Jose Mourinho: We will have to train to play with 10 men against Barcelona in Champions League semi-finals

Portuguese coach anticipating another 10-man fight against Barca in the Champions League last four as he hopes for a 'perfect final' against Manchester United.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes that Manchester United will defeat Schalke in the final four of the Champions League, but he is predicting another tough encounter for his side against Barcelona in the other semi-final.

The nine-time European champions beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the second-leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday evening to go through 5-0 on aggregate, but Mourinho was full of praise for his fallen opponents.
"They [Tottenham] played with a lot of pride. They played with great motivation, the public was fantastic behind them," he told Sky Sports after the game.

"They gave us a very difficult match and probably the result shouldn’t be our victory. I think a draw would be fair and would be a good bonus for them for what they gave. Of course I’m happy with the win."
Madrid will confront their arch-rivals Barcelona for a place in the final at Wembley on May 28, and Mourinho already knows what preparations are needed for the game.

"I have to train with 10 men [to prepare for the Barcelona semi-final], how to play with 10 men, because I go there with Chelsea, I finish with 10, I go there with Inter, I finish with 10 and I have to train to play with 10 men because it can happen again."

Should Madrid overcome Barca, then Mourinho expects his team to face Manchester United in the final in Wembley on May 28.

"I expect Manchester United to be there [in the final], they are the better team, they feel much more comfortable than Schalke at this level but football is football and for sure Sir Alex will tell the players exactly that.

"You have to respect the opponents even if you know clearly you are the best team. I hope Manchester United is in Wembley and if it’s Manchester United against Real it will be the perfect final for me."
The Whites hosts Barca in a crucial Primera Division game on Saturday evening with Pep Guardiola’s side eight points ahead of them in pole position. Then next week the duo will confront each other in the final of the Copa del Rey.

The last time Real Madrid won the Champions League was in 2001-02 when they defeated Barcelona in the semi-finals and beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the final at Hampden Park in Glasgow.