José Mourinho - Quotes & Facts

Jose Mourinho will probably quit as Real Madrid manager at the end of the season

2012-01-24T12:17:00.000+01:00

Mourinho heads into El Clasico with BCN facing mounting criticism from both Real Madrid’s supporters and senior players, and amid claims his spell as Real Madrid manager will not last beyond the summer.

Mourinho’s team are five points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Spanish La Liga, but his position has been undermined by publication of a training-ground argument between the manager and two of his senior players, defender Sergio Ramos and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The exchange was carried in full by Madrid-based newspaper Marca, which usually serves a cheerleader for the club. Mourinho has not questioned the accuracy of the report, which portrayed him as tetchy and even paranoid.

Towards the end of Sunday’s 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, some Madrid fans chanted Mourinho’s name, as if to indicate their continued support for him despite the report. However, a larger section of the Bernabéu crowd responded by whistling, sending a clear signal that they are unhappy with the former London blues manager.

After the game, a leading Spanish journalist, Siro López of AS, told television viewers Mourinho had decided to leave Madrid at the end of the season. López said his source was one of Jose’s closest allies.

The training-ground exchange occurred after Madrid’s 2-1 defeat at home by Barcelona in the Spanish Cup, after which Mourinho was widely criticised for his side’s negative tactics. They go to the Nou Camp needing to win the second match.

Mourinho claimed Sergio Ramos had given a disloyal interview to journalists immediately after the first leg. “You killed me in the mixed zone,” Mourinho is reported to have said.

According to Marca, Mourinho then claimed that the media gives Spanish internationals such as Ramos and Casillas preferential treatment, while Mourinho has to defend his team from the sternest criticism.

“As you Spanish are world champions, your friends in the press protect you ... like the goalkeeper,” he said. Casillas overheard and shouted: “Boss, here we say things to our faces.”

Mourinho then became embroiled in an exchange with Ramos over the failure to mark Carlos Puyol for one of Barcelona’s goals.

Ramos had the final word with a devastating reference to Mourinho’s modest playing career.

“Depending on the match situation, sometimes it’s necessary to change the marking,” he said. “And as you have never been a [professional] player, you wouldn’t know that this is sometimes necessary.”

Ramos, though, denied that the exchange revealed divisions within the squad. “Whoever says the changing room is divided or that some kind of fracture exists is lying,” he tweeted yesterday. “This is a great group that is well united, regardless what is said.”

Mourinho has also been criticised for the behaviour of defender Pepe, who provoked outrage in Spain by feigning injury during the game against Barcelona before appearing to stamp on Leo Messi's hand without sanction. The Spanish ruling body said yesterday that it will take no action against Pepe after studying the incident. Pepe insisted it was accidental.

Publicly, Mourinho insisted that he would win over the fans who barracked him.

“I’m not bothered by the whistles at me,’ he said after the win over Bilbao. “It’s not a problem.

“It’s the first time it’s ever happened to me. There’s a first time for practically everything.

“Zidane was whistled at here. Ronaldo has been whistled at here. Cristiano, who is the latest Golden Boot winner, has also been whistled at. Why can’t I?

“Zidane responded with his football, the same as Ronaldo and Cristiano.

“I work hard to be able to respond like they did some day, but there may come a day when the fans are sad.”

According to Marca, this was said in the Bernebeiu dressing room:

MOURINHO: You [plural] killed me in the mixed zone.

RAMOS: No, mister, you only read what it says in the papers, not everything we said.

MOURINHO: Sure, because you Spaniards have been world champions and your friends in the media protect you and because the goalkeeper...

IKER CASILLAS: Eh, Señor, round here you say things to our faces.

MOURINHO: Where were you on the first goal [against Barcelona], Sergio?

RAMOS: Marking Piqué.

MOURINHO: Well, you should have been marking Puyol.

RAMOS: Yes, but they were blocking us off with Piqué and we decided to change the marking.

MOURINHO: What? So now you’re playing at being coach?

RAMOS: No, but depending on the situation in the game, sometimes you have to change the marking. Because you’ve never been a player, you don’t know that sometimes happens.

Source: Marca

Real Madrdi - Malaga 3:1 (copa del rey, first leg)

2012-01-04T11:45:00.000+01:00

Jose Mourinho priznao je da je bio nezadovoljan igrom svih svojih fudbalera u prvom poluvremenu dvoboja protiv Malage u španjolskom Copa Del Rey.

Real Madrid je na svom terenu pobijedio Malagu sa 3:2 u prvoj utakmici osmine finala, ali je do 68. minute gubio 0:2. Golovima Khedire, Higuaina i Benzeme "kraljevski klub" je ipak preokrenuo rezultat i mirnije može čekati uzvrat 10. siječnja, ipak, Mourinho nakon sve nije mogao biti previše zadovoljan.

"Rekao sam svojim igračima na poluvremenu da bih zamijenio svu jedanaestoricu da mogu. Napravio sam tri zamjene kako bi ekipa počela igrati drugačije. Razmišljao sam da to napravim čak i prije poluvremena, ali ne volim to raditi. Trojica koju sam izvadio na poluvremenu nisu bili ništa lošiji od ostalih, ali više izmjena nisam mogao napraviti" rekao je portugalski mag na konferenciji za novinare nakon utakmice.

"U nastavku se promijenio ritam, ali i koncentracija mojih igrača. Ako smo mogli igrati tako u drugom poluvremenu, zašto nismo i u prvom? Na kraju se ipak računa rezultat nakon dvije utakmice. Važno je proći dalje", dodao je Jose Mourinho.

Portugalac je istako da se neki od njegovih igrača nisu vratili u dobrom stanju nakon božićne stanke.

"Neki igrači doživljavaju praznike kao vrijeme za odmor, dok drugi putuju i ne prestaju jesti i piti", rekao je Mourinho, bez spominjanja imena problematichnih igracha.

mourinho quotes after los blanocs 0:4 win over espanyol

2011-10-03T09:51:00.000+02:00

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has highlighted the importance of his side's 4-0 victory at Espanyol in La Liga on Sunday.

The Santiago Bernabeu outfit came under fire in September following two successive negative league results - a loss to Levante and a draw with Racing Santander - which raised doubts about the club's ability to challenge Barcelona for the league crown.

Madrid have since defeated Rayo Vallecano and won their Champions League encounter with Ajax, and Mourinho believes that the triumph against Espanyol is important to confirm his side are on the right track.

"We have managed to get out of a difficult situation," Mourinho said.

"We scored 13 goals in one week. I am happy for this team and especially for the players who had not been playing much and were fantastic today, like Lassana Diarra, Alvaro Arbeloa and Gonzalo Higuain."

Argentine striker Higuain, who replaced injured Karim Benzema at the head of the attack, scored three of Madrid's goals in a performance that did not surprise the Portuguese coach.

"Higuain is the kind of player we all know what he can do," Mourinho said. "But more important than the goals is the victory against a tough opponent, who made things hard for us until our second goal."

"For me, it is as important to score as to work for the team."

The result sees Madrid move up to second in the table, behind Barcelona and Levante, and Mourinho gave credit to the Ciutat de Valencia club.

"The team who deserve all the attention is Levante, because they are smaller (than Barcelona) and do not have as much prestige. They are worthy of it," Mourinho said.

"One point is one point, not ten. Obviously I would like to be in the lead by one point, but that is nothing."

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2011-09-14T18:58:00.001+02:00

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2011-09-11T22:46:00.001+02:00

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Penalty decision against Getafe was incorrect, but Cristiano Ronaldo is not a diver

2011-09-11T18:52:00.001+02:00

Jose Mourinho has admitted that the penalty awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo during the club's 4-2 victory over Getafe was an incorrect call.

Real Madrid earned a vital second-half penalty through Ronaldo's tumble in the box after being challenged by the getafe defence. However, his coach has leapt to the player's defense, claiming that he does not dive like some of his more guilty fellow players.

"It was not a penalty, but Cristiano does not dive unlike some players," said Mourinho, whose reference could arguably be looked at as a cryptic message to Barcelona's Lionel Messi's attempt to fool the referee against Real Sociedad earlier Saturday.

Despite the debate surrounding the penalty decision, Mourinho did not forget to credit the opposition, which forced Madrid to work extremely hard for the three points.

"They played very well and we did not. After the penalty, we were better and I think we deserved to win," he said.

Real Madrid's victory puts them on the top od the Primera following Barcelona's 2-2 draw at San Sebastian.

Mourinho almost stabbed on the airport

2011-03-04T21:30:00.000+01:00

Mourinho's personal bodyguard was wounded as the madman lashed out with the sharp object.

Jose Mourinho, was rushed away by his security team at the A Coruna airport, in north west Spain, last Friday.

Spanish media said the security guard, called Eduardo, only realised had been stabbed when he boarded the team bus with the Real Madrid coach.

He thought he had been punched until he saw the blood pouring from the wound.

Real Madrid security chiefs believe the attacker meant to harm Mourinho.

The bodyguard was treated for a 4cm wound.

Mourinho was only told about the incident yesterday, Spanish media said.

Newspaper El Periodico said: "Mourinho stopped to sign autographs in arrivals, where a large number of Madrid fans were waiting for the team.

"The bodyguard was near the manager and noticed he had been stabbed in the armpit.

"The security guard realised he had a 4cm wound caused by a sharp object.

"Mourinho was very worried by the incident."

Security cameras recorded the drama and the attacker, said to be a tall man, has been identified.

Mourinho za Cristiano Ronaldo

2010-12-13T08:52:00.000+01:00

"Bio je to jedan od njegovih pogodaka, genijalan u svakom smislu. Uostalom, on igra da pokaže svijetu svoj ogromni talent, no nažalost, svaki put mi je iznova teško gledati kako je nezaštićen",

"Ne štite ga suci na travnjaku, a nikako se ne reagira na krajnje nesportsko uzvikivanje s tribina, kao što su radili domaći navijači. No, za jedne vrijede neka pravila, za druga ne. Neki treneri mogu sve, drugi ništa i to je tako."

Nakon utakmice 12.12.2010

Mourinho on Cristiano Ronaldo

2010-10-04T07:59:00.000+02:00

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted star player Cristiano Ronaldo is “untouchable” and that there is no harder working player than the Portuguese.

CR7 has came under heavy criticism this season for his lack of finesse in front of goal, with los Blancos stumbling to 0-0 draws versus Mallorca and Levante so far in their league campaign.

However, speaking to journalist’s yesterday evening, the Portuguese coach defended his player, saying: “There are players who are untouchable. Cristiano is untouchable because he works as hard as anyone. In this time when we are trying to construct a team, there are fundamental principles, and he represents them all.

“The first is greed, the second and the third solidarity and discipline. Cristiano has all of these attributes. I am lucky that many players in the squad represent these, because if not, we would be dead.”

Mourinho also looked forward to facing Deportivo at the Santiago Bernabeu, adding: “The match on Sunday will be difficult for our players. Deportivo are not inferior to the teams who have seven or 10 points. Sooner or later they will start to rise up the league. It will be difficult to get the three points.”

Jose Mourinho: Real Madrid are still a team "under construction"

2010-10-04T07:56:00.001+02:00

Coach Jose Mourinho insists that Real Madrid are still a team "under construction" and has asked the fans not to get carried away despite the 6-1 hammering of Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu on Sunday evening in the Spanish Primera Division.

Los Blancos recorded their most impressive win under Mourinho to-date and are now up to third in the league standings, ahead of archrivals Barcelona, who are fourth.

However, the Portuguese believes that they still need to improve themselves and in his post-match press conference urged the Madridistas not to read too much into this win.

"We are not the best team in the world yet for having beaten Depor 6-1," Mourinho is quoted as saying by Eurosport. "We are under construction and neither the result nor the applause of the fans makes me think our work is done. "The work continues. I am very calm. We have a lot to do and a lot of work. I have the confidence of my president and I have the confidence of the board."
When asked whether the 6-1 drubbing of the Galicians at home was the perfect way to answer his critics, Mourinho said, "If you have doubts about a coach who has won what I have then you have to explain what qualities a coach should have to have the right to work in your country.
"You have to tell me if I have to have won three Champions Leagues and seven domestic league titles. I have two Champions Leagues and six domestic league titles. Is that enough to have the right to work here? If so, great. I'll continue with my work."

source: goal.com

"Cristiano's sense of responsibility makes him think only about winning" - Mourinho

2010-09-02T21:20:00.000+02:00

Realmadrid.com / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

Jose Mourinho gave his key to defeating Barcelona in an interview with AS .

"It is possible to neutralise Barcelona by imposing your own style. In order to defeat them you have to feel no fear and fight them in midfield."

"My Real Madrid will try to win every game and will always take risks. No one should doubt that. My Real Madrid will not be afraid to lose."

"My Chelsea scored more goals than any other team in Premiership history until last year, which saw Chelsea breaking their own record. We also won more consecutive games than anyone else."

"Cristiano Ronaldo's football upringing is British. He respects fair play. He has nothing to prove to me in a game because he shows me what he is capable of during each training session at Valdebebas. More or less goals will never make me doubt his quality because it is unquestionable. He may look too anxious, but I just think he is extremely high spirited during each game."

"Raul is a symbol and living history of Real Madrid. I believe he will return to the Club some day."

source: realmadrid.com

Jose Mourinho Compliments 'Friend' Sir Alex Ferguson For Developing Cristiano Ronaldo

2010-08-07T11:09:00.000+02:00

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has handed a compliment to his "friend" Sir Alex Ferguson for the work ethic inculcated in Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Manchester United.

The former Chelsea boss shared a healthy rivalry with the Scot even before he worked in the Premier League, but still considers his Manchester-based counterpart a friend.

The ex-Porto and Inter manager also revealed that the pair had spoken about Ronaldo in the past, and remained impressed with the Portual international's work rate having watched the player during the club's pre-season.

"Jorge Mendes [Mourinho and Ronaldo's agent] works with me and with him and we always talk a lot about Cristiano," Mourinho told AS.

"In addition, there are few coaches that I am friends with and Sir Alex Ferguson is one of them. And I talked to him, too.

"He said that the 'lad' as he called him, had an amazing way of working. After seeing it up close, I think it is impressive for a player with the status he has that no one works harder than him.

"I had very experienced players at Inter, much older, they were examples. [Javier] Zanetti, [Ivan] Cordoba and [Marco] Materazzi showed how it was done.

"Here I have a Cristiano and, by the way he works, it is easy to demand from others what I want in regard to the dedication to work."

Switching to the prospect of bringing in new faces to the club, Mourinho maintained that he is looking add a defender and a forward to his armoury.

"Apart from signing a new defender, I also want to add another forward to the team. A new attacker would be very much welcome. I'd rather have one more forward than being short of options up front," he said.

"I currently have Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema for the striker position, while Cristiano Ronaldo could also play there. However, I prefer to give him a bit more freedom on the pitch. He's too talented to have him up front all the time."

The Portuguese tactician also shed some light on the logic behind the two attacking acquisitions that Real have made this summer.

"Pedro Leon and Angel Di Maria are the type of players we didn't have yet in our squad," said Mourinho.

"Madrid played very much through the centre of the pitch last season because of the absence of wingers. We now have two technically gifted wingers who can only get better over the coming years.

"They really add something to the team."

source: goal.com

The Special One Aiming At A Place In Real Madrid History

2010-08-07T11:01:00.003+02:00

Jose Mourinho told a press conference that he aims to go down in the history books of the storied club.

The Portuguese tactician has achieved tremendous success in previous positions at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, winning the Champions League twice, and he is aiming to complete a remarkable hat-trick with los Blancos.

“Real Madrid is a team that generates very high expectations,” he noted. “It is a one-of-a kind and it was named the best team of the 20th Century. I haven't been here very long, but I have already realised what this team is made of and I would like to be a part of the history of Real Madrid.”

Mourinho also spoke of the workload on the players, stating that it has been abnormally high of late.

“In football you must tire in the final minute, not at the very beginning of a match, which is what is happening to us now because of the workload,” he said. “The reason we cancelled one of the training sessions is to allow the players more time to rest.”

Meanwhile, he took time to discuss two of his Galacticos: Kaka, who is out for the first portion of the season due to injury, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who excelled in his first campaign after being made the world’s most expensive player last summer when he moved from Manchester United.

“In reference to Kaka, all that matters is that the operation was a success. There are no more questions about his situation or his recovery. As the leader of a group, I cannot waste time crying over a player. I have other players counting on me. My philosophy doesn't allow me to have any doubts or to cry. I have no doubts regarding the quality of our medical staff. I will not speak about Kaka while he is out.

“Cristiano enjoys the physical workouts and I think he will be pleased that my training methods will make him happy. On the pitch, Cristiano is Cristiano and I am sure he will have a great season playing for me.”

Any potential arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu before the close of the transfer window must be great players according to Mourinho.

“I have everything I need, so when someone wants to give me a gift, it must be very special,” ‘Mou’ stated. “So if the president and his staff want to give me something, it must be very good. They have a month to think about it and buy it.”

source: goal.com

Jose Mourinho: No Real Madrid Silverware This Season Would Be A Failure

2010-08-07T10:59:00.000+02:00

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has claimed a trophyless season at the Santiago Bernabeu will be nothing less than a failure.

The former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss admits los Blancos need to get back to winning ways by picking up silverware in his first campaign.

"If we don't win the league or the Champions League [this season], it would be a failure," he told ESPN.

Rivals Barcelona have dominated La Liga in recent years, where Madrid have failed to win the Spanish league since 2007-08.

"Barcelona have a different dynamic right now, a philosophy going back a lot of years, players who have been together for many years and a coach who is approaching his third year," he continued.

"But at Madrid the most veteran player is (Iker) Casillas, who is 29, and the coach has only just arrived."

Mourinho is aware he also faces a tough campaign in Europe, coming up against teams such as Manchester United and former clubs Chelsea and Inter.

"It's the same story in the Champions League," he said. "Manchester United have a coach and a team [that have been together] for many years.

Chelsea have a structure for many years, Barcelona the same and Inter have had a structure for three years.

"They are teams that at the start of the season have a different potential, but we will try to work hard and we will give our all to get there.

"Real Madrid have a history of victories and when the club doesn't win, it's a problem."

source: ESPN

Mourinho on the present Real Madrid squad

2010-06-02T21:06:00.003+02:00

In comments reported by Marca, new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho spoke of the challenges he will face in his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu and previewed some of his plans for Los Blancos in the coming season.

"I am not an anti-Barcelona plan," said Mourinho. "I am Real Madrid's coach and I am not worried about Barcelona. What is important to me is building a great Madrid. Barca are a great rival in the Champions League and domestically, but I don't want to think of Barca right now. If I am hated in Barcelona, that is not my problem."

Questioned about the composition of the team and asked whether he will try to keep more Spanish players in the team, Mourinho stated that this summer would not see as many changes as last summer.

source: goal.com / marca.es

"A club's identity has nothing to do with nationality. The club's identity is never going to change and the footballing identity is something I will develop with my players. I don't want to speak of players because when Real Madrid's coach speaks about a player, that player's price goes up €10 million more. I am happy with the basic squad from last year and we don't need dramatic changes, just three or four players to make a team with better chances of adapting to an ideal style of play. It will not be a summer to write about new signings at Real Madrid; I think it will be a bit more calm"

Taking a job at Real Madrid is one of the most high-stakes positions in football, yet Mourinho was unperturbed by the challenges that lie ahead. "I don't feel a different kind of pressure being at Real Madrid," assured the genius.

When asked about his play being too defensive, Mourinho sought to dispel the media smear campaign calling his style closed and un-entertaining. "I have played in a UEFA Cup final and two Champions League finals. We won all three and scored eight goals in the finals. When one repeats a lie, for intelligent people it remains a lie. For the rest, it becomes a truth. It's one thing how one organizes a team and a defensive scheme is another thing altogether. When a team is organised it defends well - all players are involved in attack and defense."

Asked about his role in creating controversy, Mourinho plead not guilty. "I am not a provocateur, I am a worker and I want respect. If we have respect, perfect. If not, I will defend my group without any problem."

On his philosophy for a team, he stressed: "I am a coach who adapts his philosophy to the players he has, trying to get the best out of my players. Normally, players feel valued again after their work with me. A team needs to have an equilibrium. One needs to work with and without the ball, be strong offensively and defensively, have psychological balance, and win matches. Winning matches is very important because it makes one psychologically stronger and more confident, without which it is impossible to win titles."

Mourinho was then asked about the future of club captain Raul: "I don't want to say anything about Raul because I have not yet spoken with the club. I arrived today and I have not yet done anything for Real Madrid and am not yet in the club's history. Raul is and I need to respect that. For that reason, and I need to be honest, I cannot treat him like any other player."

Asked about his personal relationship with his players, Mourinho spoke of the close bond he enjoys having between player and coach. "Football is more than a tactic or a training session. Football is played with a group of men who work together and form a family. The club is our second family. To achieve this, we need to have a lot of empathy and after that they are my players forever."

"I continue to speak with players I had at Porto and Chelsea and I speak of my players as if they were still my players. This relationship is what I want to use to bring stability to the players at Real Madrid. Sometimes I miss some of my ex-players and we have a lot of memories. I have players that have said: 'If you leave, I stop playing'."

On his top priorities at Real Madrid, Mourinho highlighted the Champions League. "The most important thing is to win the European Cup. I cannot promise that we will go far in the Champions League; football is football. What I can promise is that while Real Madrid may not finish at the top of the group, in the knockout phase lottery it will not be us that will be scared but rather our rivals who will be nervous about playing Real Madrid.

"We will play against Inter, Chelsea, or Bayern but I do not want fear in my dressing room, but rather in the opposing dressing room. Madrid has an incredibly negative history in the Champions League in recent years but now we start at zero. We will take it match by match without obsession and I like dreaming of the final at Wembley. Pressure is a factor of motivation for me that is not going to complicate my work."

Jose Mourinho : I am here because of this club's outstanding history

2010-06-02T20:59:00.002+02:00

New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed his excitement about what lies ahead following his first day in the job, insisting he will be a success with los Blancos.

“I am very excited. Real Madrid is the perfect club for me because it is big, very ambitious and has tremendous potential,” Mourinho told the club's official website.

“I am very confident in my abilities and have high self-esteem. I believe everything will turn out for the best and that I will be very successful. I always think positively.”

Mourinho jumped ship following his unprecedented treble with Inter and went on to reveal what urged him to accept president Florentino Perez’s offer.

"I am here because of this club's outstanding history,” he said.

“Fans who go to the Bernabeu always expect the best. During the pre-season they are already thinking about the titles the team will win. Real Madrid's method of thinking is not that different than mine.”

Finally, the ‘Special One’ said he was looking forward to the challenge and that he welcomed the pressure of such a high-profile role.

"I will first put all the pressure on myself to work as hard as I can, to stay motivated and to feel the pressure. I need to have this kind of pressure. If I can be in an environment where I have this kind of pressure, even better.”

source: goal.com

Jose Mourinho in Real Madrid

2010-05-23T21:07:00.000+02:00

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has announced he will leave the club after delivering a historic treble by winning the Champions League in Madrid.

"My work here is done. I have made history with this club. I will find motivations in another big club. Playing against Barcelona in Spain? That would be a big challenge," he told the Rai Sport after the game.

Mourinho is leaving Italy in ways he knows best as he takes a parting shot at Calcio.

"I have been very happy at Inter, but not in the world of Italian football because I don't like all the comments from presidents, coaches and papers. But, I will always like Inter," he added.

"I want to thank Italian football because I have become a better coach for it. Now it's time for me to take a day or two to think about a new challenge in another country.

"I have given everything for this team and I feel free to make a decision on my future. I want to become the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs. Only Real Madrid are interested in me but I have not signed any contract yet."

And, the country and club couldn't have been clearer, especially after waving a goodbye gesture to the Nerazzurri fans inside the Bernabeu with tears rolling down his eyes.

Asked whether he would be joining Real Madrid he told Sat.1: "Yes."

source: goal.com

Mourinho pre match video statement (skysports)

2010-04-28T23:57:00.000+02:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=81573427001

Mourinho on Barcelona - Inter second semifinal match at Camp Nou

2010-04-28T23:44:00.000+02:00

Mourinho Statements after the Barcelona - Inter Match 28.04.2010.

I'd have to say right now that this is better than winning the Champions League. Today it was a match in which I couldn't play, because I would have left my blood.

Barcelona expected to win. They have had an incredible surprise at the San Siro. Then we understood they had fear.

When Thiago Motta was sent off, we had to change the scheme again. Obviously to reach the final it was down to who wants it more.

With Chelsea supporters I had empathy, but I have more of this with Inter's. I respect Italian football, but I'm not in love with it. In the difficult moments of the game I felt our supporters were there.

I guarantee that next year I'll be here. I always play against Barcelona, and always something happens. It's nothing new for me. I want to see our supporters welcoming us at the airport.

The refereeing? I don't want to judge. I said before the game that when players help the referee, it can have a positive reaction. When they make things difficult for him then there are problems, and this evening someone tried to complicate his job.

Mourinho on Barcelona ( second leg 28.04.2010 )

2010-04-28T00:09:00.001+02:00

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) - Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho claims that Barcelona have become carried away with the chance of winning the Champions League at the Bernabeu, the stadium of their arch-rivals Real Madrid.

The Italian side came out on top in the first-leg of the semi-final clash but the Barcelona team are convinced that they can overturn the 3-1 score line at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

After their win against Xerez in La Liga at the weekend, the players wore t-shirts encouraging fans to back them ahead of the Inter match.

From the start of this season's European campaign the ambition at the Catalan club has been greater than ever to win this tournament with the final in Madrid.

"We have a team of older players, with many over 30, and we hope that we will be able to cope with the atmosphere. It is one thing, though, to follow a dream and it is another to have an obsession. For Barça it is an obsession," said Mourinho, speaking at a packed pre-match press conference.

The Portuguese coach was in typically belligerent mood, refusing to speak in Spanish to journalists and playing on Barcelona's rivalry with Real Madrid.

An indication of the high tensions was that Inter felt the need for a bodyguard to accompany Mourinho.

"A dream is more pure than an obsession, an obsession is more about pride. Barça achieved a dream winning the Champions League in Paris and Rome last year but this time it is more about Madrid and playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, this is an obsession.

"I experienced what it is like here, I have won cups - against Betis in 1997 - at the Bernabeu, where everyone was wrapped in Catalan flags I know what it is about, it is anti-Madridismo. It is an obsession.

"I can't say for me it is a personal dream (to win the Champions League) as I have won it before but I want to win it for Inter as it is more than 40 years since they got to the final.

"If I can help Mr Moratti (the Inter president), if I can help the players and if I can contribute a little bit as coach to achieve this dream then I would be very happy."

Inter will be without the suspended Dejan Stankovic but it appears that Mourinho is ready to gamble on Wesley Sneijder who has a slight thigh strain.

"We will see if he can play for 90 minutes as there is still a small problem. We have other important games in the league but I am ready to risk him as everything will be decided tomorrow," said Mourinho.

"There are 90 minutes still to be played and history is full of comebacks, it is easy to score three quick goals especially for a side like Barça," said Mourinho.

A lot of pressure has been put on the referee ahead of the match with Barca players claiming they were unfairly muscled out of the game at the San Siro. Inter midfielder Thiago Motta turned the attack on the Barca players accusing them of cheating.

"This is a very important match and I suppose they (Barcelona) are doing what they can to win the game but we are relaxed. We will try and play clean football but we are accustomed to seeing Barca players diving and so we hope that the referee does his job well. It is not only Barça that need to worry," he said.

"We know how Inter will play. They will look for space and attack and so we can't give them space. We have to help the referee as well so that it is easier for him."

God, football and Jose Mourinho!

2010-04-21T00:30:00.002+02:00

Jose Mourinho To Replace Sir Alex Ferguson As Manchester United Manager

2010-04-21T00:29:00.000+02:00

Sir Alex Ferguson will leave Manchester United after next season and Inter manager Jose Mourinho will be the one that replaces him.

The Scotland native could end his legendary managerial run at Old Trafford after what would be his 25th season with United.

Ferguson, who will turn 69 in December, took United in November of 1986 and has enjoyed immense success, winning 11 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice during his time with the Red Devils.

With Ferguson set to step down United have already lined up a successor in Mourinho, according to the Daily Star.

The former Chelsea manager led Inter to a Serie A title last year and into the semi-finals of the Champions League so far this year, but the Portuguese has been yearning to return to the Premier League.

Ferguson and his United squad currently sit one point behind Chelsea with four games remaining. Should the Red Devils win another Premier League title this season it would mark Ferguson’s 12th with the club and his 19th trophy overall.

Mourinho continues to boycott pre-match press conferences

2010-03-25T21:34:00.003+01:00

ROME (AFP) - Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho will continue to boycott pre-match press conferences ahead of this weekend's crunch clash with AS Roma, his team said Thursday.

Mourinho has skipped his press appointments before and after matches for the last five Serie A encounters since he was hit with a three-game touchline ban for making a handcuffs gesture to television cameras.

The former Chelsea boss made the sign during his team's 0-0 draw at home to Sampdoria last month, after Inter had been reduced to nine men before the break.

The Portuguese's only public comments have come before and after Champions League matches.

Mourinho has been villified in the Italian press this season and a relationship of mutual animosity has developped between him and the media corps.

Now he sends players to speak to the press instead of appearing himself, such as following Wednesday's 3-0 win over Livorno when centre-back Ivan Cordoba spoke to the media.

Inter lead the Serie A table by four points from AC Milan and Roma with eight games remaining but should the champions lose in Rome on Saturday, there would only be a point between the top two.

Press conference statement:

2010-03-17T13:22:00.003+01:00

Press conference Video

source: skysports.com

Inter going on!

2010-03-17T00:42:00.000+01:00

LONDON (AFP) - Jose Mourinho insisted Inter Milan's 1-0 victory - 3-1 on aggregate - over his former club Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday was just reward for the perfect performance.

Mourinho savoured a moment of sweet revenge for his sacking as Chelsea boss in September 2007 as Samuel Eto'o's late goal at Stamford Bridge sent the Blues crashing out of Europe's elite club competition at the last 16 stage.

The Portuguese coach, who won five major trophies in three years with Chelsea, crafted a brilliant game-plan to frustrate Carlo Ancelotti's side and he admitted his Inter players carried it out to the letter.

"I am very happy because we won and we were the best team. Sometimes in football you win because you were lucky and sometimes you win because you are the best team from the first minute until the last. That is the perfect win. That team was my team," Mourinho said.

"I think everything was superior. Chelsea had reactions of frustration, of a team that felt the opposition was superior. Our team started the second half in an incredible way.

"We were the best team by far. Chelsea is a great team, we know that and we came here knowing very well the way they play. We knew that if you don't control the game by having the ball you have no chance.

"Every player performed at the highest level to win here, this must be almost a perfect performance. We deserve so much this victory, we were the best team."

Mourinho had promised not to celebrate if Inter won, but he leapt to his feet when Eto'o scored and then hurried down the tunnel at full-time to enjoy the moment with his players in the dressing room.

"I celebrated a lot in the dressing room when the game was over. It was a big victory for my team," Mourinho said.

"As I have said before, I am a professional, I love Chelsea, I love this stadium, I love these people but I am a professional.

"Who knows, in the future I may coach another English team and I will come here again as an opponent."

Ancelotti was brought to Chelsea by owner Roman Abramovich with the specific aim of ending the club's long wait to be crowned kings of Europe, but instead the Blues have bowed out in the last 16 for the first time since 2006.

The Italian has never been on good terms with Mourinho but he conceded Inter were well worth their victory and, with Abramovich perhaps in mind, he apologised for Chelsea's premature exit.

"Inter deserved to win. They played a very good game. They put strong pressure on our midfielders and we were not capable of playing how we wanted," Ancelotti said.

"We were never fully in control during the game. There were only a few moments when we could control it. I think we could play better.

"We are very sorry, but this is the reality. I am disappointed because we are out of a very important competition but I want to say best wishes to Inter because I have nothing against them or Mourinho."

The result was a tactical triumph for Mourinho but Ancelotti insisted he had not been out-witted by the Inter coach.

"I wasn't surprised by Mourinho's tactics. One thing I was surpised by was the hard work put in by the two wide players, Eto'o and Pandev," he added.

Mourinho after match Quotes 16.03.2019: hightlight quotes

2010-03-17T00:24:00.003+01:00

Chelsea - Inter 0:1

"I celebrated a lot in the dressing room when the game was over. It was a big victory for my team. As I have said before, I am a professional, I love Chelsea, I love this stadium, I love these people but I am a professional.''

"Who knows, in the future I may coach another English team and I will come here as an opponent.''

Mourinho says his team were better than Chelsea in every aspect on the evening. "I think everything was superior'' he said. "I don't think it was tactics, it was attitude on the pitch".

"They had reactions of frustration, of a team that felt the opposition was superior. Our team started the second half in an incredible way".

"Every player performed at the highest level to win here, this must be almost a perfect performance. We deserve so much this victory, we were the best team''.

About the Inter future in the Champions League, Mourinho said: "I learned that we can beat anyone because Chelsea is not just anyone - they are one of the best. We can win at any stadium, but there are eight good teams (left) in the competition, and we could lose against anyone too.''

To be or not to be day, for Jose Mourinho

2010-03-16T12:36:00.002+01:00

Jose Mourinho will lose his job at the end of this season if Inter Milan fail to progress past his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League tonight, according to an Italian news agency.

Jose Mourinho is under pressure to deliver.

The source, close to Internationale, told Soccernet: "The Inter chairman, Moratti, bought Mourinho to win the Champions League, simple as that. If he loses at Chelsea, he is out, out at the end of the season.

"Inter are not paying him 11 million euros after tax just to win the league, they can do that all the time, but they cannot seem to get past the last-16 in the Champions League, and that's why they hired Jose Mourinho.

"If Inter fail again to make an impression in the Champions League they will need to find a manager who can, so that is what is at stake for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Inter are the most powerful, financially sound and strongest club in Italy. They have won the title four years in a row, three under Roberto Mancini, and should win it again, although they have had a ten-point lead whittled down to one point.

"The Italian fans, the media, and everyone in Italy do not see Jose Mourinho as 'the Special One' - far from it, in fact.

"Don't forget in Italy we have World Cup winners, Champions League winners, and they all come without all the fuss and baggage that Jose Mourinho brings with him, so we are not besotted with Jose Mourinho as you are in England."

Mourinho is in the middle of a personal feud with one of his star players, Mario Balotelli, as the source added: "He is extremely gifted on the pitch, but he is young and moody, difficult to manage, and Jose Mourinho has left him at home. They have a longstanding feud. He was asked by the Italian media why, and he replied that he will only talk about the players who are here.

"Mourinho is not liked by the media, or by the Inter fans. Mourinho says he wants to go back to England, and much depends on what happens at Chelsea."

source: espn

Chelsea - Inter 16.03.2010

2010-03-16T12:33:00.002+01:00

Without trying to making a hyperbolic statement, Chelsea's Champions League clash with Inter on Tuesday threatens to be the Blues' biggest game of the season.

The elusive trophy, that the west London side were a John Terry slipped penalty away from in 2008, would be the final piece in a silverware jigsaw that makes up the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.

And fate dictates that it should be Jose Mourinho - the former king of Stamford Bridge - who should stand in Chelsea's way of another crack at Holy Grail of the Champions League.

Mourinho's Inter side carry a lead 2-1 from the first leg of this round-of-16 clash to his former stomping ground and will be keen to remind Chelsea fans he remains the 'Special One' - while at the same time trying to mastermind a first Italian capture of the trophy since 2007.

Inter have never lifted the Champions League trophy, since its re-branding in 1992, and an aggregate victory on Tuesday night would take the bullish Portuguese manager one step closer to winning the cup the Nerazzurri last claimed in 1965 when it was the European Cup.

The first leg victory for Inter exposed woeful cracks in a previously tight Chelsea defense, with John Terry looking a shadow of his former self, and since then Chelsea have stumbled domestically, losing handsomely to Manchester City before beating weak West Ham and Stoke sides less-than-convincingly.

Those results seem to have handed the initiative back to Manchester United in the Premier League, but Blues fans would walk the Premier League trophy to Old Trafford if it meant getting a hand on the European Cup.

Taking the cup back to west London would be validation for Roman Abramovich's millions poured into the club over the past few years, but losing out to their arrogant former boss will be hard to swallow.

News:

Chelsea

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will face the biggest test of his career when he lines up to face Inter, thanks to injuries to Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario. Turnbull was between the sticks for the 4-1 win over West Ham at the weekend and his only Champions League experience to date is a 2-2 draw with Greek minnows Apoel Nicosia.

There is better news for Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti in defense, where Ricardo Carvalho returns following a hamstring staring. Ancelotti has no fresh injury doubts elsewhere, with Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Jose Bosingwa (knee) all still sidelined for the Stamford Bridge return leg.

Last starting XI (v West Ham): Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Malouda, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba, Anelka.

Inter

Striker Mario Balotelli hasn't traveled with the team to London, although quite why remains a mystery to the temperamental Italian's agent. "I don't know why he has not been called up. I will find out," Mino Raiola vowed.

Meanwhile, Julio Cesar was involved in a minor car accident over the weekend but is expected to be fit to take his place in goal.

Defender Cristian Chivu is out with a fractured skull and David Santon has a knee problem, so Javier Zanetti will line up on the left side of defense.

Last starting XI (v Catania): Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Materazzi, Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Mariga, Sneijder, Milito, Eto'o.

PREDICTION

Chelsea's desperation to win the Champions League should see the Blues come out of the blocks strongly, roared on by a vociferous Stamford Bridge crowd. But Jose Mourinho is a man who knows what it's like to lift the trophy - having done so in 2004 with Porto - and also knows Chelsea almost as well a current boss Carlo Ancelotti does.

Chelsea's home record is impressive, but Inter know they have a simple task - stop the Blues, and more accurately Dider Drogba, from scoring and the tie is theirs.

It will be close, and it will be fiercely fought, but fortune seems to favor the Italians on this occasion.

source: goal.com

Inter - Chelsea Champions league match - Jose Mourinho quotes in croatian

2010-02-25T11:49:00.004+01:00

Portugalac Jose Mourinho mogao je likovati nakon pobjede 2:1 u prvoj utakmici osmine finala Lige prvaka. Inter je bio bolji od Chelsea-ja.

"Startali smo od 0:0, sada je 2:1. To bi trebalo značiti da smo u prednosti, zar ne", rekao je Mourinho

"Nemojte zaboraviti da je Inter u zadnje vrijeme uvijek gubio prvu utakmicu u Ligi prvaka. Od Valencije, Liverpoola i Manchester Uniteda. Sada smo dobili, imamo zaleđe u prvih 90 minuta, ali to je samo prvo poluvrijeme. Čeka nas rješenje i odluka o svemu na Stamford Bridgeu. Isto tako, ne zaboravite da smo dobili momčad koja u zadnjih 14 utakmica Lige prvaka nije izgubila utakmicu. "

"Kontrolirali smo utakmicu. Znam da piše kako je Chelsea imao više udaraca, no osim grede Drogbe i prilike Lamparda ne sjećam se neke prave šanse Chelseaja. Mi smo ih imali malo više od njih", riječi su Portugalca uz zaključak: "Dolazak na Stamford Bridge će biti jako emotivan za mene, znam to jako dobro. No, tamo odlazim odraditi posao. Pobijediti."

"Nikada nisam izgubio na Stamford Bridgeu"

"Mourinho ne gubi na Stamford Bridgeu", progovorio je o sebi Jose Mourinho

"Jako sam sretan, naravno da jesam. Još odmah nakon ždrijeba sam isticao da kao profesionalac žarko želim pobijediti svoj bivši klub Chelsea. Želim ih pobijediti više od bilo koga drugoga"

izjavio je Mourinho

Nije se složio da je dvoboj na San Siru ponudio veliku taktičku bitku.

"Nije to bio nikakav taktički dvoboj, već tipična utakmica Lige prvaka između dva velika kluba odigrana na visokoj razini. Nismo ničime iznenadili, kao niti Chelsea. Samo smo odigrali veliku utakmicu, jedni i drugi. Igračima sam uoči dvoboja rekao:"Chelsea nije bolji od nas, samo je drukčiji. Oni imaju neke kvalitete koje mi nemamo, kao i obratno". Prema tome, mogao se očekivati rezultat 1-1, 2-1, 1-0 ili 0-1, kao i u većini utakmica u Ligi prvaka. U ovoj fazi ionako nitko nije pobijedio s dva gola razlike" – komentirao je portugalski strateg.

Mourinho nije dao precizan stav o prekršaju Interovog braniča Waltera Samuela nad Salomonom Kalouom u kaznenom prostoru domaćina u posljednjim trenucima prvog poluvremena, kod rezultata 1-0 za Inter."Događaj se zbio daleko od mene, nisam dobro vidio. A nisam još pogledao snimku na TV".

Inter - Chelsea Champions league match - Jose Mourinho Interview

2010-02-24T08:05:00.008+01:00

Inter manager Jose Mourinho has received a three game ban and was fined 40,000 EURO after strongly criticising official persons

2010-02-23T19:28:00.004+01:00

Jose Mourinho made "handcuffs" gesture after Inter's players Samuel and Cordoba were sent off and Samuel Eto'o got yellow card against Sampdoria.

The gesture has been interpreted as a way of suggesting his side have been victimised by referees in Serie A.

Mourinho had also insulted the officials at half-time on the way to the dressing room.

Samuel and Cordoba were both sent off in the first half of the match, while Eto'o was booked for allegedly diving.

When Eto'o received the yellow card, Mourinho sparked and while laughing he made the handcuffs gesture in front of photographers and TV cameras.

Mourinho - did not speak to the media after the match against Sampdoria.

Serie A officials said the punishment came after Mourinho had "repeatedly challenged the officials, especially by mimicking handcuffs with his wrists and arms crossed, and faced the crowds and television cameras... Also, he insulted the referee and his assistants in the tunnel and also repeatedly insulted officials."

"Each time there are over-the-top gestures or comments it creates exasperation," Italian Football Association president Giancarlo Abete told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport's website.

"This is a delicate phase of the season, we need respect for everyone else because over-excited football is no good."

Defenders Samuel and Cordoba received one-game bans for their dismissals but their Inter team-mates Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari were given two-match bans for off-the-field incidents in the fiery encounter.

Cambiasso was punished for trying to punch an opposition player in the tunnel at half-time, while Muntari swore at the fourth official.

Inter are five points ahead of Roma at the top of the Serie A.

Mourinho wants respect!

2010-01-29T15:51:00.004+01:00

Inter has beaten Juventus 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup competition (Coppa Italia), but coach Jose Mourinho has come out and defended his team counterpart Ciro Ferrara.

Ferrara is seemingly on his way out at the Turin giants, but the 'Special One' has called for some respect to be shown towards the former defender.

"We are men, and have families. It is not good what he is currently going through," Mourinho stated to Rai. "There is a lot of discussion about who will replace him, Zaccheroni, Benitez, but he deserves respect. In this moment in time, no-one respects him."

As for how the match played out, the Inter boss admits that it was tough until the first Nerazzurri goal was scored. But after that, it all became easier.

"The team started well during the match, but then Juventus scored early," he said. "We remained calm, and tried to forget what happened at the end of the first half."

"With Milito on, we played better. We knew that we were playing better than our opposition, and once the first goal was scored, it all became easier. It was a victory that was well-deserved," concluded Mourinho.

The Beneamata will now take on Fiorentina in the semi-finals.

source: Goal.com

I Pondered My First Home Defeat In Eight Years, says Mourinho

2010-01-11T21:02:00.000+01:00

After watching his Inter side pull off a great escape to defeat Siena 4-3 after having twice gone behind to the Tuscan outfit, coach Jose Mourinho heaped praise on the Nerazzurri’s character.

“Malesani and I had a chat after the game. One was super happy because he just won a game that was lost and the other vice versa because his side played great but were leaving with nothing,” he declared to SkySports.

“I thought at first glance our free kick was non-existent, but Wesley stuck it away with a great strike.

“Today our side was at all sorts and I was given a massive blow after half time with the injury to Stankovic on his re-entry onto the pitch.

“We wanted to play the diamond but simply didn’t have the personnel to do so. Siena were better than us. They had a great counter attack and caused on numerous problems.

“At 3-2 I was pondering my first home defeat in eight years against Malesani’s Siena, and I thought at least it will come against a coach I like.

“What I must say however is that my men showed an incredible character to come back like that and win the game. I feel extremely sorry for Siena as they didn’t deserve to lose but unfortunately these things can happen in football.”

Mourinho will have to go to court

2010-01-11T21:01:00.000+01:00

ROME (AFP) - Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho looks set to face a penalty for insulting a journalist after the Football League referred his case to the sporting justice disciplinary committee.

Following Inter's 1-1 draw at Atalanta in December, Mourinho allegedly screamed abuse at Corriere dello Sport journalist Andrea Ramazzotti.

Ramazzotti had strayed into a restricted area to listen in to interviews the official Inter TV Channel were conducting with players after the game.

According to press reports, Mourinho, who later claimed he had told Ramazzotti several times before not to come into that area beside the club's team coach, swore at the reporter.

Corriere, alongside several other major Italian newspapers boycotted Mourinho's next press conference in protest.

Mourinho is accused of having violated article 1 of the sporting justice code by "using hurtful language towards sports journalist Andrea Ramazzotti" and of having "grabbed him by the forearms".

Inter have also been called before the sporting justice to explain their employee's actions.

Mourinho has often found himself in hot water this season in Italy, twice being sent-off and serving one-match touchline bans.

Vieira leave Inter, Mourinho wishes him good luck

2010-01-06T17:41:00.001+01:00

ROME (AFP) - Patrick Vieira's departure from Inter Milan was confirmed on Wednesday after coach Jose Mourinho said the French midfield veteran had played his "last game" for the Italian champions.

Vieira, who is being tipped to join Manchester City, was given a rare start for Inter because of several absences in midfield.

The Serie A champions beat Chievo 1-0 thanks to a Mario Balotelli goal in the 12th minute to stretch their lead over city rivals AC Milan to 11 points.

"Today we had a few problems but I have a team full of professionals who went out and did a remarkable job," Mourinho told Sky Sport.

"I should have good words to say about everybody but the only person I want to talk about is Vieira, who has played his last match for us.

"He had an impeccable game. It was the perfect farewell to us, and I want to wish him all the best for his new career."

Vieira, 33, has had a shaky past three seasons at Inter Milan and, now on the fringes of the France team, he is desperate for first team football to boost his chances of featuring in Raymond Domenech's World Cup squad.

Reports this week suggested City have been in talks with Inter over signing Vieira, who has also had the rule run over him by former French champions Lyon.

Mourinho said he believes Vieira, who at the end of the match hugged several of his team-mates, was definitely returning to the English Premier League.

"He hasn't said a word to anybody but he has mentioned the English Premier League," added the Portuguese.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who coached Inter when Vieira first arrived following a year with Juventus, said on Monday he was interested in taking the former Arsenal midfielder on loan till the end of the season.

Mourinho will stay in Inter till the end of 2011/2012 season

2009-12-29T08:42:00.000+01:00

(GSM) - Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho insists he intends to honor his stay in Italy and remain with the Nerazzurri until 2012.

Mourinho extended his contract last year, however some still believe he could leave after this season comes to an end.

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho has been constantly linked with a move back to England where he enjoyed great success. His relation with the Italian media has deteriorated after the media criticized him for his style of management and continuous off-the-pitch rants.

The Portuguese tactician has voiced his desire to return to England on many occasions, but he insists that he wants to see out his contract with Inter until 2012.

"There are no friends in football, so to be able to say that I am the friend of my ex-president Roman Abramovich makes me happy and one day this will happen with Moratti because the relationship with him is positive and sincere," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia.

"When I am no longer a coach I will remember a president who has always been fair with me and I hope that he remembers me in the future as a positive trainer, but we are speaking about the future.

"Because at this moment I am and I'll be Inter coach.

"On the contrary of what was said when I signed until 2012, I did it with the intention of staying until 2012.

"Me and the club have done it with the conviction to go forward until 2012."

Mourinho joined Inter last season and won the Serie A with Inter in his first season in Italy. It is likely that Inter will win a second consecutive Italian league title. However, Mourinho has been under-fire after failing to raise Inter's standards on the European scene.

Mourinho Pleased With 'Well-Deserved' Win Over Livorno

2009-12-17T09:00:00.002+01:00

Inter Coach Mourinho Pleased With 'Well-Deserved' Win Over Livorno. The 'Special One' thinks his team had the match under control. Inter coach Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on his team for their hard-fought 1-0 win against Livorno in the Coppa Italia.

It took a Wesley Sneijder free kick in the 59th minute to separate the two sides, and the Nerazzurri now advance to the next round of the tournament.

"I think that Inter deserved the victory," Mourinho declared to the inter.it. "The team was compact, and everything was under control.

"We had some great chances to go ahead from the start, and even in the second half, we could have closed the match out earlier.

"I am pleased, as there were no injuries, and now we can think about the quarter-finals.

According to Mourinho's counterpart, Serse Cosmi, the handball which led to the Dutchman's goal, was not non-existent.

"The Livorno coach has the right to complain," Mourinho responded. "If he is correct or not, I do not know.

"But I believe that a team that has four or five clear chances on goal deserves to really win the match," he summed up.

source: Goal.com

Mourinho breathes a sigh of relief

2009-12-10T13:33:00.002+01:00

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho hailed his squad's team-work as they booked their place in the next round with a 2-0 victory over Rubin Kazan.

ed out after a shock home defeat to Bayern Munich, the Nerazzurri needed a victory over the Russian side to ensure they finished second in Group F behind holders Barcelona, and Mourinho was delighted to avoid the potential banana skin.

"This is the merit of all the squad,'' he said. "From our goalkeeper Julio Cesar to our striker Mario Balotelli, to those players that were on the bench and those that watched the game from the stands. The group has been able to stick together and suffer together.''

Last season Mourinho announced he wanted to be drawn against Manchester United in the last 16 and had his wish granted, only for the Red Devils to knock Inter out of the competition.

"When last year I said I would have preferred to face Manchester United, I did not say that because they were European champions,'' said Mourinho, "but because it would have given my team an extra motivation to face such a side.

"This year we cannot face Barcelona. But there are two top English clubs, then there's Real Madrid and Sevilla, who some may consider a weaker side but I believe it is a very difficult side to face. Bordeaux has done very well as well. I really don't know which one I would prefer.''

The Champions League knock-out draw takes place on December 18.

source: soccernet.espn.go.com

Arrogant quotes by Mourinho

2009-11-05T09:26:00.002+01:00

The best team lost. After they scored only one team played, the other one just defended for the whole game. [on losing to Liverpool in Europe]

It was a goal that came from the moon - from the Anfield stands [defeat against Liverpool in the Champions League]

I am not concerned about how Chelsea are viewed morally. What does concern me is that we are treated in a different way to other clubs. Some clubs are treated as devils, some are treated as angels. I don't think we are so ugly that we should be seen as the devil and I don't think Arsene Wenger and David Dein are so beautiful that they should be viewed as angels.

Buying players for Chelsea is the hardest job in the Premier League.

I can say to him in the next 10 years we will compare trophies at Chelsea and at Liverpool. And he will lose.
[on Steven Gerrard]

We spoke yesterday so for me that is enough. If he understands me now, life will be easy for him, if he still doesn't understand me, then he must have another IQ test [on criticism by Ricardo Carvalho]

We have eight matches and eight victories, with 16 goals, but people say we cannot play, that we are a group of clowns. This is not right.

This was a victory that we truly deserved, and now we can set our sights on qualifying from our next couple of games

2009-11-05T09:23:00.003+01:00

Inter have high jumped from the bottom to the top of Group F, in the space of 90 minutes in this season’s UEFA Champions League, after accounting for Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in Ukraine.

The Nerazzurri went behind midway through the first half, when Andriy Shevchenko put the hosts ahead, however two very late goals to Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder proved to be enough for the Italians.

“This was a victory that we truly deserved, and now we can set our sights on qualifying from our next couple of games,” Jose Mourinho declared to Sky in a post-match interview.

“I think in the second half, we changed the character and personality of the team. I made some changes, but the team responded well to the message I gave them at the interval.

“They achieved this result by fighting tooth and nail for it, and they all played with their hearts on their sleeves as well. We deserved to win,” Mourinho reaffirmed.

As previously mentioned, the reigning Italian champions are now top of their group after four rounds of matches, however the race to progress is still well and truly up for grabs.

He continued, “The battle of qualification is more open than ever. It’s a very balanced group, and it is an incredible situation with just four teams.

“This match for us will be a starting point to improve our performances in the competition.

“I think that we will be able to qualify with just a win now, so I want a packed San Siro stadium for our next game in Europe.”

The Nerazzurri travel to the Camp Nou on match day five, to take on Barcelona, whilst they play host to the reigning Russian champions Rubin Kazan in the final round of matches.

source: Goal.com

Something worth RESPECT!

2009-11-04T23:53:00.001+01:00

Mourinho is currently on a run of 123 home league matches unbeaten (38 with Porto, 60 with Chelsea and 25 with Inter). His last and only home league defeat came when Porto were defeated 3–2 by Beira-Mar on 23 February 2002.

Mourinho statement: Not much sucess with Inter so far

2009-11-04T23:47:00.002+01:00

Inter boss Jose Mourinho has said in an interview with Portuguese daily A Bola that the Nerazzurri do not yet feature in his career highlights, but he says that’s only because they are a work in progress.

“Among are certainly the draw against Sporting Lisbon with a ten-man Uniao Leiria, then the UEFA Cup I won with Porto in 2003 and the first league title with Chelsea,” Mourinho recalled.

“As for Inter, I don’t have indelible memories yet, because I am an ambitious person and always hungry. I want new challenges and new conquests. And only then will they be imprinted in my memory.”

The ‘Special One’ received a touchline ban on Monday after being sent off for dissent during Sunday’s game at Cagliari and will sit in the stands on Wednesday night as the Beneamata welcome Napoli to the Stadio San Siro.

source: kikil.com

Mourinho statements before Dinamo Kiev - Inter match

2009-11-04T23:46:00.001+01:00

Inter boss Jose Mourinho has dismissed suggestions that everything is on the line for his team against Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, stating the match is not “like a final” as some have suggested.

“I do not believe tomorrow’s match is crucial and the reason is simple. If any of the four teams in the group were to win tomorrow, they will still not be assured of qualification from the group,” he explained at a press conference.

“Therefore, I don’t see this match as a final.”

Inter have had several injuries to contend with recently. Mourinho admitted he is not yet sure of his starting XI, with the likes of Thiago Motta, Wesley Sneijder, Mario Balotelli, Cristian Chivu, and Sulley Muntari all in doubt.

“I have to see how they are all doing,” he continued. “Training today will be crucial in deciding who I send out and who I do not.

“They will tell me, in the presence of the medical staff, whether they are able to play or not.”

Dynamo Kiev striker Andriy Shevchenko has been in good form lately, unlike his time at Chelsea under Mourinho.

“He told me the reason for this when we met at the San Siro two weeks ago. He claimed that for the first time in three years, he did not have problems with his shoulder and was able to train with continuity,” revealed the ex-Porto tactician.

source: kikil.com

Follow Jose Mourinho on Facebook

2009-10-10T12:46:00.003+02:00

Become a fan of Jose Mourinho on Facebook. He has more than 160.000 fans worldwide.

Liverpools manager Rafa Benítez likes Chelsea without José Mourinho

2009-10-09T22:06:00.005+02:00

Rafael Benítez has said any tensions between him and Chelsea disappeared when José Mourinho left Stamford Bridge. With neither man seeking to disguise their dislike for each other, fixtures between Chelsea and Liverpool came to carry as much edge as any game in the Premier League calendar. However, the Liverpool manager said that since Mourinho's sacking two years ago, he has enjoyed an excellent rapport with his successors."I have had a very good relationship with all of them," he said. "It was good with Mourinho at the beginning – but he changed when we started winning. That wasn't my responsibility. Carlo Ancelotti is very competitive but he does it with respect. He doesn't need to do these [mind games]. He is a professional."Luiz Felipe Scolari was a good professional, a nice person, someone you could talk with before and after games. He has a lot of experience and is a good manager."This will be the first time that Ancelotti and Benítez have met in anything other than a European Cup final – Milan gained revenge in 2007 for their stunning reverse two years earlier in Istanbul.Benítez said he was bemused by comments from the Liverpool defender Fábio Aurélio that at half-time in Florence on Tuesday night he had been as angry as his players had ever seen him. However, he admitted he was more annoyed at being two down to Fiorentina than trailing Ancelotti's Milan by three goals in the 2005 final."In Istanbul, we were in a final in my first year at Liverpool and we were 3-0 down so I couldn't be angry, I had to be positive. Maybe Fábio hasn't been with me for too many games. At half-time you have to react but my players know I will give analysis, solutions and advice rather than shouting too much. All I said is that from the manager down to the kit man we had been very poor in the first half."
source: guardian.co.uk

Jose Mourinho Picture Gallery

2009-09-23T07:52:00.001+02:00

Show all
Click on the picture, it will get u to the gallery!

Outspoken Behaviour Cost Jose Mourinho Barcelona Job

2009-09-15T14:05:00.004+02:00

source: goal.com

Outspoken Behaviour Cost Jose Mourinho Barcelona Job - Report Outspoken behaviour may make the Inter boss a character, but it cost him a chance of the top job at Camp Nou...

Jose Mourinho could have been preparing Barcelona to face Inter this week in the Champions League, but his desire to be controversial cost him the chance, according to a report.

The Portuguese coach allegedly held a secret meeting with Blaugrana officials during the 2007-08 campaign, when he was not in work, and came close to being appointed only for one characteristic to let him down.

Barca had decided to release Frank Rijkaard at the end of that same season following defeat in Camp Nou by Real Madrid, and the search for a new trainer took them to Mourinho.

Sport state that technical secretary Txiki Begiristain and then sporting vice president Marc Ingla flew separately to Portugal to meet the coach and his agent, Jorge Mendes.

To avoid the news of the meeting leaking out, the quartet met in the safe rooms of a bank in Lisbon, where Mourinho was handed a nine-point document that outlined what his duties would be.
According to the report, the current Inter boss agreed to all of them bar one. He was not keen on point six, which demanded he behave with the media and respect all opponents.

Mourinho thrives on his outspoken behaviour and believes that using the media to gain advantages ahead of matches is crucial, but Barca did not agree and ruled him out of their thoughts.

Mourinho's 10 most special spats with managers and other football figures PART 2

2009-09-05T19:12:00.002+02:00

source: mirrorfootball.co.uk

4) Mourinho v Claudio Ranieri (August 2008)
Shortly after arriving in Italy, Mourinho took aim at Ranieri for his failure to win trophies at Chelsea.

Ranieri: "I don't like the way he stirs up controversies from time to time. Our frictions have nothing to do with the fact that he replaced me at Chelsea.

Mourinho: "I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans. Ranieri had been in England for five years and still struggled to say 'good morning' and 'good afternoon'.

Ranieri: "Unlike Mourinho I don’t need to win to be sure about what I am doing."

Mourinho: "I guess he's right with what he said. I am very demanding of myself and I have to win to be sure of things. This is why I have won so many trophies in my career. Ranieri on the other hand has the mentality of someone who doesn't need to win. He is almost 70 years old. He has won a Supercup and another small trophy and he is too old to change his mentality. He's old and he hasn't won anything."

3) Mourinho v Lo Monaco (September 2008)
Speaking at the post-match press conference follwoing his side's defeat of Catania, Mourinho incurred the wrath of Catania's sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco.

Mourinho: "We could have won that game 5-1 easily. In fact, I could have played in goal for Inter and we still would have won."

Lo Monaco: "Somebody who says such things has no respect for anyone, neither for his opponents nor for the country in which he is a guest. Mourinho is, plain and simple, the kind of guy who should get smashed in the teeth"

Mourinho: "Lo Monaco? I don’t know him. I know of Tibetan monks [Monaco means 'monk' in Italian], I know Bayern Munich [Bayern Monaco in Italian], I know the Monaco Grand Prix... I don’t know any others. If this guy wants to earn free publicity by talking about me, he'd better pay me. adidas feature me in their adverts, but they pay me a lot of money to do that. I don't get paid to help this Lo Monaco get in the papers."

2) Mourinho v Ranieri II and the Italian media (March 2009)
After Inter are awarded a dodgy penalty during a 3-3 draw with Roma, Juve manager Claudio Ranieri agreed with the general consensus it wasn't a penalty.

Mourinho: "I don't like intellectual prostitution, I like intellectual honesty. There has been great intellectual manipulation over the last few days to manipulate public opinion. We haven't talked about a Roma side with great players, lots of players I wanted to have with me, that will finish the season with zero titles. We haven't talked about Milan, who will finish the season with zero titles. We haven't talked about Juventus, who have won lots of points with refereeing mistakes.

1) Mourinho v Marcello Lippi (August 2009)
Mourinho was not best pleased after Italy's coach predicted Juve would win the Scudetto.

Mourinho: "It's normal that journalists give their opinion and say 'Juve will win the title'. It's normal that Juventus directors and the coach say it, but it's the first time I've read of a national coach saying these things. Even if he wants that, even if he thinks that, it's a lack of respect. I still want to think that it's not true. It's the first time that I've read of a national coach, a person with such a great responsibility, saying such things. I'm expecting a reaction from national football."

Lippi: "I'm sorry if Mourinho interpreted my comment in that way: it was simply a prediction, one of the many theories that are bandied about before the start of the championship. I give thousands of interviews. For three years I've been saying that Inter is the best team. Yesterday, in a interview that covered many things, I gave a quick reply to a question about the upcoming championship and I said that I thought Juventus would win. On many other occasions I've said good things about other teams, and I think things have been exaggerated in this case. Mourinho seemed to me to be an intelligent person, and I'm sorry that he interpreted my comment differently: but there is no problem. I said what I said..."

Mourinho: "It's of little relevance if in previous interviews, a year ago or a month ago, Lippi said good things about Inter or other clubs. Yesterday evening the top person in Italian football gave a precise indication about the outcome of a championship that has yet to start. This does not seem right to me, and I say this calmly as a club manager to the national coach. I still believe that Lippi, being the national team coach, should not make predictions on Serie A. I don't think that Fabio Capello or Vicente Del Bosque would make predictions on the Premier League or La Liga. They are smart..."

Mourinho's 10 most special spats with managers and other football figures

2009-09-05T19:03:00.000+02:00

source: mirrorfootball.co.uk

10) Mourinho v Fergie I (February 2004)
There was many a sparring session between these two footballing titans during Mourinho's tenure at Chelsea but his best put-down of Ferguson came when he was still at Porto. After Mourinho's men had just knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League, Ferguson complained at Vitor Baia's over-reaction that got Roy Keane sent off...

Mourinho: "I understand why he is a bit emotional. He has some top players in the world and they should be doing a lot better than that. You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by opponents who have been built on 10% of the budget."

9) Mourinho v Frank Rijkaard (February 2005)
After Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona, Mourinho accused the Barca coach of fraternising with the referee Anders Frisk during the interval.

Mourinho: "Rijkaard was in the referee's changing room with him for five minutes. I know because my assistants were at the door while the meeting was going on. Later I ran into the referee and I told him I was going to make a complaint about him to UEFA after what had happened in the changing room. Frisk told me to go ahead as it would be his word against mine. When I saw Rijkaard walk into the referee's changing room I just couldn't believe it and it was no surprise to me when Drogba was expelled."

Rijkaard: "There was a lot of talking before the game and now surprisingly there is a lot of talking after the game. It is not good behaviour after a match."

Mourinho: "My history as a manager cannot be compared with Frank Rijkaard’s history. He has zero trophies and I have a lot of them."

8) Mourinho v Benitez I (March 2005)
Mourinho was apoplectic after Luis Garcia's controversial goal in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Anfield cost his side a place in the final.

Mourinho: "It was a goal from the moon. The linesman scored the goal. No one knows if that shot went over the line and you must be 100 per cent. I felt the power of Anfield, it was magnificent. I felt it didn't interfere with my players but maybe it interfered with the other people and maybe it interfered with the result. But you should ask the linesman why he gave the goal. The best team lost. After they scored only one team played, the other one just defended for the whole game."

Benitez: "I don't know whether it was a goal or not. But if the goal isn't given it could well be a red card for Petr Cech for the foul on Milan Baros, and a penalty."

7) Mourinho v Arsene Wenger (October 2005)
After Wenger answered questions about Chelsea's draw with Everton and subsequent Carling Cup defeat to Charlton, Mourinho took aim at the Frenchman.

Mourinho: "I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea. They need to work and try to improve. I don't know if he wants my job, I don't know. He loves Chelsea."

Wenger (on whether he would sue): "Have you seen the price of lawyers in England? They say 'Hello' and it's £100,000 before they shake your hand. I just wanted to see how it was perceived. I had to choose between my holidays and the case. I find in England that the law is very expensive frankly. Compared to France it looks, to me, unbelievable. I cannot see that statement to be malicious or vicious enough. For me the intention behind the statement is important. I came to the conclusion that it was not - I hope I am right - anything planned or malicious

6) Mourinho v Benitez II (April 2006)
Mourinho bridled at his side's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool.

Mourinho: "Did the best team win? I don't think so. In the Premiership Liverpool have no chance. "In a one-off game maybe they will surprise me and they can do it. In the Premiership the distance between the teams is 45 points over two seasons."

Benitez: "I always say that Abramovich has done a really good job at Chelsea That is the key."

Mourinho: "Liverpool are not a big team. To have not won the league for almost 15 years is not good enough."

5) Mourinho v Cristiano Ronaldo and Fergie (April 2007)
Frustrated at a goalless with Newcastle that left them three points adrift of Manchester United, Mourinho complained that unlike United, his side never gets penalties - to trigger of a spat with CR7.

Mourinho: "It is not possible [for] penalties [to be awarded] against Manchester United, and it is not possible [to get] penalties in favour of Chelsea. If somebody punishes me because I tell the truth, it is the end of democracy, we go back to the old times.

Ronaldo: "He always has to say something because he can't admit his failures. The whole world knows how Mourinho is. He always has something to say to gain attention, especially when he's not happy with the work of his players. He never recognises he is wrong."

Mourinho: "A player who wants to be the best in the world needs to behave well, to keep quiet and have sufficient honesty and maturity to verify that, against the facts that I have shown, there is no argument on his part. If he says that it is false that Manchester United have conceded penalties that were not given, it's lies. And if he is a liar he will never reach the highest level that he desires in football. It's not even a game between me and him. It's a game where a kid made some statements not showing maturity and respect. Maybe [it's his] education, difficult childhood, no education, maybe [it is] the consequence of that."

Ferguson: "It is really below the belt to bring class into it. Just because you come from a poor, working-class background does not mean you are not educated."

to be continued...

Jose Mourinho is the highest paid star in Italian football, according to new research

2009-09-05T19:02:00.000+02:00

source: the Sun
INTER MILAN manager Jose Mourinho is the highest paid star in Italian football, according to new research. The former Chelsea boss has become the first non-player to top the annual earnings chart, trumping the likes of AC Milan star Ronaldinho and Roma captain Francesco Totti. Figures published in the Italian press reveal The Special One earns a whopping £9.6million a season at the San Siro. In total, SIX of the highest paid footballers in Italy play for the Nerazzurri. You can view the eleven biggest earners in Serie A by clicking on the picture grid on the right.

Mourinho happy

2009-08-31T02:22:00.000+02:00

Mourinho Wants More Of The Same From Inter Against Barcelona

Inter coach Jose Mourinho commented on the 4-0 win against Milan in tonight's derby.Following the spectacular 4-0 victory against Milan in tonight's derby, Inter coach Jose Mourinho was obviously satisfied, but stressed that the team need to show what they're made of in the Champions League debut against Barcelona."Today both sides gave each the initiative, both teams are strong when given space," he said toTuttoMercatoWeb."Football is nice because when you win everything is well and when you lose everything is bad. If we'd lost they would have killed me for playing [Wesley] Sneijder, but I knew I would've let him play for the last 24 hours."Yesterday I said we have more potential than last year, we are more balanced, but we need to work hard because we are playing in a new way. Having four points is positive."This team needs to play the ball with its characteristics, the match against Barcelona will tell us who we are also in the Champions League. I tell [Milan coach] Leonardo to stay confident, life goes on."Source: Goal.com author: Danilo Pochini

Chelsea rile Mourinho over deals

2009-08-31T02:20:00.001+02:00

Source: BBC.co.uk

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has accused former club Chelsea of making it difficult for him to sign Ricardo Carvalho and Deco.

Mourinho says the Blues have increased the price for the Portuguese duo after discovering his interest in them.

"It's very difficult for a Chelsea player to come to me," Mourinho told a news conference before Saturday's Italian Super Cup against Lazio.

"Every time I'm interested in one of their players, it looks different."

Midfielder Deco and defender Carvalho were part of the Porto team that Mourinho guided to Champions League victory in 2004.

Carvalho was one of Mourinho's first signings during his successful three-year reign at Stamford Bridge, which ended in September 2007 after an apparent breakdown in his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich.

When they know Inter are interested, the price for Deco goes from zero to five (million) and for Carvalho from five to
15 (million).

Jose Mourinho

Inter president Massimo Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport in June that talks had begun between the clubs over Carvalho and Deco but these now appear to be stalling, much to Mourinho's frustration.

"In the summer we were told he (Deco) was almost free to come," said Mourinho. "Two weeks later, when they know Inter are interested, it goes zero to five (million) and for Carvalho from five to 15 (million). Something like that."

Deco fell from favour after arriving at Chelsea in an £8m move from Barcelona in the summer of 2008 - and recently admitted he hoped to be reunited with Mourinho in Italy.

And Carvalho, a success at Stamford Bridge but restricted by injury to only 18 appearances last season, has revealed he wants to leave Chelsea after five years.

606: DEBATE

I still believe that Deco has that little bit left to give to us that could end up with the title back at the Bridge

Zolaaaaaaaaa!

Mourinho also said Serie A champions Inter had heard nothing from Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur about midfielder Patrick Vieira, who has been linked with a move to the Gunners - his former club - or their North London rivals.

"If they want him, they have to let us know," he said. "I have to say until this moment, no Tottenham, no Arsenal. They have not contacted us."

Inter - Milan 4:0

2009-08-30T15:51:00.000+02:00

Tekst: Totalsport
Foto: AFP

NAKON spektakularne 4:0 pobjede nad gradskim rivalom Milanom u utakmici 2. kola talijanske Serije A, trener Intera Jose Mourinho imao je razloga trljati ruke od zadovoljstva.

Nakon uvodnog remija s Barijem (1:1) mnogi su bili spremni ulogu favorita na San Siru prepustiti Milanu koji je u sezonu startao pobjedom 2:1 kod Siene.

"Vidjelo se da su obje momčadi jake kada im se da prostor za igru, inicijativu na terenu preuzimali su i jedni i drugi", kazao je Mourinho.

"Nogomet je lijep, sve je u najboljem redu kada se pobjeđuje, a ništa ne valja kada se utakmice gube. Da smo kojim slučajem mi izgubili znam da bi me ubili što sam stavio Wesleyja Sneijdera u igru, a ja sam znao da ću to napraviti još jučer", dodao je Portugalac u svom stilu, a potom zaključio:

"U petak sam rekao kako ova momčad ima više potencijala od one lanjske, bolje smo balansirani, a sada samo tako moramo nastaviti. Rekao sam i Milanovom treneru Leonardu da ostane samouvjeren, jer unatoč porazu, život teče dalje".

Nikad jači Inter!

Odjeci milanskog derbija vjerojatno će odzvanjati još neko vrijeme. Razlog tome je zaista odlična igra Intera. Događaje s utakmice, ali i općeniti izgled ekipe komentirao je starosjedioc u momčadi Intera, Argentinac Javier Zanetti. "Vječni mladić" sa 36 godina u Interovom dresu igra od daleke 1994. godine, pa je sljedeća izjava prilično jaka:

"Inter nikada nije bio jak kao ove sezone. Tu sam odavno i mogu usporediti sve generacije. Stvarno mislim da nikada nismo bili bolje posloženi. Nisam to shvatio na temelju jedne utakmice, ove pobjede 4:0 protiv Milana. To mislim od trenutka kada smo se skupili, a naknadno smo još dobili sjajnog Sneijdera", rekao je Zanetti i dodao:

"Učinili smo veliku stvar na ovom derbiju, samo moramo nastaviti dalje tretirati svakog suparnika jednako ozbiljno i uvijek davati sve od sebe."

Choose your favourite quote

2007-10-06T04:49:00.000+02:00

Spurce: here!

Jose Mourinho will be missed by Chelsea fans for his ability as a manager. But he'll also be missed for his bizarre quotes before and after matches.

1. "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."

This one is from 2004.

2. "It is omelettes and eggs. No eggs - no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."

This one is from this week.

3. "Maybe one day when I become sixty, and maybe one day when I am in the same league for twenty years and I know everybody, and everybody respects me a lot, I'll have this power to speak and people will tremble a little bit."

4. "It is not a red card, of course not, and for the second time we have to play 55, 60 minutes without a man and the game is completely different. I shouldn't speak about the game, because the game is not a game."

Mourinho is not Chelsea manager anymore

2007-09-24T04:43:00.000+02:00

goal.com
A brief statement on the Blues' official website, read: "Chelsea Football Club and José Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent."

Mourinho is reported to have text messaged five senior players this evening to tell them that he is leaving the Blues, who could only draw at home with Rosenborg in their opening Champions League tie on Tuesday.

The set-back followed disappointing results in the Premiership against both Aston Villa and Blackburn, results that had left Mourinho visably on edge.

The Portuguese coach was said to have fallen out with owner Roman Abramovich last season, although the dispute was believed to be behind the pair. However, poor form plus difficulties with star names Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack appear to have put further strain on their relationship.

The 'Special One' still had three years left on a contract, worth a staggering £6.5m a year, but Abramovich is believed to be prepared pay a huge slice of that in order to end their relationship.

Mourinho arrived at Chelsea having won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and he continued his success with back-to-back Premiership titles. However, last season Manchester United beat the Blues to the league crown, although they did manage to lift both domestic cups.

Reports have immediately linked Sevilla boss Juande Ramos with the job and ironically the Spaniard is already in London having seen his side lose 3-0 to Arsenal in their Champions League encounter this evening.

It seems more than likely that current Russia coach Guus Hiddink will also be considered among the frontrunners for the job.

bbc.co.uk
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sensationally left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent, the club has confirmed.

The news comes just 24 hours after the disappointing Champions League draw against Rosenborg.

BBC Radio 5live football correspondent Jonathan Legard understands Mourinho texted senior players, including skipper John Terry, with the news.

Mourinho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and led them to the Premiership title in each of his first two seasons.

Last season they finished runners-up to Manchester United but won both the FA Cup and Carling Cup, a trophy they had also collected in 2005.

His achievements also saw him voted as Premiership manager of the year in 2005 and 2006.

However the Champions League trophy eluded the club and this season's campaign started with Tuesday's shock 1-1 result against the Norwegians in front of a crowd of just 24,973.

It was their third successive game without a win following a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa and a goalless draw with Blackburn in the Premier League.

Those results have left Chelsea fifth in the table - two points behind leaders Arsenal and with a visit to Manchester United to come on Sunday.

He did have one unique record during his reign in never losing a home league game at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho signed a five-year contract in 2005 and quashed speculation in January that he would leave Stamford Bridge in the summer by saying he was happy to see out his deal if he received "real support" from the club.

02.09.2007

2007-09-02T22:43:00.000+02:00

Jose Mourinho's statemant for BBC Sport after they lost to Aston Vila:

"It was a good game with good teams but a result that Chelsea didn't deserve at all.

"We dominated the first half, reacted well to their goal and we deserved to get a point at least.

"We made a mistake at the corner for their goal. We shouldn't be conceding goals like that but also had enough chances to score."

Sunday

2007-08-19T06:50:00.000+02:00

Today, I'll probably play single or double. I'll bet against the team that I support. I don't do that often, but today, I'll do it. I want to protect myself from headache, if Rafa Benitez's Livepool wins than I'll probably get some money, if Mourinho's Chelsea wins than I'll be pretty much happy. So, somehow, I win in both cases. ;)
Also, I think that its time for Manchester United to win their first game in the new season. Many important players won't start for Man U. but even in such situation, i strongly believe that they can beat they neighbours.
Fulham screw up yesterdays betting pretty much. Later in the evening, I was a bit lucky so I managed to get Fulham's money back.
Good luck to all. Comments as usual, are welcomed. Cheers.

Liverpool - Chelsea 1 2.60 (WilHil) 2.50 (Sporlife)
Manchester City - Manchester United 2 1.90 (WilHil) 1.85 (Sportlife)

Mourinho waits on Essien injury

2007-08-18T04:28:00.000+02:00

source: bbc.co.uk

Essien scored the winner in the match against Birmingham

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is waiting for news on a knee injury suffered by Michael Essien after the midfielder scored the winner against Birmingham.

The Ghana star was substituted with 21 minutes remaining of Sunday's 3-2 win.

"It was something in the knee ligament. He was in pain, I had two midfielders on the bench so I made the change immediately," said Mourinho.

"If you asked me, I would say I do not know if he will be fit for Wednesday's match against Reading."

606: DEBATE

Playing without a Makelele type - and with only Essien and Lampard in midfield - is slightly crazy

John K

Essien's winner came as Chelsea set a new English record of 64 unbeaten home matches in the top flight.

Mourinho enjoyed some positive news as Didier Drogba came off the bench after missing the Community Shield match against Manchester United because of injury, while Claude Makelele and Paulo Ferreira are expected to train on Monday.

Total respect for Mourinho

2007-05-28T19:13:00.000+02:00

Source: bbc.co.uk
Colin Calderwood: Total respect for Mourinho
By Andy Tilley, PA Sport

Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood is hoping some of the 'Special One's' sheen rubs off when the Reds do battle with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The sides meet in an FA Cup fourth-round clash on Sunday with Forest currently lying third in the Coca-Cola League One table, separated by Jose Mourinho's Barclays Premiership aristocrats by 44 places on the league ladder. Calderwood knows the odds are against his City Ground outfit embarrassing their top-flight opponents. But, only three years into his managerial career, he has his fingers crossed he can pick up some tricks of the trade from opposite number Mourinho, who declared himself to be the "special one" when he joined the London club from Porto in June 2004. "My coaching staff and I - as well as the players - will take a lot of things out of this weekend's experience."Colin CalderwoodAnd Calderwood, who arrived on the banks of the River Trent after cutting his teeth at Northampton, said: "I have never met Jose Mourinho and I do not think you should style yourself on anyone else, but my coaching staff and I - as well as the players - will take a lot of things out of this weekend's experience.

"It will be a wonderful occasion for my coaching staff and I hope it will make us better professionals. "Just to try and understand Jose Mourinho and Chelsea's mentality and to pick up bits and pieces down there will be very valuable. "Jose Mourinho has his own style, but what he has done is back up what he has said with fantastic success. "You have obviously got to have total respect for the man." Calderwood's approach is to preach calmness and confidence heading into the game, which he believes his side have a chance of winning regardless of the pronouncements of pundits and the form book. He said: "We cannot allow the nervous energy surrounding the game fatigue us because we need to make sure we are still in the game with 30 minutes gone. "We must stay switched on, because there will be times in the game when we will be forced to defend, but I strongly believe we have got the players and we've got the way of playing that could fashion a chance at Chelsea. "Or maybe we will get that element of luck you sometimes need to score a goal. "The underdogs have always got a chance in the FA Cup and hopefully we can score a goal at a point in the game when it will have a real effect on the result." Meanwhile, Calderwood is also hoping to renew acquaintances with former Forest loanee John Terry, although the injury jinx the pair share is likely to keep the Chelsea and England captain on the sidelines. Terry, who has yet to fully recover from the back troubles which laid him low midway through December, made six appearances as a 19-year-old on loan at the Reds in 2000. Jose MourinhoThe young prospect lined up in the centre of the Forest defence alongside the experienced Calderwood who was, by then, approaching the twilight days of a 19-year professional playing career. "Losing John Terry has been a massive blow for Chelsea," said Calderwood. "I remember playing alongside him in what was my last game for Forest. "It was against Birmingham at St Andrews and we won 1-0, but I got injured in the game and went to Notts County after that. "Even at that time, John Terry was a very strong individual and he made a difference to the senior blokes in training because he was so committed and physical. "You could see he could go on to be outstanding and he reminded me very much of the young Sol Campbell at Tottenham. "Experience is an advantage in football of course but, if you are a young player who can play in high-profile games and games with a high level of physical contact then you have a very bright future in front of you and both those players have gone on to realise that."

Mourinho in Shevchenko challenge

2007-05-15T07:39:00.000+02:00

source: bbc.co.uk
Mourinho in Shevchenko challenge

Mourinho (left) wants a lot more from Shevchenko next season

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has told Andriy Shevchenko he must prove he can play in the Premiership next season.

The Ukrainian, 30, scored four Premiership goals in his first season after arriving for £30m from AC Milan.

"Will he be a Chelsea player next season? He has a contract. If he wants to try everything to improve, of course he will," said Mourinho.

"It's up to him, hopefully he is not happy with what he gave to the team, if he's not happy that's a start."

A hernia operation will rule Shevchenko out of the FA Cup final, and Mourinho added: "Sheva's season was not what everyone was thinking, including myself.

"In his defence he has a history of many years in a completely different culture, that can be on his side."

In contrast to Shevchenko, Mourinho was full of praise for his striker partner Didier Drogba.

Drogba scored 32 goals - including 20 in the Premiership - to become the first Chelsea player in 20 years to lift the Golden Boot.

Mourinho said: "He deserves the Golden Boot, to be top scorer in the Premiership without taking penalties is more than deserved.

"Every goal was a proper goal and I am happy for him," added Mourinho, who fears Chelsea's injury crisis will hit their Cup final plans.

Doubts over the fitness of Ricardo Carvalho could leave Chelsea short in the centre of defence.

And Mourinho admitted that after letting William Galls go to Arsenal and Robert Huth quit for Middlesbrough last summer, his team had found themselves short of cover during the season.

"The only thing we can criticise ourselves on is that in the other seasons we had a group of four central defenders," stated Mourinho.

"This season, we had three. A fit Robert Huth this season would have played 35, 40 matches and played an incredible role."

As Mourinho targets Reading's Steve Sidwell, he also hinted that Chelsea's big-spending days could be over.

He said: "There will be no big investments, we won't be involved in the big market.

"We don't need a lot of players, just a normal season without so many injuries."

Mourinho salutes Chelsea courage

2007-05-06T23:38:00.000+02:00

Source: bbc.co.uk

Mourinho consoles Frank Lampard and John Terry

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the courageous manner of his side's title defence has made him prouder than their Premiership successes in 2005 and 2006.

Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates ensured United claimed the title for the first time since 2003.

"I have to say maybe I'm prouder now than when we were champions," said Mourinho. "All season my players have been heroes against everything.

"This was a game to remember and showed how big Chelsea are as a club."

Interview: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Mourinho offered his congratulations to Manchester United, but could not bring himself to say that the best team had won the title.

"It doesn't matter, what matters is the team with more points is the champion," added Mourinho.

"I have to congratulate the champions, the players, the manager, the fans, the board; all the people that helped them to be champions.

Mourinho pinpointed Chelsea's lack of defensive cover for centre-back Ricardo Carvalho as why the defending champions had failed to win the Premiership for a third successive time.

"We had a big problem only to play all season only with Carvalho at centre-half but now is not the moment to talk about that.

"I'm very proud of my players. Normally when a team has a lot of success and loses a championship it's lack of motivation, not the same spirit or ambition, but it was exactly the opposite.

"My team was brilliant."

Mourinho believes Blues were best

2007-05-02T18:03:00.000+02:00

Source: bbc.co.uk

Mourinho tells his players to applaud the fans after the defeat at Anfield

Manager Jose Mourinho felt Chelsea did not deserve their penalty shoot-out defeat against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final.

The Londoners were beaten 4-1 on spot-kicks after Liverpool cancelled out Chelsea's 1-0 first-leg lead.

"It is a moment when everybody has to be strong," he said. "My players have a lot of reasons to be proud.

"We were the best team today, even against a team only playing for the Champions League."

News conference: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

He added: "In extra-time we were the only team who tried to win, but football is like that and the penalty shoot-out is part of the game.

"My players did a great run in the Champions League."

Mourinho also denied that his pre-match spat with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez helped inspire Liverpool to victory.

He added: "I respected Liverpool always in my words. I don't need to say more and today I think the best team was Chelsea."

Jose demands fresh focus as Quadruple bid crumbles

2007-04-30T02:22:00.000+02:00

Source: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk

As Gary Speed so amusingly explained, the pre-match reports of Sam Allardyce's imminent departure did not unsettle a united Bolton dressing room. "Half our lads can't read and the other half can't speak English," said the skipper with a wry smile.

But Chelsea's players performed in a fashion that suggested they had agonised over every word of their manager's programme notes.

"Welcome to our 59th game of the season and Bolton's 41st," wrote Jose Mourinho.

"On Wednesday we took a halftime lead in the Champions League semi-final. Bolton had a rest. They were able to prepare for today's match. We have had to rest."

If Mourinho was trying to convince his side they remained capable of winning an unprecedented Quadruple, reminding them just how demanding a season it has been was perhaps not the wisest thing to do. Nor, for that matter, was making six changes to a team who, having beaten Liverpool on Wednesday, now have to bounce back from this crushing setback and protect a one-goal advantage at Anfield tomorrow night.

Fortunately for Chelsea, Mourinho seemed keen to focus minds on the next challenge rather than dwell too long on what went wrong here.

He could not help but have another pop at Cristiano Ronaldo. His ego once again got the better of him there.

Mourinho did, however, dismiss talk of another conspiracy when it was pointed out that Manchester United's equaliser at Goodison Park had been scored by the brother of the United captain'.

A certain Phil Neville no less, once of Old Trafford and now of Everton and someone, Mourinho may now have seen, who had his hair ruffled by an ecstatic Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of his team's 4-2 victory.

Mourinho said he was nobody to doubt the moral integrity of a player' and then did his best to ignore the fact that he may have lost his best defender of the season' for the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final.

Ricardo Carvalho's knee injury was bad', he said, before noting the Portuguese centre half's absence when Chelsea lost at Anfield in the Premiership earlier this season.

Surgery for Michael Ballack means the German will also be missing but Mourinho was determined to look on the bright side.

When they lost to Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal two years ago they had just won the title with victory at Bolton. "Who knows," he said.

"This time we lose two crucial points and we go there and we go to the Final."

The positive mental attitude mantra then continued. "It's always better when you win," he said. "Happiness helps your legs and your physical condition.

"But I think it helps having the game on Tuesday because there is no time to be sad. It is very, very important to be strong mentally and to understand the big game we are playing on Tuesday. That's the best way to forget it."

Mourinho delivered a rousing speech to his players immediately after this match. "I had my team-talk with them after the game," he revealed. "It was nothing special but I wanted them to remember where we are and what we are doing and what we have to do.

"They have still achieved a lot and have a lot they can win. They have a big chance on Tuesday to do something incredible for their careers and for this club.

"We won two titles in England in the previous two seasons and we tried, and we keep trying, to get the Treble.

"But if we can reach another final, like we reached two already this season, the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, if we can reach the Champions League Final, be second in the Premiership and reach three finals, that will be an unbelievable feeling."

Second in the Premiership? It appears he has now all but conceded defeat in the title race.

Jose Mourinho's 10 most arrogant quotes

2007-04-29T02:15:00.000+02:00

Source: whoateallthepies.tv

Just think how much less interesting the Premiership would be without Jose.

1 'Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one.'
The quote that started it all, uttered not long after Mourinho had arrived at Chelsea, in 2004.

2 'If I wanted to have an easy job… I would have stayed at Porto… beautiful blue chair, the Uefa Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me.'
Only God is more special than Jose and don't you forget it.

3 'We have top players and, sorry if I'm arrogant, we have a top manager.'
Don't apologise for being arrogant Jose. It never stopped you before.

4 'The best team lost. After they scored only one team played, the other one just defended for the whole game.'
Jose is not a happy bunny when Liverpool knock Chelsea out of the Champions League semi final in 2005.

5 'I want to give my congratulations to them because they won. But we were the best team. We didn't lose the game.'
After Chelsea lost to Charlton in the 2005 Carling Cup. You see a 'best team lost' theme here?

6 'My history as a manager cannot be compared with Frank Rijkaard's history. He has zero trophies and I have a lot of them…'
I bet Mourinho's dad is harder than Rijkaard's dad too.

7 'We are on top at the moment but not because of the club's financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work.'
Yes, but the multi-millions sure help.

8 'The crowd is magnificent, singing "F**k off Mourinho!" and so on…'
Only Jose is arrogant enough to be flattered by abuse from the terraces.

9 'Who were (Frank) Lampard, (John) Terry and (Didier) Drogba two years ago? They were certainly not world stars. And in this moment who are they?'
Well done, you have indeed turned shit into gold.

10 'Barcelona have a great club. But in 200 years of history they have won the European Cup only once. I have been managing for a few years and I have already won the same amount.'
Well, he had a point - until Barca went on to win the Champions League in 2006.

Statement

2007-04-28T22:28:00.000+02:00

"We have top players, and I'm sorry I'm a bit arrogant, we have a top manager."

Honours

2007-04-28T21:58:00.000+02:00

Honours

With F.C. Porto:
- Portuguese Championships (2): 2002/03; 2003/04
- SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira: 2003
- Cup of Portugal: 2002/03
- UEFA Cup: 2002/03
- UEFA Champions League: 2003/04
With Chelsea FC:
- FA Premier League (2): 2004/05; 2005/06
- Football League Cup(2): 2004/05, 2006/07
- FA Community Shield: 2005

The Wikipedia Article

2007-04-28T21:53:00.000+02:00

José Mourinho, (full name: José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix) (born January 26, 1963 in Setúbal) is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Premier League club Chelsea. He is the son of Félix Mourinho, a former Portuguese international goalkeeper.

Mourinho is considered to be one of the best coaches in Europe, having won four consecutive league titles (two at Porto and two at Chelsea) and also the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup with Porto. For two consecutive years (2004 and 2005), Mourinho was named the world's best football coach by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS). He is well-known for his self-belief, dapper attire, and has at times been a controversial figure.

-Career

Early years

Mourinho's playing career consisted of a few generally unsuccessful spells at small clubs. His clear aptitude was his impressive managing and organisational ability and from an early age he prepared match reports and dossiers for his father's teams. He also has a degree in Physical Education, specialising in sports methodology and worked as a high school coach.

After low-key backroom jobs at Estrela da Amadora and his hometown club Vitória de Setúbal in the early 1990s, Mourinho soon earned the nickname Tradutor (translator), when he worked with Sir Bobby Robson as his translator (technically his interpreter) at both Sporting Lisbon and then F.C. Porto.

He then followed Robson to FC Barcelona in 1996 where he learned Catalan. When Robson left for PSV, Mourinho stayed at Barcelona and worked with Robson's replacement, Dutch coach Louis van Gaal. Mourinho's undoubted confidence and personality helped him get beyond his original role, as he began to participate actively in coaching sessions and management meetings. Eventually, Mourinho coached FC Barcelona B.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica and União de Leiria

In 2000 his chance of becoming a manager finally arrived when he was selected to replace Jupp Heynckes at Lisbon side Benfica after the fourth week of the Portuguese Liga. Mourinho picked Carlos Mozer, a retired but still highly respected Benfica defender, to be his assistant.

However, while the duo was popular, especially after a 3-0 win against fierce rivals Sporting, Benfica's election turned against club president João Vale e Azevedo, and the newly-elected Manuel Vilarinho already had another coach waiting on the wings, Toni - a legend for Benfica's fans. Although Vilarinho had no intention of firing him immediately, Mourinho decided to ask for an extension to his contract in the middle of the season. When the president refused, Mourinho quit Benfica (after just nine games in charge). Vilarinho later said in an interview that if Mourinho had won the championship, he would have extended his contract.

The next season, 2001-02, Mourinho worked for unfashionable mid-tablers União de Leiria, where the club climbed as high as the fourth place.

F.C. Porto

He was then hand-picked in January 2002 by FCP to replace Octávio Machado as the manager of the badly-motivated and unhappy team, which was already out of contention for the league title and was on the verge of not qualifying for any European competition. Mourinho guided the team to third place that year after a strong 15-game run (WDL 11-2-2) and gave the promise of "making FCP champions next year".

He quickly identified several key players whom he saw as the backbone of what he believed would be a perfect FCP team: Baía, Ricardo Carvalho, Costinha, Deco, Dmitri Alenichev and Postiga. He recalled captain Jorge Costa after a six-month loan to Charlton Athletic (after a dispute with Machado). The signings from other clubs included Nuno Valente and Derlei from Leiria, Paulo Ferreira from Vitória Setúbal, Pedro Emanuel from Boavista FC, and Edgaras Jankauskas and Maniche who had been out of contract at Benfica, the latter after a season in the reserve.

During the pre-season, Mourinho put on the club website detailed reports on the team training. The reports were filled with formal vocabulary, as, for instance, he referred to a 20km jog as an extended aerobic exercise. While they attracted scorn for the pretentiousness, others praised the innovation and the scientific approach to the old-fashioned training methods practiced in Portugal. One of the key aspects in Mourinho-era FCP was the pressurising play, which started at the offensive line, dubbed "pressão alta" ("high pressure"). The physical and combative abilities of defenders and midfielders such as Derlei, Maniche and Deco allowed FCP to apply pressure from the offensive lines and forced the opponents either to concede the ball or try longer passes.

In 2003, Mourinho won his first Super Liga with a 27-5-2 WDL record, 11 points clear of Benfica, the team he quit two years earlier. The total of 86 points out of the possible maximum of 102 was a Portuguese record since the rule of three points per win was introduced, beating the previous record of 85 points set by FCP in their 1996/97 season. Mourinho also won the Portuguese Cup (against former club Leiria) and the UEFA Cup final against Celtic in Seville, both in May 2003.

The following season witnessed further successes, as while perhaps not playing as impressively, FCP scooped their 20th Super Liga title. The club pulled off a perfect home record, an eight-points advantage, and an unbeaten run that only ended against Gil Vicente FC. They secured the title five weeks before the end of the season, while heavily involved in the Champions League at the same time. FCP lost the Portuguese Cup final to Benfica in May 2004, but two weeks later Mourinho won the ultimate prize: the Champions League, with an emphatic 3-0 win over Monaco in the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The club had eliminated Manchester United, Olympique Lyonnais and Deportivo de La Coruña and saw only one defeat against Real Madrid in the group round.

Porto to Chelsea

Whilst still at FCP, Mourinho was linked with several top European clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea. Many people, especially in Portugal, questioned the legality of alleged contract discussions with several clubs, but no wrongdoing was officially proved, and no charges were brought. Mourinho finally moved to Chelsea in June 2004.

In the press conference on joining the English side, Mourinho claimed to be "a special one", a prime example of his unreserved self-belief. He became one of the highest paid managers in football, as the salary for Chelsea was reported to be in the €300,000 range and was subsequently raised to an undisclosed amount.

Chelsea

Mourinho went straight to work, recruiting his backroom staff from Porto, consisting of assistant manager Baltemar Brito, fitness coach Rui Faria, chief scout Andre Villas and goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro. He retained the services of Steve Clarke, a long-serving former player at Chelsea and who had also performed an assistant managerial-type job under previous managers at the club. In terms of spending, Mourinho carried on where his predecessor Claudio Ranieri left off, and spent in excess of £70m on stars such as Tiago Mendes (£10million) from Benfica, Didier Drogba (£24million) from Olympique Marseille, Mateja Kezman (£5.4million) from PSV Eindhoven and FC Porto pair Ricardo Carvalho (£19.8million) and Paulo Ferreira (£13.3million)

Under Mourinho, Chelsea built on the potential developed in the previous season. The two solid English players summed up the strength of the squad: defender John Terry, and midfielder Frank Lampard. By early December, they were at the top of the Premiership table and reached the knock-out stages of the Champions League. On 27 February 2005, Mourinho led Chelsea to the League Cup trophy in Cardiff, Wales, dramatically beating Liverpool 3-2 after extra time. Towards the end of the match, Mourinho was escorted from the touchline for allegedly inciting Liverpool fans following Chelsea's equaliser. On 30 April 2005, Chelsea secured the club's first top-flight domestic title in 50 years with a 2-0 victory against Bolton. However, he failed to achieve back-to-back Champions League successes when Chelsea were knocked out of the competition, by a controversial goal, three days later in the semi-finals by eventual winners Liverpool.

On 31 March 2005 Mourinho was handed a two-match suspension and a fine by UEFA for bringing the game into disrepute after he had criticised referee Anders Frisk following a Champions League tie against FC Barcelona. He argued that a member of his staff saw Frisk talking with Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard at half-time in breach of the rules and that the apparent bias of the referee prompted him to send Drogba off when Chelsea were leading 1-0.^[1]Frisk subsequently retired when he allegedly came under threats to his life after the match. As it was later revealed, Rijkaard had tried to converse with Frisk at half-time - the referee's own match report mentioned the incident - but that Frisk sent him away. The episode led the UEFA referee's chief, Volker Roth, to describe the manager as an "enemy of football," although UEFA distanced themselves from the comment.

On 2 June 2005, he was fined £200,000 for his part in the meeting with Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole in January 2005 in breach of the Premier League rules. In August 2005 his fine was reduced to £75,000 after a hearing. In late 2005, Mourinho labelled Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger a 'voyeur' after being irked at what he saw as the latter's apparent obsession with Chelsea. The episode eventually died down and the two have since made peace.

On April 29, 2006, after topping the table for nearly all season, Chelsea beat rivals Manchester United 3-0 to win their second consecutive Premiership title and Mourinho's fourth domestic title in a row. After the presentation of his championship medal, Mourinho went to the Matthew Harding end of Stamford Bridge and threw his medal and blazer into the crowd. He was awarded a second medal within minutes and he threw that into the crowd, too. He stated that because the medal was exactly the same as the one he had received a year earlier, he did not need another and wanted to reward the crowd for their support. The items were promptly listed on eBay.

After a league match with Everton on December 17th, 2006, Mourinho branded Andrew Johnson "untrustworthy" following a challenge with Chelsea keeper Hilário. Everton issued a statement threatening legal action and calling on Mourinho to apologise, which he has since done.

On 13 January 2006, The Straits Times reported that Mourinho intended to leave Chelsea at the end of the 2006-7 season, due to disappointment with the team's performance and a power struggle with Frank Arnesen. Mourinho recently cleared all doubts regarding his future at Stamford Bridge, stating that there would only be two ways for him to leave Chelsea: if Chelsea do not offer him a new contract in June 2010, and if Chelsea sacks him.

On February 25, 2007, Mourinho won the League Cup with Chelsea for the second time in three seasons, beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium.