Jose Mourinho feels that if his team had suffered a UEFA Champions League exit similar to Chelsea's ... it would have cost him his job at Real Madrid.
Mourinho's Real Madrid join Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last 16 following the 1-1 draw with City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
It is the very minimum demanded by the hard-to-please media pack who follow the Spanish giants and with whom Mourinho has such a spiky relationship.
Jose Mourinho: "I admire the fact that clubs support their manager.
"Manchester City is out of Champions League. But Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are very good teams and we knew a big team would be out.
"It is good that it was City because Roberto Mancini can work without any kind of problem I believe.
"If it was Real Madrid, the press wouldn't let me return to Madrid.
"I like my old clubs to win.
"I always wish the managers of my former clubs well so I always wish good look to managers of my former clubs.
"I wish good luck to Benitez."