Jose Mourinho threw in the towel on Sunday following Real Madrid’s latest setback in the quest to defend its La Liga title. Los Blancos drew 2-2 at home to Espanyol while La Liga leader FC Barcelona beat second-place Atletico Madrid 4-1 at the Camp Nou, extending the Catalans’ lead to 13 points over Real and nine points over Atletico. During the Atletico game, the Camp Nou faithful chanted mockingly in unison, "Mourinho we love you, Mourinho stay.”

"Thirteen points is too big a gap for us to make up but what we have to do is play every game,” Mourinho said. “I've never been in a position like this, losing so many points. We'll try to finish the season the best we can. We will fight for titles but the league seems impossible. We have to keep going because we are Real Madrid."

On hearing that Mourinho had all but conceded the title to rival Barcelona, Real President Florentino Perez contradicted the Portuguese, saying, “One should not yield, either in sport or in life.” Perez’s comments will only add more fuel to the speculation that Mourinho will leave the club in the summer.