Jose Mourinho will not be taking temporary charge of the Portugal team despite days of speculation linking the Real Madrid coach with the post.
Following Madrid's 2-1 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday, the Portuguese coach was quoted as expressing surprise at the Spanish club's refusal to let him lead his home country for two upcoming European qualifying games. Mourinho had said the decision was in Madrid's hands.
''I don't understand why they won't let me go to Portugal when I have 10 days holiday in Madrid,'' Mourinho was quoted as saying in Portuguese media.
But Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said the team never received a formal request from Portuguese football federation president Gilberto Madail for Mourinho to take charge of the games against Denmark on Oct. 8 and at Iceland four days later.
Valdano said the issue was settled.
''We never received any formal request and the president of the Portuguese federation had spoken with Mourinho. He called (Madrid president) Florentino Perez to tell him he had a meeting with the coach but that they found another solution,'' Valdano said. ''I don't know what the intention of the federation was ... we didn't even need to take a decision.''
Early on Sunday morning, Mourinho addressed the issue at the San Sebastian airport.
''If I'm invited to coach Portugal I don't understand how the federation doesn't put itself in contact with Real Madrid,'' Mourinho said. ''I'm sad because I'd liked to have lent a hand to Portugal but at the same time I don't have any right to order anything from Madrid. I am totally in Real Madrid's debt.''
Reports in Portugal claim Paulo Bento is set to fill the vacancy.
