体坛英语新闻：Mourinho upset as Real Madrid rejects his Portugal hopes

MADRID, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho this Sunday expressed his disappointment after his club refused to let him coach the Portuguese national team for two matches.

The Portuguese Football Federation has wanted Mourinho to lead them on a temporary basis after sacking Carlos Quieroz following a poor start to their European Championship qualifying campaign.

Last Friday Mourinho said he would do the job for free and he explained he would only be away from his club for a period of less than two weeks when the majority of his squad would also be away on international duty.

However, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has reportedly rejected the request of the Portuguese Federation and Mourinho is clearly disappointed.

"I am sad because I wanted to be able to lend a hand to Portugal, but at the same time I know that I have no right to ask Real Madrid for anything. I owe everything to Real Madrid and I know that it is a difficult situation," he said.

"When the Portuguese Federation came to see me, I said that I was available, but that only Real Madrid could make the final decision. Both sides should have held a meeting," said Mourinho in the early hours of the morning following his side's narrow 2-1 win away to Real Sociedad in San Sebastian.