I EXPECT MOU TO REMAIN AS REAL MADRID GAFFER NEXT SEASON-FIGO

Former Real Madrid winger Luis Figo claims Jose Mourinho is backed by the capital club's fans to remain as head coach next season.

Mourinho's future with Real Madrid has looked shaky for most of the season as the reigning La Liga champions have struggled to defend their title and many Spanish football experts expect the Portuguese coach to leave Spain at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.While Mourinho has had a tempestuous relationship with Real's fans throughout his time in the Spanish capital, Figo has argued his compatriot would be welcome to stay.

"We have to see what happens but Madrid is a club with a great history and that won't change because of what happens now but I think everyone hopes that he (Mourinho) stays on," Figo said.

But Figo denied he had any inside knowledge over Mourinho's future, pointing out Real president Florentino Perez has the final say.

"You have to ask the president that because I can't say if he's happy with the manager or not," Figo said.

Meanwhile, Figo's former team-mate Fernando Hierro has backed Real to win their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund despite the German club's ascendency in this season's group stages.

Dortmund defeated Real 2-1 at home and then conceded an 89th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu in Group D.

"They (Dortmund) are a young team who play well together, saying that, I think Madrid is a very intense team that is in good form with all the players practically recovered from injury," Hierro said.

"Madrid is full of confidence and knows that having two matches to decide a place in the final is always dangerous.

"I hope they do at least so we can have a Spanish final, which would be fantastic for Spanish football and for what both Real Madrid and Barcelona represent."

Dortmund will host Real in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.