Camacho. Despite facing fan criticism over unattractive play, Real won the league and cup double in his first season as coach. In the Cup Winners' Cup they got eliminated at the quarterfinal stage on penalties by Miljanić's former team Red Star Belgrade. The tie took place over two legs in March 1975, and Miljanić somewhat controversially decided not to travel to Belgrade for the return leg because he reportedly couldn't bear to lead the team against his former side, saying: "I can not betray my heart". Others speculated that contentious relations between SFR Yugoslavia and the Spanish State under the regime of Francisco Franco played a role in Miljanić's decision. Instead, the coach invited journalists to watch the game with him on television in Madrid. Going into the return leg Real had a 2–0 first leg lead, however, led by Antonio Ruiz who stepped in for Miljanić that night, los merenegues lost 2–0 in Belgrade and then got eliminated in the penalty shootout. As his two-year contract at Real was set to expire, Miljanić began to be courted by Arsenal F.C. that was looking for a replacement for their manager Bertie Mee who had put the club on notice about resigning at the end of the current season. After visiting London on 20 April 1976 and receiving a reportedly lucrative offer to manage the club starting from the 1976-77 season, Miljanić decided not to sign with Arsenal and eventually re-signed with Real. After ending the 1976–77 season without silverware, Miljanić started his fourth campaign as Real's coach in September 1977. However, after losing the opening match of the league season to Salamanca 1–2, Miljanić resigned his post. Miljanić took a full year away from coaching after resigning from Real. Among the offers he considered during the period was Chelsea FC's whose chairman Brian Mears courted the Yugoslav heavily, even flying him in to spend two weeks with the club in mid October 1978 with a view of assessing the club's potential before deciding whether to stay at Stamford Bridge in some permanent capacity. The activities Miljanić partook in while in London and Stamford Bridge included watching Chelsea come back from 0-3 down to win 4-3 in the league versus Bolton Wanderers. Ultimately, not keen on fighting for survival in the English League Top Division, he opted not to join the club. Within weeks of returning from London, Miljanić was appointed