José Mourinho reflected on the heartbreaking defeat in the 2012 UCL semi-final against Bayern, admitting it was the only time he cried after a loss.
“That night I cried while driving home,” he recalled. “Later, I got a call from Jorge Mendes: ‘Do me a favor – go to Cristiano’s house because he’s devastated.'” Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo shared their devastation: “We were destroyed.”
“We were the best team in Europe, we won La Liga smashing all records,” Mourinho lamented. “We would’ve won that final against Chelsea, I don’t have any doubt.” However, the penalty shootout proved cruel: “What was most cruel for me was that in the shootout we chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Sergio Ramos. They were dead certs from the penalty spot, and the guys who missed were those who never miss. Three complete football monsters, but they are human. It sunk me.”
“Unfortunately, it’s football…” Mourinho reflected. Real Madrid’s 2011-12 squad remains one of the greatest teams to not win the UCL.
