The 2-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid at their own Bernabeu stadium meant Mourinho, widely expected to move on at the end of this term, finished a season without significant silverware for the first time in his otherwise glittering career.

It represents a huge setback for the self-appointed “special one”, as well as for Real president Florentino Perez, who lured Mourinho from Inter Milan at great expense in 2010 and has constantly referred to him as “the world’s best coach”.

Obsessed with winning the 10th European crown that has eluded Real since 2002, Perez has splurged more than 400 million euros ($513 million) on players since returning to lead the club in 2009, including a record 94 million on Cristiano Ronaldo.

That investment has so far yielded one King’s Cup in 2011 in Mourinho’s first season and a La Liga title last term with a record points haul of 100, a meagre haul for a club as ambitious and as wealthy as Real.

The nine-times kings of Europe have fallen in the semi-finals of the Champions League in each of Mourinho’s three campaigns and surrendered their La Liga title to Barcelona last weekend, a fourth for their arch rivals in five years.

Friday’s extra time defeat to Atletico was made even more painful – and damaging for the club’s image – by the dismissal of Mourinho from the bench for furiously protesting a decision by the referee and a red card for Ronaldo for kicking out at Atletico captain Gabi and catching him in the face.

Mourinho, who has done little to quash speculation he is on his way back to Chelsea, spent a large part of his post-match press conference defending his record at Real while claiming that Atletico had not deserved to win the match.

“What for many would be a good season is my worst,” he told reporters. “We have been close but that does not exist in football.”

FANS ALIENATED

Always outspoken and often controversial, Mourinho has alienated some Real fans in recent months with his treatment of club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has been benched since returning from a broken hand.

Dressing room divisions burst into the open in the last few weeks, with Mourinho’s Portuguese compatriot Pepe earning the coach’s wrath after a public defence of Casillas.

The central defender was left out of the squad entirely on Friday, while Mourinho again selected Diego Lopez for the goalkeeping slot.

Before recent games at the Bernabeu, a large section of the crowd have cheered Casillas when his name has been read out among the list of substitutes while roundly whistling Mourinho.

All this leaves Perez in a tricky position and a number of reports have suggested he is lining up Paris St Germain’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as a replacement for Mourinho.

Perez rarely speaks in public – his call for unity on his last appearance was ignored by Mourinho – and has appointed club director Emilio Butragueno, a former player, as Real’s spokesman.

Questioned about the future in a post-match TV interview on Friday, Butragueno said it was not the right time to discuss it.

“The Madrid family is sad, all of us,” he said. “But now is the time to applaud our players and our fans, who supported us until the end.”

Mourinho, who has a contract until June 2016, said he would sit down with Perez after Real’s final two La Liga matches to decide whether he will continue.

If he does stay, he will be in charge of a divided dressing room and a club where a significant section of the home support have lost faith in him.

Atletico’s fans gleefully mocked their Real counterparts at the Bernabeu on Friday with their ironic chants of “Mourinho stay! Mourinho stay!” but a change of coach may now be inevitable after the events of recent weeks. ($1 = 0.7798 euros) (Editing by Patrick Johnston)

Ronaldo, shown a straight red card near the end of the game for kicking out at Atletico captain Gabi, who was later sent off himself, nodded Real ahead in the 14th minute before Diego Costa levelled 10 minutes before halftime.

Miranda headed in a Koke cross in the ninth minute of extra time to deny Real a 19th Cup triumph after Mourinho, widely expected to leave Real at the end of the season, was sent from the bench for protesting a decision in the second half of regular time.

The match, in which Real hit the post three times, descended into chaos near the end with Ronaldo sent off after apparently kicking out at Gabi and catching him in the face.

A mass brawl between the substitutes and technical staff erupted on the side of the pitch and Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.

Gabi was given his marching orders in the dying seconds after a second yellow card for time wasting.

Atletico had not beaten their bitter city rivals in 14 years in all competitions and Gabi said the victory was for the fans who filled the Bernabeu with noise.

“This team has worked extremely hard for this match,” he told Spanish television.

“This victory tastes of glory and is for all those who have suffered for 14 years,” he added.

It was Real’s first defeat in 44 matches at their Bernabeu arena and leaves them without a major title this season as they were beaten in the Champions League semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund while Barcelona bagged their fourth La Liga title in five years.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Ronaldo, shown a straight red card near the end of the game for kicking out at Atletico captain Gabi, who was later sent off himself, nodded Real ahead in the 14th minute before Diego Costa levelled 10 minutes before halftime.

Miranda headed in a Koke cross in the ninth minute of extra time to deny Real a 19th Cup triumph after Mourinho, widely expected to leave Real at the end of the season, was sent from the bench for protesting a decision in the second half of regular time.

The match, in which Real hit the post three times, descended into chaos near the end with Ronaldo sent off after apparently kicking out at Gabi and catching him in the face.

A mass brawl between the substitutes and technical staff erupted on the side of the pitch and Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.

Gabi was given his marching orders in the dying seconds after a second yellow card for time wasting.

Atletico had not beaten their bitter city rivals in 14 years in all competitions and Gabi said the victory was for the fans who filled the Bernabeu with noise.

“This team has worked extremely hard for this match,” he told Spanish television.

“This victory tastes of glory and is for all those who have suffered for 14 years,” he added.

It was Real’s first defeat in 44 matches at their Bernabeu arena and leaves them without a major title this season as they were beaten in the Champions League semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund while Barcelona bagged their fourth La Liga title in five years. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

The Spaniard, a former number one and the French Open champion, dropped to five in the world during his enforced absence before storming back to win in Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid.

He also reached the finals at Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo and Sunday’s 6-2 6-4 destruction of Swiss 15th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in front of his adoring home fans in the Spanish capital was his third Madrid Open success.

Nadal now has 40 titles on his beloved clay, equal second in the Open era with Thomas Muster, and if he stays fit he could easily overhaul Guillermo Vilas’s record of 45 by this time next year.

Ominously for any rival eyeing his Roland Garros crown – he will be chasing an eighth title in Paris starting at the end of this month – he said after his victory in Madrid he was close to where he wanted to be in terms of fitness and form.

Nadal told a news conference that Sunday’s match was his most satisfactory performance since his return to Europe after his Indian Wells victory in March.

“I’ve realized that my forehand is working again at its best level and I am able to open up the angles and play a lot of winning points,” Nadal said.

“It’s true that in some moments I was lacking a little bit of backhand or legs.

“But if I’m able to compensate for that with my aggressiveness everything changes.

“These last matches I have been able to reach that goal, you know, that line, that place where I want to be playing, the kind of form that I’m aiming for.”

EYES CLOSED

Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the final last year for his sixth title at the Masters event in the Italian capital.

He said he would be back on the practice court on Monday and was cautious when asked about his prospects for the coming months.

“The outlook will be great if I don’t feel anything in my knee,” he said.

“But I don’t know how the thing’s going to improve, so that’s why I want to be very calm, stay with the feet completely on the floor, and go day by day.

“Things are going well but the injury is not two years ago. It’s just a few months ago.

“So I need to be calm, enjoy every moment, and for sure keep working hard to be fit for the rest of the season.”

Nadal was reluctant to look beyond Rome and discuss his chances for the French Open.

“It’s the moment just to be happy with what I have achieved in Madrid, in Barcelona and Monte Carlo.

“You know, I’m here and next week I will be in Rome and I will be thinking about Rome. I won’t be thinking Roland Garros.

“When it comes we will think about Roland Garros, which is a pretty important tournament, of course, but it’s not the only one in the world.

“If you told me four months ago all this would have happened and I wasn’t going to do well in Roland Garros I would tell you, yes, I will sign that with my eyes closed.”

(Editing by John Mehaffey)

The Spaniard, a former number one and the French Open champion, dropped to five in the world during his enforced absence before storming back to win in Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid.

He also reached the finals at Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo and Sunday’s 6-2 6-4 destruction of Swiss 15th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in front of his adoring home fans in the Spanish capital was his third Madrid Open success.

Nadal now has 40 titles on his beloved clay, equal second in the Open era with Thomas Muster, and if he stays fit he could easily overhaul Guillermo Vilas’s record of 45 by this time next year.

Ominously for any rival eyeing his Roland Garros crown – he will be chasing an eighth title in Paris starting at the end of this month – he said after his victory in Madrid he was close to where he wanted to be in terms of fitness and form.

Nadal told a news conference that Sunday’s match was his most satisfactory performance since his return to Europe after his Indian Wells victory in March.

“I’ve realized that my forehand is working again at its best level and I am able to open up the angles and play a lot of winning points,” Nadal said.

“It’s true that in some moments I was lacking a little bit of backhand or legs.

“But if I’m able to compensate for that with my aggressiveness everything changes.

“These last matches I have been able to reach that goal, you know, that line, that place where I want to be playing, the kind of form that I’m aiming for.”

EYES CLOSED

Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the final last year for his sixth title at the Masters event in the Italian capital.

He said he would be back on the practice court on Monday and was cautious when asked about his prospects for the coming months.

“The outlook will be great if I don’t feel anything in my knee,” he said.

“But I don’t know how the thing’s going to improve, so that’s why I want to be very calm, stay with the feet completely on the floor, and go day by day.

“Things are going well but the injury is not two years ago. It’s just a few months ago.

“So I need to be calm, enjoy every moment, and for sure keep working hard to be fit for the rest of the season.”

Nadal was reluctant to look beyond Rome and discuss his chances for the French Open.

“It’s the moment just to be happy with what I have achieved in Madrid, in Barcelona and Monte Carlo.

“You know, I’m here and next week I will be in Rome and I will be thinking about Rome. I won’t be thinking Roland Garros.

“When it comes we will think about Roland Garros, which is a pretty important tournament, of course, but it’s not the only one in the world.

“If you told me four months ago all this would have happened and I wasn’t going to do well in Roland Garros I would tell you, yes, I will sign that with my eyes closed.” (Editing by John Mehaffey)

It was the Spanish world number five’s fifth title since he returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February and was more evidence that his troublesome knees are not about to bring his career to a premature end.

Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in last year’s final, for another Masters event on his favored surface before the French Open starts at the end of this month.

Since he recovered from his latest knee problem, the 26-year-old has won the events at Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid.

He also reached the final at Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo and Sunday’s triumph was his third in front of his adoring home fans in the Spanish capital.

“Maybe this win is even more special given where I have come back from,” Nadal, a seven-times French Open champion, said in an interview with local television broadcaster La Sexta.

“Playing in Madrid is always very exciting for me and the tournament couldn’t have worked out better.”

Wawrinka, who came through grueling matches against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych on the way to his second Masters final, never looked like claiming a first win against Nadal at the ninth attempt.

KILLING YOU

Nadal broke Wawrinka’s serve three times in the match and such was his dominance, the Spaniard did not face a single break point. He collapsed on to his back in celebration when Wawrinka’s backhand went long on match point.

The red dirt clinging to Nadal’s shirt was a reminder that a year ago he had threatened to boycott the 2013 tournament if organizers had stuck with the controversial blue claycourt they had unveiled last year, when he was knocked out in the third round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Wawrinka has never taken a set off Nadal in their nine meetings and said he had not been at his best physically or mentally on Sunday after an intense couple of weeks.

The 28-year-old arrived in Madrid having beaten Nadal’s countryman David Ferrer in the final in Estoril last Sunday, his fourth career title.

“Even if I’m playing my best tennis and completely fresh, it’s really, really tough to beat him (Nadal),” the Swiss told a news conference.

“If you’re not completely there then he’s killing you, like he did at the beginning of the match.

“It was tough for me. I didn’t find the way how to play my game, how to be aggressive on the court. He was also dictating the points. Against him, it’s impossible.

Nadal’s 40th clay crown puts him equal second with Thomas Muster on the list of career title winners on the surface and six behind leader Guillermo Vilas.

He has the best record on clay in the professional era and has won 40 of his 46 finals. He also has the most Masters titles with 23, two ahead of Roger Federer.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

It was the Spanish world number five’s fifth title since he returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February and was more evidence that his troublesome knees are not about to bring his career to a premature end.

Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in last year’s final, for another Masters event on his favoured surface before the French Open starts at the end of this month.

Since he recovered from his latest knee problem, the 26-year-old has won the events at Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid.

He also reached the final at Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo and Sunday’s triumph was his third in front of his adoring home fans in the Spanish capital.

“Maybe this win is even more special given where I have come back from,” Nadal, a seven-times French Open champion, said in an interview with local television broadcaster La Sexta.

“Playing in Madrid is always very exciting for me and the tournament couldn’t have worked out better.”

Wawrinka, who came through gruelling matches against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych on the way to his second Masters final, never looked like claiming a first win against Nadal at the ninth attempt.

KILLING YOU

Nadal broke Wawrinka’s serve three times in the match and such was his dominance, the Spaniard did not face a single break point. He collapsed on to his back in celebration when Wawrinka’s backhand went long on match point.

The red dirt clinging to Nadal’s shirt was a reminder that a year ago he had threatened to boycott the 2013 tournament if organisers had stuck with the controversial blue claycourt they had unveiled last year, when he was knocked out in the third round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Wawrinka has never taken a set off Nadal in their nine meetings and said he had not been at his best physically or mentally on Sunday after an intense couple of weeks.

The 28-year-old arrived in Madrid having beaten Nadal’s countryman David Ferrer in the final in Estoril last Sunday, his fourth career title.

“Even if I’m playing my best tennis and completely fresh, it’s really, really tough to beat him (Nadal),” the Swiss told a news conference.

“If you’re not completely there then he’s killing you, like he did at the beginning of the match.

“It was tough for me. I didn’t find the way how to play my game, how to be aggressive on the court. He was also dictating the points. Against him, it’s impossible.

Nadal’s 40th clay crown puts him equal second with Thomas Muster on the list of career title winners on the surface and six behind leader Guillermo Vilas.

He has the best record on clay in the professional era and has won 40 of his 46 finals. He also has the most Masters titles with 23, two ahead of Roger Federer.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

It was the Spanish world number five’s fifth title since he returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February and was more evidence that his troublesome knees are not about to bring his career to a premature end.

Nadal now heads to Rome, where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in last year’s final, for another Masters event on his favoured surface before the French Open starts at the end of this month.

Since he recovered from his latest knee problem, the 26-year-old has won the events at Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid.

He also reached the final at Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo and Sunday’s triumph was his third in front of his adoring home fans in the Spanish capital.

“Maybe this win is even more special given where I have come back from,” Nadal, a seven-times French Open champion, said in an interview with local television broadcaster La Sexta.

“Playing in Madrid is always very exciting for me and the tournament couldn’t have worked out better.”

Wawrinka, who came through gruelling matches against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych on the way to his second Masters final, never looked like claiming a first win against Nadal at the ninth attempt.

KILLING YOU

Nadal broke Wawrinka’s serve three times in the match and such was his dominance, the Spaniard did not face a single break point. He collapsed on to his back in celebration when Wawrinka’s backhand went long on match point.

The red dirt clinging to Nadal’s shirt was a reminder that a year ago he had threatened to boycott the 2013 tournament if organisers had stuck with the controversial blue claycourt they had unveiled last year, when he was knocked out in the third round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Wawrinka has never taken a set off Nadal in their nine meetings and said he had not been at his best physically or mentally on Sunday after an intense couple of weeks.

The 28-year-old arrived in Madrid having beaten Nadal’s countryman David Ferrer in the final in Estoril last Sunday, his fourth career title.

“Even if I’m playing my best tennis and completely fresh, it’s really, really tough to beat him (Nadal),” the Swiss told a news conference.

“If you’re not completely there then he’s killing you, like he did at the beginning of the match.

“It was tough for me. I didn’t find the way how to play my game, how to be aggressive on the court. He was also dictating the points. Against him, it’s impossible.

Nadal’s 40th clay crown puts him equal second with Thomas Muster on the list of career title winners on the surface and six behind leader Guillermo Vilas.

He has the best record on clay in the professional era and has won 40 of his 46 finals. He also has the most Masters titles with 23, two ahead of Roger Federer. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Williams has one more tournament to play – the clay event in Rome – before heading to Paris for the French Open, where the 31-year-old American has just the one singles title compared with five at Wimbledon, five at the Australian Open and four at the U.S. Open.

Her 6-1 6-4 victory over Sharapova, the current French Open champion, was her 50th career title and her seventh on clay and Williams said she was hungry for a first Roland Garros crown since 2002, when she beat sister Venus in the final.

The switch back to red clay from blue in Madrid and the construction of new courts had made the conditions much more similar to Paris, which would help in her preparations, she added.

“It definitely plays more like Roland Garros, so I think that’s a plus,” Williams, who lost to China’s Li Na in the semi-finals in Rome in 2012, told a news conference.

“It’s a little slower than it was last year and plays more like a true clay court. So I think it’s great preparation.”

Williams crashed to a shock defeat to Virginie Razzano in the French Open first round last year and she said she would avoid raising her expectations too high this time.

“It is the ultimate challenge. Whether I reach it, I don’t know. I’m not going to put that pressure on myself.

“I wanted it last year and I didn’t get it. So this year I’m just looking forward to Rome and then after that Roland Garros and see what happens.

“I feel pressure every day. I think it’s a good thing a little bit because it means I’m still really hungry. If I didn’t, then I would be like, oh, it doesn’t matter.”

Williams was sidelined for 11 months between 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and lung problems and said the experience had made her more motivated.

“Every time I play I really relish it more, every time I get out there,” she said.

“I feel like, honestly, Serena, when are you going to get tired? I don’t know.

“I don’t know if it’s because of what I went through. I just feel like I’m so fortunate to be out there and healthy and to have an opportunity to play something, a sport, and be really good at it.”

(Editing by Alison Wildey)

Williams has one more tournament to play – the clay event in Rome – before heading to Paris for the French Open, where the 31-year-old American has just the one singles title compared with five at Wimbledon, five at the Australian Open and four at the U.S. Open.

Her 6-1 6-4 victory over Sharapova, the current French Open champion, was her 50th career title and her seventh on clay and Williams said she was hungry for a first Roland Garros crown since 2002, when she beat sister Venus in the final.

The switch back to red clay from blue in Madrid and the construction of new courts had made the conditions much more similar to Paris, which would help in her preparations, she added.

“It definitely plays more like Roland Garros, so I think that’s a plus,” Williams, who lost to China’s Li Na in the semi-finals in Rome in 2012, told a news conference.

“It’s a little slower than it was last year and plays more like a true clay court. So I think it’s great preparation.”

Williams crashed to a shock defeat to Virginie Razzano in the French Open first round last year and she said she would avoid raising her expectations too high this time.

“It is the ultimate challenge. Whether I reach it, I don’t know. I’m not going to put that pressure on myself.

“I wanted it last year and I didn’t get it. So this year I’m just looking forward to Rome and then after that Roland Garros and see what happens.

“I feel pressure every day. I think it’s a good thing a little bit because it means I’m still really hungry. If I didn’t, then I would be like, oh, it doesn’t matter.”

Williams was sidelined for 11 months between 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and lung problems and said the experience had made her more motivated.

“Every time I play I really relish it more, every time I get out there,” she said.

“I feel like, honestly, Serena, when are you going to get tired? I don’t know.

“I don’t know if it’s because of what I went through. I just feel like I’m so fortunate to be out there and healthy and to have an opportunity to play something, a sport, and be really good at it.” (Editing by Alison Wildey)