Jose Mourinho will likely stay on as coach of Real Madrid beyond this season, saying Tuesday ''there's no reason for me to leave.''
Mourinho, who can lead Madrid to the Champions League final if the Spanish leaders beat Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of the semifinals, is under contract until 2014. He has repeatedly refused to confirm whether he will see out the full four years of his deal as reports link him with a return to Chelsea or fellow English club Manchester City.
Madrid hired Mourinho from Inter Milan in 2010 - immediately after he became only the third coach to win the Champions League with two different teams - and tasked him with delivering a 10th European Cup and dislodging Barcelona from its perch at the top of the Spanish league.
Madrid's 2-1 victory Saturday at Barcelona has the team on course to end the three-time defending league champions hold on the domestic title.
''I think I will continue, there's no reason for me to leave,'' Mourinho said. ''When the last game appears, I'll talk with the players and club directors and decide what's the best for me, for the club and for the players.''
Mourinho is on the verge of becoming the first coach to win league trophies in four different European countries after guiding FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter to titles.
''These two years with Real Madrid have provided a rich experience, which has made me a better coach,'' Mourinho said. ''I've always wanted to work in different countries, different players and with different cultures.''
Madrid has a valuable away goal going into Wednesday's second leg after losing 2-1 in Munich last week. But Mourinho remembered he hasn't always had the best of luck in semifinals, with his Chelsea team twice bowing out to Liverpool. Last season, eventual champion Barcelona ousted Madrid at the same stage.
''I lost one from a goal that didn't cross the line and another time through penalties, which is a question of bad luck, and last year I lost a semifinal in a way in which everyone remembers,'' Mourinho said. ''I hope to win this one, even though we lost the first game with a goal that was offside.
''I hope that this time we get through because the players deserve to.''
Madrid hasn't played in a Champions League final since winning its record ninth title in 2002.
