Yesterday evening saw the second leg of the Champions League semi-final match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, the match was played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the home of Real Madrid football club. Following last week's first leg defeat at Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid were chasing a 4-1 deficit and needed to secure a 3-0 win to grab a place in the Champions League final which will be played on 25th May 2013 at Wembley. Real Madrid have not won the Champions League for the last eleven seasons, and last night saw the team enter the Bernabeu in their Real Madrid Shirts willing to risk all in an attempt to turn the tide and have stab at the title.

It was a mixed game with the Real Madrid team coming out strong but missing some vital opportunities in the first half, Higuain, Ozil and the popular Cristiano Ronaldo in his number 7 Real Madrid home shirt all failed to open the scoring in the first 25 minutes.  The team then appeared very lifeless not coming to life again until the final 10 minutes when the score went from 0-0 to 2-0.  In those closing 10 minutes the Real Madrid shirts on the pitch sprang into action, the team produced 10 shots, 5 on target with goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos but the allusive 3rd goal did not materialise.

The disappointed team in their Real Madrid shirts left the pitch whilst the Borussia Dortmund team and fans celebrated; Borussia Dortmund last won the Champions League in 1997 and hasn't been in the final since then either. Following the match the Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said his team had played with "character and desire", but it was not enough to overcome the disappointing first leg defeat, in which he admitted the team was "very bad". Jose Mourinho signed as Real Madrid manager in 2010, he has an impressive history securing Champions League success with former teams Porto and Inter Milan, and he had hoped to become the first manager to win the prestigious title of Champions of Europe with three teams however, last night it was not to be.

In fact Real Madrid's exit from the Champions League sparked hints from Mourinho that his future was up for discussion.  Mourinho feels he is unfairly criticised in the Spanish league with people hating him whereas about a possible return to the UK he said "I know in England I'm loved.  I know I'm loved by some clubs especially one", he went on to say that he is treated "fairly" by the media and fans.

Ronaldo who proudly sports his Real Madrid shirt and is focused on his own future was heard to say, he didn't worry about Mourinho only himself and the Real Madrid team.  Mourinho has signed a contract with Real Madrid and will not discuss his future until the end of the season, he said he "respects the club" and will speak about the future with president Fiorentino Perez deciding what is best for him and the club after the Copa del Ray.

It was reported this week in the French news that Carlo Ancelloti the Paris Saint Germain manager could be lining up as the next manager of Real Madrid.  Ancelloti has been at PSG since December 2011 and is having a fantastic season; his team reached the quarter finals of the Champions League after securing top spot in their group.  PSG are now 9 points clear at the top of the French Ligue 1 table.  Despite his success the rumour mill is churning about his imminent departure and a source close to Ancelloti claims "a verbal deal has been agreed with Real Madrid".

On the flip side rumours are also circulating in the French press about a possible switch for Mourinho to PSG, what is definite is that no formal announcements have this far been made as to who will be leading the team wearing the Real Madrid Shirts next season.

Mourinho has hinted he is loved at Chelsea, with Benitez leaving could a return for Mourinho be on the cards?

Do you think Ancelloti would be a more successful Real Madrid Manager?

If you want to show your support for Real Madrid, order you Real Madrid Shirt from today.

Tracey writes exclusively for Soccer Box where you can purchase a range of football shirts for all the best teams in the major football league's including La Liga, Premier League and Serie A.


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