Benfica coach Jose Mourinho insisted he is capable of saying no to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he played down rumours of a return to the Spanish giants.Mourinho's Benfica host Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off round clash today, before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next week. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach, who led Madrid between 2010-2013, has a clause in his contract with Benfica which would allow him to depart the club, fuelling rumours Perez may turn to him again next season.Mourinho guided Benfica to a 4-2 victory over Alvaro Arbeloa's Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League in January, leading both teams to face each other again in the two-legged play-off round. "Can you say no? Yes," Mourinho told reporters when asked if he could reject an approach from the Madrid chief. "Yes you can."Mourinho admitted he has a "great friendship" with Perez and a permanent connection with Madrid, but said the break clause was agreed because of the Benfica presidential elections which were approaching in November 2025, a few weeks after he signed his contract. "I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything and that's all," said Mourinho."When (someone) leaves a club with those type of feelings, I think a connection always exists... the fans think highly of me, and that is fantastic, but with this I don't want to encourage stories that don't exist... The only thing that exists is that I have another year on my contract with Benfica. It's a special contract because it was signed in an electoral period."Mourinho said the deal was signed to protect a hypothetical new president, although in the end Rui Costa was re-elected. "There is a clause that is very easy for both me and Benfica to break the contract, but the only thing that exists is the contract with Benfica, and there is nothing with Real Madrid," said Mourinho."I would very much like to eliminate Real Madrid (from the Champions League), but I would like Alvaro to win La Liga and for Alvaro to stay at Madrid for many years. I think he's a coach with a lot of capability and a boy who has Madrid within him, and with the personality to coach Madrid, which isn't something anyone can do."Mourinho said he expected a different game to the one his side dominated in Lisbon against Madrid in January, and highlighted the power of Arbeloa's side, record 15-time champions. "The Real Madrid I expect tomorrow is the Real Madrid who are number one favourites to win the Champions League," added Mourinho.Arbeloa said despite his good relationship with Mourinho he was determined to reach the last 16. "My objective is to eliminate Benfica, and after that he can win everything else, after that I wish him the best," explained Arbeloa.The coach would not reveal whether French superstar Kylian Mbappe was ready to start the game, after knee discomfort kept him on the bench last weekend in the win over Real Sociedad. "Kylian came with us, he will train and tomorrow you will see if he plays or doesn't," said Arbeloa.Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga said Los Blancos were out for revenge at the Estadio da Luz. "I think we have to change our mentality (from the league phase game), we're better on that front now, we have to attack and defend together," Camavinga told reporters. "We want to play a great game, because losing a game like that was tough for our fans... we want to win tomorrow with the spirit of revenge."

France’s Lara Tryba produced a superb performance aboard Chageorge to win the CSI3*-W 150cm Grand Prix on the final day of the HH The Amir's Sword Showjumping Championship at Al Shaqab. The feature class on the final brought together 38 combinations, with 13 progressing to the jump-off where precision and pace proved decisive. Tryba delivered a flawless round in 33.28 seconds to secure top honours. Fellow French rider Megane Moissonnier finished second aboard Qoup de Coeur de Muze in 34.12 seconds, while Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher claimed third with Harley de La Cense after four faults in 40.72 seconds. On Friday, Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly aboard the 13-year-old mare Diriyah had captured the CSI5* 160cm Grand Prix to claim the prestigious Amir’s Sword. The blue-riband class, which carried total prize money of €1.5mn, attracted 44 combinations in a demanding two-round contest, with 13 advancing to a decisive jump-off. Last to go, Alsharbatly produced a flawless round in 36.29 seconds to seal victory. Fellow Saudi rider Khaled Almobty had set an early benchmark with a clear effort in 37.45 seconds on Diana du Plevau Z, while Belgium’s Pieter Devos completed the podium aboard Casual DV Z in 39.20 seconds. Yesterday, in CSI5* 150cm Faults and Time competition, Great Britain’s Millie Allen guided Quick Diamant HR to victory with a clear round in 62.47 seconds. Spain’s Sira Martinez Cullell finished second aboard Texas in 64.95 seconds, with France’s Ines Joly third on Come On Z in 65.51 seconds. The class featured 27 combinations in a tightly contested battle against the clock. The CSI3*-W 145cm Accumulator saw Britain’s Oliver Fletcher take the win aboard Krack Bleu C with a maximum 65 points in 48.71 seconds. Tryba added another podium finish, placing second on Falko Ste Hermelle, while Qatar’s Saad Ahmed al-Saad finished third with Craquante de Mazin. In the CSI1* 130cm Grand Prix, Qatar’s Khalid Jassim al-Suwaidi claimed victory aboard E.T’s Queeny Z after a clear jump-off round in 35.34 seconds. Saad Ahmed al-Saad secured second on Fashion des Douits, while Bahrain’s Sultan Abdulaziz Mayoof Alromaihi took third with Grappa. Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf al-Mahmoud topped the CSI3*-W 140cm Faults and Time class with a faultless effort aboard Perle Van Dorperheide in 63.73 seconds. France’s Jean Francois Rondoux finished second on Inter-Larus, followed by Egypt’s Abdallah Haitham in third with Consagros. In CSI1* 120cm Accumulator action, Qatar’s Jassim al-Kuwari claimed victory aboard Cesar des Marquets, ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Fahad Alodah and Halah Alrasheed. The CSIY-B 130cm Group VII series qualifier was won by Sheikh Fahad Jassim al-Thani riding Lavesther, with Hend Abdulhadi al-Hajri second and Mohammed Jassim al-Thani third. The CSIJ-B 120cm qualifier saw Hadi Mansour al-Shahwani take top honours aboard Monopoly, followed by Nasser Hamad al-Maadheed and Mohammed Faisal al-Marri. National classes also produced competitive finishes. Sultan Jassim al-Suwaidi won the Special Two-Phase 100cm class on Ardfry Apollo, while Saif Nasser Ali claimed the Optimum Time 60cm class aboard Roubignac, ahead of Sultan Mohd al-Suwaidi and a joint third for Sheikh Nasser Hamad Khlifa al-Thani and Nawal Bahamdan.