Current Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has once again made headlines with his candid remarks in a recent interview with Corriere dello Sport. The Portuguese tactician, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hold back as he addressed various topics ranging from VAR to his career choices and future aspirations.
Mourinho began by taking a swipe at those in decision-making positions in football, stating, “There are people who make decisions and know about football as much as I know about physics.”
When asked about potential changes to the game such as on-demand VAR and effective playing time, Mourinho dismissed these ideas, saying, “I leave these things to the football phenomena. The good coaches who don’t know how to win, the social media experts, and people who have decision-making power but know about football as much as I do about atomic physics.”
The former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Roma manager also addressed the perception of his career, particularly in recent years. “Usually when people talk about me, they think about what happened fifteen, twelve, eight or ten years ago,” he said. “It’s like that for most of the great coaches who usually lead the best teams and have the greatest chances of reaching finals. In recent years, I’ve made three finals, one with Manchester United and two with Roma.”
Reflecting on his career choices, Mourinho expressed some regrets, particularly his decision to leave Real Madrid. “Florentino told me, ‘Mou, don’t leave now, you’ve done the hard part and the best is yet to come…’ I knew it would be like that, but I wanted to return to Chelsea after three years in Spain of great battles.”
He also touched on his departure from Roma, admitting, “I should have left Roma, I didn’t do it and I was wrong. Leaving as I did was difficult, but I don’t throw away even that memory.”
Looking to the future, Mourinho expressed his openness to returning to Italian football. “Would I return to Italy? Certainly,” he affirmed. However, he also revealed a new ambition: “I want to coach at a European Championship or a World Cup, to unite a country around its national team in the same way I’ve managed so many times with clubs and fans. I want to do it for football, for what this sport represents. It will be incredible.”
