Mourinho backs technology calls

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho Munich - Arabstoday Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has backed the growing calls for the introduction of goal-line technology after a key mistake in Tottenham Hotspur's FA Cup semi-final thrashing by Chelsea. Referee Martin Atkinson controversially ruled an effort by Chelsea's Juan Mata crossed the goal-line in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory which put the Blues 2-0 ahead as they went onto record a 5-1 win over their London rivals. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has led renewed calls for video technology to be introduced after replays appeared to show Mata's second-half shot being blocked on the line. Both Manchester United striker Michael Owen and former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullitt made comments calling for the introduction of goal-line technology on their Twitter accounts. With Real to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, first-leg, on Tuesday in Munich, Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho has echoed the calls to introduce goal-line technology as soon as possible. "My thoughts about technology are the same as everyone else," said the 49-year-old Mourinho at a press conference here. "I lost a Champions League semi-final with a goal that was not a goal, the ball didn't cross the line, so I defend the goal-line technology." Mourinho was referring to the controversial goal scored by Liverpool's Luis Garcia which put the Reds in the 2005 Champions League final at Chelsea's expense when they went onto beat AC Milan in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The Spaniard's fourth-minute strike in the Anfield semi-final, second leg, gave Liverpool a 1-0 win on aggregate following a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, but the goal needed confirmation from the match officials. Coincidentally, Atkinson will be one of the assistant referees behind the goals at Munich's Allianz Arena with England's Howard Webb officiating the match, but Mourinho says he has no problem with that. "There will be two very experienced referees tomorrow and they will have a privileged position to help the referee make the correct decision," he said.