MADRID: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was booed by the majority of a sparse home crowd as he ended his controversial three-year spell in charge with a 4-2 win over Osasuna.
Champions Barcelona rounded off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Malaga to match Real’s league record of 100 points from last season on the fi nal day.
Mourinho’s name was met with a chorus of whistles when it was read out before kick-off, but he did receive support from a small group of the club’s ultra fanbase who chanted his name throughout.
The 5 0 -yea r – old, widely expected to return to Chelsea, did not appear at the post-match news conference, leaving veteran defender Alvaro Arbeloa to have the fi nal say on the controversial manager.
“We respect his decision, the club’s too, and wish him well.
We all know that we have taken a major leap in competitiveness and we knew we could have achieved a lot, but due to small details or bad luck it was not to be,” he said.
“He has had his successes and failures, as we have all had but he gave his all and defended Real Madrid above everything”.
On the f ield it looked as Mourinho would be given a good send off as fi rst-half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Michael Essien gave Madrid a comfortable 2-0 lead.
However, Osasuna struck back with two goals in 11 minutes just after the restart through Roberto Torres and Alvaro Cejudo to level matters.
But Mourinho was able to sign off with a win as further goals from Karim Benzema and Jose Maria Callejon ensured Real ended the season unbeaten at home in the league.
With t he Portuguese ’s appearance on the touchline for the final time the main attraction, the game even had to be stopped after barely a minute as photographers and cameramen spilled over onto the pitch.
Barcelona rounded off their championship winning season in style as a first-half blitz saw them dispose of Malaga 4-1 at the Camp Nou. — AFP