the same, I am direct."
O'Neil says Chelsea owners BlueCo 'messed up' Strasbourg recruitment
Gary ONeil has accused BlueCo, the owners of Chelsea and Strasbourg, of "messing up" recruitment this season at the Ligue 1 side and questioned the clubs culture.
The former Wolves and Bournemouth coach was appointed in January after Liam Rosenior moved to Stamford Bridge and has overseen two semi-final defeats in the last month as the club exited the Coupe de France and the Conference League.
Strasbourg have won six of their 14 league games under ONeils management but defeats by Nice in April and over two legs against Rayo Vallecano ended their hopes of silverware and with it their last chance of qualifying for Europe next season.
O'Neil believes recruitment during the January transfer window weakened rather than strengthened his squad.
I need two centre-forwards, said ONeil following Sundays 1-1 draw with Angers, reported by LEquipe.
The owners want to give me the means to perform next season, but we have to improve the culture around the club, the quality of the players, and the depth of the squad.
We messed up in the January transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the squad.
Striker David Datro Fofana and defender Aaron Anselmino were loaned from Chelsea while the influential Mamadou Sarr, who spent the first half of the season on loan from Stamford Bridge, was recalled to west London.
Ecuador international Kendry Paez also had his season-long loan cut short by Chelsea and was immediately loaned out again to River Plate in Argentina.
