BITTER FEELINGS BEHIND REAL TIE

BAD vibes continue to be felt between bitter enemies Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ahead of tonight’s Champions League semi-final, with each side accusing the other of arrogantly taking victory for granted. Real manager Jose Mourinho raised the temperature last night by saying: ‘(Franz) Beckenbauer, (Oliver) Kahn, (Uli) Hoeness and (Ottmar) Hitzfeld all say Bayern are the favourites and we have a complex when it comes to playing them but we will see what happens on the pitch. We have lost only one Champions League game in 22 and that game (the defeat by Barcelona last season) has a history.’ It is the latest in a list of barbs from both sides. Bayern striker Mario Gomez said after his side’s goalless draw against Mainz at the weekend: ‘They (Real Madrid) shouldn’t get too complacent — everything changes for this one: the stadium will burn on Tuesday.’ Mourinho’s response was: ‘I am sure UEFA will have extra firemen at the ready.’ Bayern’s spark on the pitch should come from Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery — one a former Real player and the other one the Spanish club tried to sign, much to the displeasure of the Germans. That incident was one of a number between the clubs who have won 13 European Cups between them. As Beckenbauer famously said of Mourinho last season: ‘Just because you wear a cashmere sweater that does not make you a gentleman. He is a rude, loutish man.’ Adding spice to the occasion will be Howard Webb, whom Dutchman Robben and the Real Madrid trio of Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso will remember from the 2010 World Cup final. The English referee was criticised in some quarters for not clamping down harder on Holland for their brutal tactics against Spain. Webb’s appointment has been interpreted by the Spanish press as UEFA’S way of making sure Real do not reach the final.