Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinhoplayfully pretended to fall asleep and even mimicked snoring sounds during a lengthy question from a Turkish journalist at Thursday’s post-match press conference.
Mourinho was addressing the media following his team’s 3-1 home defeat to Rangers in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16.
The journalist’s question, which lasted nearly 50 seconds, focused on the tactical changes Mourinho had made during the match in Istanbul.
“Ninety minutes, not to listen to all this, I’m too tired for that. Yeah, Yeah … We change players every game.” Mourinho, who had just returned from a two-match ban for his comments about Turkish referees after a goalless draw at Galatasaray on Feb. 24, then continued with the news conference.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United coach admitted his team was “bad everywhere” against Rangers but there were positives as the loss “could have been bigger.”
“The only thing I tell them [Rangers] is don’t celebrate too much because there is a second match to play,” he said.
“That’s my only advice. Then if in the second game they celebrate, I will congratulate them. For now, calm down because it’s not over.
“The only positive thing for me is that there are 90 minutes left to play.”
Fenerbahcevisit Rangers on March 13 for the return leg.
Jose Mourinhohas opened the door to one day managing Celtic or Rangers, with buoyant matchday atmospheres enough to entice him to the Scottish Premiership.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce host Rangers, who are without a permanent manager, on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie.
“Why not in the future?” Mourinho told a news conference on Wednesday when asked about a potential move to the Ibrox.
“People say that the Scottish league is a league of two teams, but it is a league of passion and passion in football is everything for me.
“To play in empty stadiums or where there is not that fire of the passion, for me that does not make any sense.
“Celtic and Rangers are big clubs with big fanbases, big emotions, big responsibilities and big expectations, so why not?”
Former midfielder Barry Ferguson will take charge of Rangers on Thursday, following Philippe Clement’s sacking last month.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has once again left the door open for a potential move to a new club. In December,the Portuguese coach stated that a return to Real Madrid, where he managed from 2010 to 2013, was a possibility.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been slapped with a four-match suspension and a substantial fine by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following his post-match criticism of Turkish referees.
The Portuguese coach, who made the remarks after Fenerbahce’s goalless draw against Galatasaray on Monday, was fined 1,617,000 Turkish lira ($44,000) for what the TFF described as “derogatory and offensive statements” against match officials.
According to the TFF, Mourinho’s comments not only violated the ethical standards of the sport but also had the potential to incite violence and disrupt order in Turkish football. His remarks suggested that Turkish refereeing was plagued by chaos, prompting the federation to take disciplinary action.
Interestingly, the match in question was officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, following a request from both clubs to have a foreign referee in charge. After the game, Mourinho pointedly praised Vincic, subtly emphasizing the fact that he was not from Turkey.
The suspension means the 62-year-old tactician will miss Fenerbahce’s next four league matches, a significant blow as the club continues its pursuit of domestic success.
“The performance of the referee was a top performance,” Mourinho said.
“Anyone, not just from this country but also abroad, watched a big football match. I think the man responsible for that was the referee. Mourinho was also asked about an incident early in the game involving his 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akcicek, to which he said: “Again, I have to thank the referee because with a Turkish referee after the big dive and the first minute and their bench jumping like monkeys on top of the kids.
“A Turkish referee would have [given Akcicek] a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes I would have to change him.”
Galatasaray have said they will “initiate criminal proceedings” and report Mourinho to FIFA and UEFA over what they called “racist statements.”
Fenerbahce has defended head coachJose Mourinho,asserting that his remarks were misinterpreted and intentionally misrepresented. In a statement released on Tuesday, the club condemned what it described as a deliberate distortion of Mourinho’s comments and announced plans to take legal action against what it called “baseless accusations.”
The Portuguese tactician, who previously managed Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, has faced fines and suspensions in the past for his criticism of Turkish referees.
However, Fenerbahce maintains that the latest sanctions against him are unjust and has vowed to challenge the decision.
Muntari, who played under the Portuguese manager at Inter Milan, spoke highly of Mourinho’s skills and didn’t hesitate to call him the “best coach in the world” during a live Instagram session.
While interacting with his fans in a Q&A, Muntari was asked about his experience with Mourinho, and he praised the coach without reservation.
He lauded the Portuguese manager for his exceptional skills and confidently picked him as the best in the world.
Chelsea and Ghana football legend Michael Essienhas acknowledged the challenges that come with coaching.
Widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, Essien transitioned into coaching after a 20-year playing career. He received a call from Tom Vernon, the founder of one of Ghana’s top football academies, which led him to this new path.
Since 2020, Essien has served as the assistant coach for Danish top-flight club FC Nordsjaelland (FCN). He has said that his experience with former managers has been invaluable in shaping his coaching career.
In an interview with the BBC, the 2012 Champions League winner discussed how his coaching journey has deepened his understanding of the frustrations faced by Jose Mourinho.
“I had some great, great managers that I was lucky to work under. I learnt a few things from Jose and from Ancelotti—his calmness and how he manages his players, the way he tried to put his arms around his players. Now I understand a bit more why Jose would get angry,” Essien told the BBC.
Essien, however, has no immediate plans to leave Nordsjaelland in search of managerial opportunities but is also not ruling out the possibility of becoming a head coach in the future, as football has always been a central part of his life.
“I’m not thinking about being a head coach. Not yet. But when I get there, I will develop my style of play around the FCN model of what we’re doing here. I have a few more years to go. Let’s see. Maybe I will get there.
“When I was playing, I never thought I would jump into this journey. But coming to the end of my career, I was thinking one day, ‘I’ve done football my whole life, and I think that’s what I do best. I should start doing something just to keep my routine going,’” he further added.
Jose Mourinho received a yellow card during Fenerbahce’s 2-0 victory against Antalyaspor on Sunday after he protested an offside call by placing a laptop in front of the TV cameras.
The incident occurred in the 76th minute when Fenerbahce was leading 1-0, and referee Cihan Aydin ruled Edin Dzeko’s goal offside following a VAR review.
In response, Mourinho showcased a still image from the play on a laptop, positioning it in front of the broadcaster’s camera to express his dissent, resulting in the booking.
“For us it was a good goal,” Mourinho said in Sunday’s post-game news conference. “I didn’t say a single word. I didn’t put any kind of pressure; I just put the laptop in there … I just reacted calmly.
“The referee decided to give me a yellow card. It’s OK. I want a VAR that helps the referee. My analyst put the laptop in front of me with the position of the left-back that probably was not the position that VAR analysed because we have the technical camera that gives us the complete width of the pitch and the let-back was in position.”
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SImZ0TGJnVo
Fenerbahce, who had taken a lead through Dusan Tadic, secured the win thanks to an own goal by Thalisson Kelven.
The result keeps Fenerbahce in second place, three points behind Galatasaray, and Mourinho said the upcoming international break won’t help in his side’s pursuit of the title.
“In the international break we do nothing because we don’t have players,” Mourinho said. “We can just keep six or seven players, the ones that are not selected to go or others that no longer play in their national teams.
“International break for us is never positive, I would say in fact that it is negative. We have lots of things to work on, one of the things is players have to understand my concept, simplicity is genius.
“We have too many players that don’t understand that, the best players play one touch, two-touch football. It’s simple, a cross and a goal, it doesn’t need 20 touches. Football is simplicity.”
Mourinho also spoke about the pressure he’s felt atFenerbahcein the summer being self-inflicted.
“The pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself,” he said. “It’s not the pressure that anyone puts on me. I have around 1200 official matches, it’s too long to feel pressure from anybody, not journalists, not supporters, not opponents. I always want to do the things right, I always want to win, which is not possible. So the pressure is the pressure that I put in myself.”
Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho explainedon Wednesday that he skipped the post-match press conference following Saturday’s 3-1 derby defeat to Galatasaray because he “felt disrespected” after being kept waiting for over an hour.
Despite it being Fenerbahce’s first loss of the Super Lig season, leaving them five points behind their rivals, Mourinho clarified that his decision to not attend had no connection to the outcome of the game.
“In 24 years of football, I never in my life escaped from a press conference, especially after a defeat,” Mourinho, who took charge of Fenerbahce in June, said.
“I never had fear of any journalist, any question or any press conference. So [it] wouldn’t be with you that I was going to change my way of being.”
Mourinho shared that he shook hands with Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk after the match and completed the flash interview immediately afterward.
However, he expressed frustration at having to wait so long for the post-match press conference, stating it “makes no sense.” He mentioned that he even stood by the door but was not permitted to enter.
“It has nothing to do with the result, it has nothing to do with anything. It has only to do with something that is correct or is not correct,” Mourinho said. “You finish the game, you go to the flash. And then you wait 15 minutes, 20 minutes, half an hour. And the away coach goes.
“Seventy minutes, I’m sorry, but it’s a lack of respect. So if anybody felt disrespected, I am the one that felt disrespected.”
After the result,Galatasaray posted on their official X account a Photoshopped image of a book titled “The Crying One,” with an image of Mourinho — who famously described himself as a “Special One” during his first spell at Chelsea — looking sad on the cover with the caption: “On sale in stores around Kadıköy.”
While acknowledging Osimhen’s status as one of Africa’s best footballers, alongside Mohamed Salah, due to his exceptional abilities as a forward, Mourinho voiced concerns over Osimhen’s habit of diving in critical game situations.
He warned that such actions could harm the player’s image.
Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahçe SK, urged Osimhen to adjust his conduct on the field to ensure continued success in his football career.
“He is a fantastic player, but I don’t like the way he behaves, he dives too much. I told him, ‘You and Mo Salah are the best African players.
In the past, it was Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and George Weah. You cannot behave like this.’ He dives too much,” Mourinho said, as shared on X.
After the breakdown of his transfer to Chelsea, Victor Osimhen has completed a loan move to Turkish club Galatasaray, with his salary fully taken care of.
Osimhen is aiming for a future transfer to Chelsea or another major European team, as he no longer sees a future at Napoli.
In a conversation with former Manchester United defender and pundit Rio Ferdinand, Mourinho recounted an incident where he nearly injured his leg in the Chelsea dressing room.
He also disclosed that he had wished to sign Lionel Messi but ultimately felt that coaching the exceptional talent was impractical, given Messi’s status as the standout player of his generation.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Mourinho said: “My favourite dressing room moment? One of my favourite moments in the dressing room was when I almost broke a leg at Stamford Bridge at halftime.
I wanted to kick the massage table and I hit something very hard. I had no shin pads [laughs] and I almost broke a leg.”
“One player that I never signed but wished I had? In my generation, of course, I would say the little guy [Messi]. The little guy was not coachable but I have to say, in our generation, he was the best.”
Even though Mourinho has coached Cristiano Ronaldo, he has consistently praised Messi as the greatest, a sentiment he has expressed multiple times.
During his tenure at Real Madrid, Mourinho was involved in numerous encounters with the Argentine, including defeating Messi and Pep Guardiola to clinch the 2010 La Liga title.
Now embarking on his new role at Fenerbahce this summer, Mourinho is shifting his focusback to club football after a few months away from management.
Fenerbahce has announced that their new head coach, Jose Mourinho, will earn €10.5 million ($11.4 million) annually under a two-year contract.
The Turkish club disclosed these figures in a statement to the stock market on Wednesday, just three days after presenting Mourinho to thousands of fans at their stadium. The announcement did not specify any bonus details in Mourinho’s contract.
Mourinho’s primary goal is to lead Fenerbahce to a Turkish league title, which the club hasn’t won since 2014.
The team narrowly missed out on the championship last month, losing to their fierce rivals, Galatasaray.
Fenerbahce will also begin their Champions League campaign in the early qualifying rounds in July.
This marks Mourinho’s first coaching stint outside of Europe’s top five leagues since 2004, when he left Porto, after winning the Champions League, to join Chelsea under then-owner Roman Abramovich.
Since then, Mourinho has managed several top clubs, including Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham, amassing numerous trophies and stirring off-field controversies.
Meanwhile, another Istanbul-based club, Besiktas, announced on Wednesday that Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be their new head coach.
The Dutch coach has signed a two-year contract with an option for a third season, according to a statement on the Besiktas website.
Van Bronckhorst’s last managerial role was with Rangers, where he led the Scottish team to the Europa League final in the 2021–22 season.
Jose Mourinho has secured his first role since being dismissed by Roma in January.
The Portuguese manager will make his return to television screens in the United Kingdom this weekend, having been confirmed as a pundit for TNT Sports during the Champions League final on Saturday.
Mourinho, 61, will be at Wembley to provide his insights on the match between his former team, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund as they vie for the European title.
Mourinho was let go by Roma four months ago after nearly three years with the Italian club.
✨ The Special One ✨
A big welcome to José Mourinho as he joins us for our #UCLfinal coverage 👋
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 30, 2024
Now, he steps back into the punditry world, joining a panel that includes former Manchester United players Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves, as well as ex-Liverpool player Steve McManaman.
The former Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United manager is eyeing a return to management this summer.
He has been linked to a potential move to Saudi Arabia, where he could reunite with former players Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas are also reportedly in discussions with him.
Before any of that, Mourinho will have the opportunity to witnessReal Madrid’s pursuit of their 15th European title while Borussia Dortmund aims to secure their first Champions League victory since 1997.
Jose Mourinho has emerged as a leading candidate for the Chelsea managerial position following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure, with bookmakers significantly lowering the odds for his potential return to west London.
Mourinho, who departed Chelsea in 2015 for the second time, has since managed Manchester United, Tottenham, and Roma.
With Pochettino’s exit, various names have been linked to the role, including Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, who are currently leading the betting odds.
However, a surge in bets on Mourinho has caused his odds to drop dramatically.
According to the London Evening Standard, Chelsea are reportedly in search of a young, dynamic coach. This preference seemingly contrasts with the betting trends favoring Mourinho.
Despite being currently unemployed and available, it is uncertain if Chelsea’s current ownership is interested in rehiring the Portuguese manager.
During his two previous stints at Chelsea, Mourinho secured three Premier League titles.
Bet365’s Steve Freeth told the Standard: “From 10.15 until 10.50 this morning, every single bet we took on the next Chelsea manager was on Jose Mourinho, which goes against the grain of the reports of Chelsea wanting a young and dynamic manager.
“In that time his odds plummeted from 40/1 into 2/1 favourite.” Maresca and McKenna remain the favourites. Chelsea will want to move decisively as they aim to appoint Pochettino’s successor.
While it feels unlikely Mourinho will be the man to replace theArgentine, stranger things have certainly happened.
Jose Mourinho may make a coaching comeback next season, with reports suggesting that Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Ittihad is interested in securing his services.
The Portuguese coaching legend could potentially reunite with Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, as Al-Ittihad reportedly eyes Mourinho as their next manager.
Mourinho, who has previously managed top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Chelsea, has been without a club since his departure from AS Roma in January.
According to journalist Bruno Andrade, Al-Ittihad has also considered former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri for the managerial position.
Allegri recently led Juventus to Coppa Italia victory before parting ways with the Serie A club.
In addition to interest from Saudi Arabia, Mourinho is also linked with a potential move to the Turkish Super Lig, with both Fenerbahce and Besiktas expressing interest in securing his services.
With several top European clubs potentially seeking new managers, includingBayern Munich, Barcelona, ManchesterUnited, and Chelsea, it remains uncertain where Mourinho will land for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.
Javier Zanetti, Inter’s vice president, recently disclosed that Jose Mourinho’sdismissal from Roma came as a surprise to the Portuguese manager himself.
Zanetti, who shares a close relationship with Mourinho dating back to their successful stint at Inter Milan, expressed sympathy for his former coach.
Mourinho and Zanetti enjoyed considerable success during their time at Inter, notably winning the treble in the 2009–10 season, which included a memorable victory over Barcelona in the Champions League.
However, Mourinho’s return to Italy with Roma did not meet expectations.
Despite securing Europa Conference League triumph, a disappointing start to the 2023–24 campaign led to his departure from the club after two and a half seasons at the helm of Stadio Olimpico.
When Zanetti was asked how Mourinho is dealing with this phase away from the pitch, Zanetti told DAZN: “Now he’s calm. I feel sorry for him because I know how much he cares for his teams. He didn’t expect to be sent away like this… De Rossi is doing a great job anyway.”
Reports suggest that Mourinho is keen on a comeback to Manchester United, eyeing the managerial position currently held by Erik ten Hag.
However, it appears unlikely that INEOS, the club’s owners, would entertain his return, as they have already begun considering alternatives. Among the potential candidates is Thomas Tuchel, the current manager of Bayern Munich.
While Mourinho may be eager to return to management in the summer, it seems he might have to look beyond Europe for his next opportunity.
Saudi Arabian second-tier club Al-Qadsiah is reportedly interested in securing his services. With the Saudi side on the brink of promotion to the top flight, they view Mourinho as the idealcandidate to lead their ambitious project.
Erik ten Hag respondedto remarks made by Jose Mourinho regarding the level of support he receives at Manchester United compared to Mourinho’s tenure at the club.
Mourinho implied that Ten Hag has been afforded more backing in the transfer market than he had during his 2½ years at Old Trafford.
In rebuttal, Ten Hag countered by asserting that Mourinho is the sole manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era to have received the players they desired.
“Apart from Mourinho, the manager didn’t get the players they wanted, and that is what you need,” Ten Hag said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.
“I am confident we will achieve our goals, but it is a tough competition. It is not a two-horse race anymore.
“There are seven, eight [teams in the Premier League] who all go for the title, who all have very good squads. So if you want to go to the title, you have to construct that squad.”
At 54, Ten Hag’s future at United is uncertain after a lacklustre second season in charge. While he still has a year left on his contract, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not provided any formal assurances regarding his continuation as manager beyond the summer.
The former Ajax manager has previously attempted to secure signings like Frenkie de Jong and Harry Kane. However, he believes the club’s focus on recruiting younger players like Rasmus Højlund warrants patience as he works to improve results.
“You need outstanding players,” Ten Hag said. “Otherwise, you are in a process and you have to be patient. That is where we are now. We went for players who have high potential, and we have to develop them, as individuals and as a team. But you need patience with the process.”
Canada has shown interest in American Jesse Marsch and formerManchester United managerOle Gunnar Solskjaer for their vacant head coach position.
According to The Standard, both Marsch and Solskjaer have been approached by the Canadian Soccer Federation regarding the position.
Solskjaer has been without a job since his dismissal in 2021, while Marsch has been available since February 2023 when he was relieved of his duties at Leeds United.
The report also mentions other candidates in the running, including former Chelsea and Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement, Forge FC manager Bobby Smyrniotis, and former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka.
Canada, along with the U.S. and Mexico, is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup.
While they qualified for the 2022 World Cup, their first appearance in 36 years, head coach John Herdman departed shortly after for MLS side Toronto FC.
Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho declined interview offers for the role, prompting Canada to explore alternative options as they prepare for the next World Cup.
Canada is also scheduled to participate in the 2024 Copa America this summer, where they will face Argentina, Peru, and Chile in the group stage, including a match againstLionel Messi and the defending champions.
Former manager of Manchester United, José Mourinho,has lamented the lack of support he received during his tenure at the club, suggesting that better results could have been achieved with greater trust and backing, similar to what Erik ten Hag is currently experiencing.
Mourinho, who led United from 2016 to 2018 and secured Europa League and Carabao Cup victories during his tenure, expressed his sentiments in an interview with The Telegraph.
He attributed the challenges he faced in achieving results to his strained relationship with then-chief executive Ed Woodward.
“My relationship with [former chief executive] Ed Woodward was good. Good as in the personal point of view,” Mourinho said. “Even now, we send an SMS. But from a professional point of view, it was not the best. I am who I am. I am a football man. Ed comes from a different background and what Ten Hag had in his time at Manchester United, I didn’t have.
“I didn’t have that level of support. I didn’t have that level of trust. So I left sad, because I felt I was at the beginning of the process. In some moments, I felt if they trusted me and believed in my experience, things could be different.”
Mourinho added that there are members of United’s squad now that he wanted to get rid of during his tenure owing to their lack of professionalism.
“There are still a couple of players still there that I didn’t want five or six years ago,” he said. “I think they represent a little bit of what I consider not the best professional profile for a club of a certain dimension.
But I did my job there. Time always tells the truth. I would love Manchester United to succeed.”
During his tenure at United, Mourinho experienced conflicts with key players like Paul Pogba and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Schweinsteiger recently revealed that Mourinho unjustly ostracised him from the dressing room. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mourinho shared his empathy for Pogba’s predicament regarding a four-year suspension for a doping violation.
“I am not enjoying Paul’s situation at all,” he said. “The only thing I say is that it happens to almost everybody in some moments of your career: you lose a little bit of the sense of who you are and what you have to be.
“The season after France won the World Cup, I think Paul came back different. The World Cup brought him into a dimension where football was not the most important thing for him.”
Ten Hag’s position at United is uncertain after Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and the club’s subsequent restructuring.
Despite reaching theFA Cup final forthe second consecutive season, their victory over Coventry City required penalties after squandering a 3-0 lead against the lower-tier team.
Bastian Schweinsteiger has shared a startling revelation about his timeat Manchester United,disclosing that on his 32nd birthday, manager Jose Mourinho exiled him from the first-team squad.
Instead, Schweinsteiger was relegated to training with the club’s under-16s.
Signed by Louis van Gaal a year prior, Schweinsteiger’s arrival at United was hailed, particularly given his successful stint as a central midfielder under van Gaal at Bayern Munich.
However, injuries limited his appearances during the latter half of the 2015/16 season, impacting his form heading into Euro 2016.
Upon returning for pre-season training under Mourinho’s leadership, Schweinsteiger quickly found himself marginalised, with Mourinho signalling from day one that he no longer featured in the club’s plans, leading to his demotion from the first-team setup.
“I was very sad because United was the second club of my heart. I gave a lot when I played as well, so that’s why I was sad, but I’m not the type of person to go running to the media. It’s more important for me to focus on football and behave the way I did,” the 39-year-old told Gary Neville on The Overlap.
“When I arrived on the first day, I trained with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and thought it was great—a player who has vision and is amazing to play with. The next day, on my birthday, when I walked into Carrington, [football director] John Murtough was there and said that I wasn’t allowed to walk into the dressing room—the coach had said so.
Antonio Cassano has once againcriticized Jose Mourinho, stating that the Portuguese manager is “completely finished” and “not capable of coaching.”
The former Italy international, known for his time at clubs like Real Madrid and Roma, has been consistently taking jabs at Mourinho since retiring from professional football.
He once said that the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United boss “doesn’t give a sh*t about football. He doesn’t like to work;he doesn’t know how to communicate or speak.”
Mourinho has bitten back at times, but Cassano has now told La Domenica Sportiva, with his old adversary currently out of work after leaving Roma in January: “As a coach, Mourinho is now completely finished. He is not capable of coaching anymore, he is still doing the same things as 10 years ago.
He wouldn’t play [Leandro] Paredes and preferred [Edoardo] Bove to [Lorenzo] Pellegrini. [Daniele] De Rossi gave Roma the belief that this is a strong team: he’s doing an extraordinary job. He was always destined for this.”
Mourinho is not the only experienced tactician to come under fire from Cassano, with the outspoken former forward saying of Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri: “Inter are much, much stronger this season, but seeing as Allegri is a coach who says his career is based on results and he hasn’t won anything in three years, it’s time he stepped aside.
He already should’ve done it last season. Juve have 17 internationals and spent €160million on the transfer market, but they play slapdash football, the players can’t seem to string three passes together.”
Jose Mourinho, a highly accomplished manager with a history of winning major honors at every club he’s led, is currently awaiting offers as he prepares for a possible return to management in the summer of 2024.
The Portuguese coach has been linked with clubs in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Saudi Pro League, signaling his availability for new challenges in various football leagues.
Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has responded to chants from Chelsea fans urging him to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
During Chelsea’s recent Premier League match against Brentford, some disgruntled fans were heard chanting Mourinho’s name.
The former Chelsea manager, who is currently without a club following his departure from AS Roma, has acknowledged the fans’ calls as a “fair” reaction to the club’s current challenges.
Speaking to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho said: “The first feeling is I always say that the best thing football has is the fans. Because the fans don’t make money with football – they spend money with football! Sometimes they spend money that the family needs and they make sacrifices because of their passion for football, especially for the passion for their clubs.
“So normally, they are fair. When the club’s fans don’t like the players or don’t like the coach, for some reason, it’s not because of beautiful eyes, it’s not because of a handsome guy. They love it, or they don’t love it, for some reason.
In my case, independent of results – of course, I had the luck always to have something to celebrate, something for the fans to have a good memory of me – but I think something that they see is when you are committed to them.”
While Chelsea’s recent lack of success under Pochettino has left fans frustrated, it’s improbable that the club will part ways with the Argentine coach anytime soon.
Despite slipping into the bottom half of the PremierLeague table, Chelsea still has an opportunity to secure European football by winning the FA Cup, with a significant semi-final clash against Manchester City on the horizon.
Following the international break, Pochettino’s team will return to action against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mourinho will continue his search for a new coaching position, with rumoured links to clubs in Saudi Arabia and the Portugal national team.
Coach of the Black Satellites, Desmond Ofei, has revealed Jose Mourinho, the former manager of Chelsea and AS Roma, as his inspiration.
Ofei’s remarks came after guiding Ghana’s U-20 team to victory at the 13th African Games.
In the championship match held at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Satellites secured a hard-earned 1-0 triumph over Uganda, with Jerry Afriyie netting the decisive goal.
During an interview, Ofei, who received training in Belgium, praised the current work of Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi but credited the legendary Portuguese coach as his mentor.
He hailed Mourinho, the former coach of Real Madrid and Manchester United, as the greatest coach of all time.
“At the moment, Roberto de Zerbi is doing a wonderful job at Brighton but for me, it is Jose Mourinho,” he told Asempa FM, as monitored by Footballghana.com.
“He has managed big characters and always brings the best out of his players. Jose Mourinho is my coaching role model and for me, he is the best coach,” he added.
Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he has curtailed his visits to Africa due to the overwhelming attention and excitement that typically accompany his presence on the continent.
The 61-year-old, known for his influential role in nurturing the careers of African players and guiding them to success, has developed a strong bond with the African community.
Speaking in an interview with Vibe with Five, Mourinho disclosed that while he appreciates the immense love and admiration he receives from Africans, it often limits his ability to move freely, prompting him to limit his visits to the continent.
“Yes, I cannot go to Africa. I have Didier, Geremi, Eto’o, Kalou, Obi Mikel, Essien and Sulley Muntari. I have guys all around the world. Every time I go to Africa I cannot walk. The guys, they love me. Even in Europe, many of the African guys love me,” he said.
Jose, who holds African players in high regard, mentioned that African players are ‘loyal and pure’.
“And to be honest, I love the guys and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure.”
Jose Mourinho has garnered enduring admiration from Africans for his role in elevating numerous African players to superstar status through his coaching prowess.
Renowned for his discerning eye for talent, Mourinho distinguished himself by recognising the unique abilities of African players and actively seeking to sign and develop them into top-class footballers.
Notable players on Mourinho’s roster of accomplished African players are Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o, and Salomon Kalou.
Jose Mourinho and Michael Essien share a close bond akin to a father-and-son relationship, with Essien attributing much of his success to Mourinho.
Essien rose to prominence and endeared himself to Chelsea fans during the 2005–2006 Premier League season, where his pivotal role contributed significantly to the club’s triumph.
Mourinho played a key role in assembling a formidable squad at Chelsea, which included African talents like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi-Mikel, alongside Essien.
However, it’s noteworthy that Essien stands out as the only player among them to have played under Mourinho at both Chelsea and Real Madrid, underscoring the special connection between them.
He said, albeit playfully, that, he sometimes had to stop Essien from referring to him as ‘daddy’ due to the closeness of their age gap. “Every time I go to Africa, I cannot walk. The guys, they love me. Even in Europe, many of the African guys love me. And to be honest, I love the guys and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure.
Many of them call me Daddy, and some of them are almost my age. When Essein calls me daddy, I say, ‘Come on, Michael, don’t call me daddy; you are almost my age,” he said.
Michael Essien attributes much of his success to Jose Mourinho, with whom he shares a father-and-son-like relationship. Essien’s rise to fame and adoration among Chelsea fans coincided with his pivotal role in the club’s 2005–2006 Premier League triumph.
Signed by Mourinho, Essien was part of a cohort of talented African players at Chelsea, including Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi-Mikel, all of whom significantly contributed to the manager’s success.
Notably, Essien stands out as the only player among them to have played under Mourinho at both Chelsea and Real Madrid, highlighting the unique bond between them.
The recent termination of Chris Hughton ashead coach of the Black Stars has sparked a flurry of speculations regarding the now-vacant position.
On January 23, 2024, the Ghana Football Association officially announced the dismissal of Chris Hughton following Ghana’s elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
With the Black Stars set to resume play in March, there is a sense of urgency for the FA to swiftly secure a replacement to guide the national team.
Several potential candidates have been mentioned in discussions; let’s take a look at five prominent individuals whose names are circulating for the coaching role.
Michael Essien
The ex-Black Stars midfielder and Chelsea icon’s name is prominently featured in discussions, with many expressing confidence in his potential to guide the national team to success.
Currently associated with a youth team at FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, Essien’s wealth of experience is seen by many as a compelling qualification for the coaching role.
Supporters of this idea argue that assembling a technical team composed of former footballers under the leadership of Michael Essien could pave the way for success for Ghana.
Herve Ren
As is the tradition, there is persistent speculation connecting the French coach to the vacant Black Stars position.
Renard, widely praised for his successful stints with Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Saudi Arabia, is once again strongly associated with the Black Stars.
The primary obstacle to securing Renard has been his substantial salary demands. Nevertheless, many advocate for both the government and the Football Association to pursue his appointment, emphasising the belief that he is the ideal candidate to guide Ghana to success, regardless of the associated costs.
Tom Saintfiet
The name of the Belgian technician has shot up to the top of the list following his considerable success with the Gambian national team.
He also qualified them for the 2023 edition, where they exited the group stages. He resigned afterwards and is now available on the market.
George Boateng
Prior to the appointment of Chris Hughton, George Boateng was heavily tipped to be a successor to Otto Addo but could not get the job as Hughton was believed to be a government plant.
George Boateng’s name has come up again as a possible replacement for Hughton.
The former Aston Villa youth coach has been with the team since 2021, serving in a deputy capacity.
Kwasi Appiah
The name of the former Black Stars coach is mentioned again as someone the Ghana Football Association to turn to.
The Sudan national team coach is reportedly a name being considered due to his rich experience with the national team, having coached them twice.
Kwasi Appiah’s experience with talented identification and World Cup qualifiers also make him a suitable candidate.
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has turned 60
The Portuguese coach finds himself available once more following his recent departure from AS Roma.
Jose Mourinho has openly shown his affinity for Ghana, particularly after a visit with Michael Essien. Speculation suggests that a compelling offer from the Ghana Football Association and GFA could potentially attract him.
Mourinho’s illustrious track record, including multiple UEFA Champions League, Premier League, and La Liga triumphs, speaks for itself and adds considerable weight to his candidature.
The timing and manner of Jose Mourinho‘s dismissal came as a surprise more than the sacking itself, with results and mood in the locker room a problem for some time.
In the last press conferences, he appeared disengaged, down in the dumps, almost resigned. He was unrecognisable.
Mourinho was, is and probably will forever be one of the faces of world soccer, which is why his dismissal is always something of a shock. On May 4, 2021, he had been chosen, called and brought to Rome by President Dan Friedkin, the same man who in recent weeks contributed to the decision to put an “end” to his tenure in the capital.
Despite Mourinho’s continuous declarations of love for the team, the fans, and the environment, Friedkin was not pitied or won over by the Special One’s words. Quite the contrary. After a difficult period in which Roma took 6 points out of 18 available, came the decision to sack him.
How did we arrive at this decision? That is the real point of the question. Not whether or not it was right to fire Mourinho, because the team’s performance had drastically declined and ninth place in the standings was not in the least bit acceptable.
Budapest broke Jose and us
A section of Roma fans are not taking the decision to fire Mourinho in January well at all, because in their opinion, the Portuguese has given so much to Roma that he at least deserved the chance to work until June, for better or worse.
The truth, or at least that is the thinking of the person who’s writing this piece, is that the roads had to break after the Budapest final. The cursed final was lost to Sevilla because of a hugely controversial refereeing performance by Anthony Taylor.
José Mourinho’s record with Roma:
▪️ 138 games ▪️ 68 wins ▪️ 30 draws ▪️ 40 losses ▪️ 49% win percentage 🥈 Europa League final 🏆 Conference League pic.twitter.com/AH2BsJaW6S
That night was to endMourinho’s adventure at Roma with a victory and another trophy lifted to the sky—an incredible, legendary success that Mourinho and his Roma had deserved on the pitch, playing better with heart, pride, and dignity. Something broke that night—not only the hearts of Roma fans but probably Jose’s himself.
The truth is that it is impossible to judge Mourinho’s experience at Roma by talking only about results. No one can call his experience a “failure,” and the reasons for this are many. First of all, Mourinho won the Conference League, Roma’s first European trophy (apart from the Fairs Cup), he then came close to clinching the Europa League trophy.
He also allowed the arrival of champions such as Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku, he created in Rome an atmosphere not seen in a long time of union of absolute enthusiasm between the city, the team and the fans; he made so many fans proud; he defended Roma against everything and everyone.
Roma fans were proud of Mourinho’s Roma and of having the Portuguese on the bench, despite the fact that at times things were difficult and the results were not satisfactory. And that in Rome is more important than anything else.
The fact that they felt represented and defended, that they felt that Mourinho was speaking for their people, made Romanisti fall in love with the Portuguese coach, whose name will forever be linked to that of the Giallorossi team. Even if he had won nothing, the journey would still have been unforgettable and forever cherished by Roma fans.
Only Roma fans understand what Jose meant to the club
Giallorossi fans did not start rooting for Roma because of the successes, because of the trophies, because of the titles, but because no other team has that same sense of community, conveys that sense of family. Feeling part of something, feeling represented, that feeling of being “unique” and being “chosen,” – that is what matters most to a Roma fan.
And Mourinho was all of this and more: he had chosen Roma despite being bigger than the club, he spoke on behalf of the fans and defended them against everything and everyone, he spoke words of love despite having coached in Madrid, Milan, London.
No one will ever be able to understand what Mourinho has been for Roma except Roma fans. No fan of any other team will ever understand the empathy, the sharing of battles and values, perhaps not even Roma fans themselves, who at least had the luck and joy of sharing those emotions with other brothers and sisters.
De Rossi’s return something we needed
To replace Jose, Dan Friedkin chose Daniele De Rossi.The man who embodied Romanism and cheered for Roma like no other in history. It was a risky choice from a technical point of view because, although DDR grew up as a player under some of the best coaches in the history of soccer, his only experience on the bench had been at SPAL, which started badly and ended worse.
Daniele signed a contract almost at the minimum wage; he told the owner, “You choose the salary; I don’t care; I’ll sign anyway.”. An act of love, yet another from De Rossi, who, as a player, said, “My only regret is that I could only donate one career to Roma,” and now here is the chance to give his great love another career, that of coaching.
Some have called the decision to entrust him with the team not very clever but he does not care about that; he has already said he will fight to the death to stay on that bench well beyond the 4 months stipulated in the current agreement. “You can’t refuse Roma,” DDR explained, and after the conference, he went straight onto the field to try to solve the team’s problems.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Joe Cole revealed why the players didn’t want to get on Jose Mourinho’s bad side at Chelsea, as the manager would slam them if they put a foot wrong.
The Portuguese manager is known to be a combustible character who has often thrown his players under the bus before the media in the past.
However, not many knew that Mourinho was even more hostile inside the dressing room and would take his players to the cleaners for minor errors, even if they had an otherwise brilliant outing.
While speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Cole revealed, “I loved Jose, but people always think we had a bad relationship. I played a league game and we won 3-0 at home. I set two goals up and thought I played well, but it probably took a few little flicks around. I’ve gone through one-on-one with the keeper late on and should’ve slotted it in but instead, I gave it to Crespo, but he not run anywhere near it and the defenders got it.
“I thought nothing of it, but we were doing the warm-down the next day and Mourinho came over and he said, ‘See you do that s* again, boy, you’ll never f*ing play for me again’ and I was like, what? Another time I scored the winner against Liverpool and they were our big rivals. I thought I was the bee’s knees and we’d gone out and had a great night. The next morning, my phone’s blowing up and he’s battered me in the press. It was just a way of keeping us down but I think he knew every time he did that to me, I’d respond.” Ricardo Carvalho was considered one of the favourites of Mourinho but he was also slandered after he struggled during a friendly.
“It was a belter when he dug out Riccy Carvalho. Riccy’s his boy; he took him everywhere and loved him, but I don’t know why (he went for him),” he said.
“I was right in front of him and he’s going, ‘You’re playing like a fucking elephant,‘ and he’s done the trunk sign and I’m there laughing.” John Obi Mikel jumped in and added, “When he’s angry, he picks one person that he will really go after and that day Jose killed me. ‘You play like a fing elephant; you can’t run’, he destroyed me. I went back and after 10 minutes, he took me off.” Getting back to the Carvalho incident, Cole further stated: “There was sometimes no rhyme or reason for it (his dressing downs).
“He never played badly for more than two games and hardly ever made a mistake. He’s gone to Riccy. ‘You’re fing s. I’m not going to play you. I’m going to play JT (John Terry) and then (William) Gallas. Then I’m going to play Robert Huth, and then I’m going to play the youth kid Steve Watt. If I don’t play him, I’m going to play the kitman; I’m not going to play you’. And I get the giggles when there’s things like that.”
Mourinho led Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles in his first stint from 2004 to 2007. Throughout this timeframe, Cole featured in 123 matches under Mourinho’s tutelage, playing a pivotal role with 21 goals and 13 assists.
Currently unattached to a managerial position, Mourinho left AS Roma following a string of unsatisfactory results. Despite this setback, there are rumours linking him to a coaching role with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Shabab, suggesting a potential swift comeback to the coaching arena.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has expressed dismay over the dismissal of Jose Mourinho from Roma, emphasising that Mourinho did an “extraordinary” job at the Serie A club.
The legendary Portuguese tactician was abruptly relieved of his duties on Tuesday morning, a decision that has startled the world of Italian football.
Despite a recent poor run of form with only one win in their last six league matches, Mourinho’s notable achievements in European competitions with the club have contributed to the surprise surrounding his departure, as acknowledged by Allegri.
The Italian bemoaned Roma’s decision when speaking to Sky Sports Italia: “I’m sorry about his dismissal; Italian football is losing an important coach. Both for what he did in his career and at Roma, it was extraordinary.
“From the outside, everything seems easy. The results demonstrate it. I’m also sorry for the relationship we have. I wish him good luck for the rest and also to Daniele De Rossi, who is at the beginning of his career.”
As Allegri hints, Italy and Roma legend De Rossi assumes immediate charge, with the Giallorossi currently positioned ninth in Serie A and five points away from Champions League contention.
The decision to appoint the former midfielder was reportedly finalised before Mourinho was relieved of his duties, a decision made during a brief and unplanned 25-minute meeting.
With Mourinho now available in the job market, speculations about his next destination are likely to circulate, with teams ranging from Chelsea to Brazil being suggested.
Roma has swiftly appointed Daniele De Rossi as interim manager until the end of the season, immediately following the departure ofJose Mourinho. De Rossi, a beloved figure at the club, having spent 18 years as a player at the Olimpico, will serve as the head coach until June 30, 2024.
The former Italy international, who is a massive crowd favourite, is set to take charge of his first game against Verona on Saturday evening.
After signing his contract, Rossi said, “I would like to thank the Friedkin family for entrusting me with the responsibility of Roma’s head coach role. From my side, I know no other way but dedication, daily sacrifices, and giving everything I have to face the challenges that await us from now until the end of the season.
“The excitement of being able to sit on our bench is indescribable. Everyone knows what Roma means to me. However, the work that awaits us all has already taken precedence. We have no time or choice but to be competitive, fight for our goals, and try to achieve them, which are the only priorities my staff and I have set for ourselves.”
Roma’s recent 3-1 defeat to AC Milan proved to be the final straw for Mourinho in Rome. This loss marked their seventh in 20 Serie A games, and they’ve already been eliminated from the Coppa Italia after a 1-0 loss to Lazio in the quarter-finals. Presently positioned in ninth place in Serie A, there’s still potential for a revival to secure a spot in the Champions League, as they are only five points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina.
De Rossi, who holds the record for the club’s all-time appearances with 616, retired after an illustrious career with Roma, scoring 63 goals. Following his retirement, he joined Roberto Mancini’s coaching staff and guided Italy to their second-ever European Championship at Euro 2020. However, his coaching tenure with Serie B side SPAL ended abruptly as he was dismissed mid-season with the team struggling in the 18th position.
Roma fans are hopeful for a swift change in fortunes under De Rossi’s leadership as they prepare to host a struggling Verona in their upcoming home match. Verona currently finds themselves in the relegation zone, having won only four of their 20 matches in the Italian top flight.
Following Roma’s elimination from the Coppa Italia quarterfinals with a 1-0 loss to Lazio on Wednesday, manager Jose Mourinho has playfully dubbed himself “Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho” and implied that his illustrious career has heightened fans’ expectations for the club. Mourinho expressed his belief that supporters anticipate greater achievements from him due to his successful managerial history.
“The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho and he raises expectations,” he said. “I don’t know how many derbies I’ve played—200, 150—they are always special matches. I’ve won, I’ve drawn, and I’ve lost, always with a different experience.
“I have always understood that for a Chelsea fan, a game against Manchester City is not the same as a game against Arsenal. For Inter, a game against Roma is not the same as a game against Juventus.
“I understand what a derby means. The derby we played was an important derby.” Mourinho has referenced Potter before, as he claimed he “is not Harry Potter” while manager of Real Madrid in a bid to temper expectations.
Roma is currently trailing by four points behind Fiorentina, who holds the fourth spot in the race for a spot in the Champions League next season.
Additionally, Roma has secured a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. Although Jose Mourinho’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, he has affirmed his commitment to the club.
“I’ve been here for two years and five months and I’m the only person here who hasn’t missed a single training session in that time,” Mourinho said. “For me, there are no illnesses or bad moods. For two and a half years, I haven’t done anything wrong, not even a couple of weeks ago when everyone was sick.
“I do not accept in any way that my professionalism and dignity, my heart for this job, can be questioned. If there is a perfect example of professionalism, it is me. I have never missed one match in over 20 years of my career.”
Jose Mourinho’s position is reportedly hanging in the balance, with a strict 30-day deadline set for him to reverse the fortunes of the struggling Giallorossi.
Despite being a favourite among fans, the board is growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s lacklustre performance on the field.
While Mourinho secured the UEFA Europa Conference League title, ending a 14-year trophy drought in his first season and reaching another European final, consecutive sixth-place finishes in Serie A have thwarted their entry into the UEFA Champions League.
Hopes of reaching the European elite in the 2024–25 season have been dashed by a dismal start, leaving them in eighth place in the league standings after five months.
Mourinho is reportedly on shaky ground, and Francesco Balzani has indicated that the manager has a one-month ultimatum to reposition the team in the top-four race. With his contract set to expire in the summer, an extension might be denied if results do not improve.
The club has contingency plans, considering Daniele de Rossi as an interim option, while Raffaele Palladino and Vincenzo Montella are being monitored as potential alternatives.
Mourinho faced disciplinary action twice within a week, receiving red cards during Roma’s matches against Atalanta and Lazio in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, respectively, due to his excessive reactions against match officials.
However, the fans have stood by him and even unfurled a tifo in the Olimpico that read: “Eyes intoxicated with red and yellow, a soul filled with romanismo…Jose Mourinho Romanista for life!”
Mourinho was floored by such warmth and he publicly admitted that he wants to continue at Roma “I haven’t spoken to the owners but I want to continue coaching Roma; the fans are unique,” he said. “A separation would be hard for me. And if a separation ever happens, it would not be my decision.”
Mourinho is once again grappling with third-season challenges at Roma, and he faces the daunting task of steering the Giallorossi back to success. His upcoming journey will be no cakewalk, with the team set to face AC Milan at San Siro in the Italian top flight.
However, a victory against the Rossoneri could offer Mourinho the much-needed breathing room. Currently trailing by four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, a consistent improvement in performance over the next few months may be sufficient to secure his elusive fourth season in the Italian capital.
Gary Lineker disclosed an unusual conflict with Jose Mourinho, which originated when the former Manchester United manager reprimanded Ed Woodward for conversing with the television presenter.
The Match of the Day host shared that Mourinho declined to accept a GQ magazine award from him in 2015.
Despite having a generally positive relationship, as evidenced by Mourinho praising Lineker’s Match of the Day coverage through text messages, their estrangement intensified for reasons undisclosed to the former England international.
Speaking to The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker opened up: “I remember when he first came; he had this incredible personality, was really engaging and I thought he was witty and funny. I think the game has beaten him up a little over the years. I did a little documentary with him, he used to text me all the time, he used to text me after Match of the Day, saying, ‘you guys understand it, this is great.’ We had been going along like that for two years and then something changed.
“I was asked to present him with the Man of the Year award at the GQ Awards that they do every year. They asked me to present the trophy and I said, ‘yes, I’ll do that for Jose, of course.’ Then, about four days before the event, they got in touch and said, ‘Jose has got in touch and he doesn’t want you to present the trophy to him; he wants someone that’s not in football.’
“I thought, ‘hmmm, that’s a bit odd, but I thought I’ll go along to the event anyway and I went up to Jose and he kind of blanked me. I went, ‘Are we ok? Are we ok, Jose?’ ‘He went, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ But he wasn’t okay, and he’s never been OK since.”
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were bemused to hear the incident and asked what led to the bitterness. Lineker then went on to narrate another awkward encounter at Old Trafford following a Champions League game during Mourinho’s tenure at Manchester United, involving former United chief Ed Woodward.
“I do not know to this day whether it was something I said on Match of the Day; I genuinely have no idea. I interviewed him subsequently and he was very cold,” he said. “I remember doing a Champions League game, which they didn’t do very well in. I went up to the director’s box at Manchester United and I was having a drink with Ed Woodward; he’s a neighbour of mine so I know him really well.
“I’m standing there having a drink and Jose comes up but then he just wandered off. He sent a text to Ed Woodward, ‘why are you talking to him?’ To this day, I don’t know what I did! It is a long time ago that this happened but I don’t know what happened.”
Mourinho is recognised for his outspoken and maverick personality, unafraid to express himself openly. On some occasions, he tends to push the boundaries, and in a recent development, he faced expulsion from the stands twice within a week. These incidents occurred during Roma’s matches against Atalanta in Serie A and Lazio in the Coppa Italia.
Roma is currently experiencing a period of poor form, having won only one match in their last five outings, which places them in the eighth position in the top-flight standings. The challenges are set to continue as they face AC Milan in their upcoming fixture at San Siro on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho criticisedVAR and what he described as a “penalty tailored to modern football” following Roma’s 1-0 loss to Lazio in a tense Coppa Italia quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The only goal of the game came in the 51st minute, when Mattia Zaccagni converted a penalty for Lazio. The decision was based on the foul adjudged to have been committed by Roma defender Dean Huijsen on Taty Castellanos.
“We lost to what I will call a penalty suited to modern football, one that the referee does not give when he is three metres away and VAR does,” Mourinho said afterward.
“This is how the referees are told to act—20–30 years ago, players would never go down the way they do here. A penalty ought to be seen as the maximum punishment. The referee was right there and decided not to give the penalty, but when there is someone in front of a screen that calls him for a minimal contact and the player puts on a show following that contact, there’s not much he can do.”
In a typically intense derby clash, the match concluded with three players receiving red cards in the closing minutes.
Lazio forward Pedro faced expulsion in the sixth minute of stoppage time, having received two yellow cards within a span of two minutes.
Roma forward Sardar Azmoun received a straight red card for essentially slapping Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella on the back of the head. Additionally, teammate Gianluca Mancini was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.
The heated atmosphere extended to the supporters, with Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove being struck by a glass bottle thrown from the crowd during his substitution in the second half.
Roma’s challenging day was compounded by key forward Paulo Dybala being forced off at halftime due to yet another muscular injury in his extensive list. The World Cup winner from Argentina is now a doubt for the upcoming Serie A match against AC Milan on Sunday. Adding to their woes, manager Mourinho will also be absent, serving a suspension after being sent off in the previous weekend’s match.
“He suffered the usual muscle injury,” Mourinho said. “He played a very physical match two days ago and was on the pitch for 80 minutes. This was a demanding game and he wanted to play.
“When Paulo goes down, everything becomes more difficult”
Roma coach José Mourinho has clarified that there has been no contact from the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) regarding the national team job in July 2024. The CBF is actively searching for a full-time manager to succeed interim coach Fernando Diniz, whose contract concludes in the summer.
With Carlo Ancelotti extending his contract with Real Madrid until June 2026, reports suggest that the CBF has approached Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, to inquire about the Portuguese coach’s availability.
Despite these reports, Mourinho has explicitly stated that he has not been directly contacted by the CBF at this point in time.
“I don’t know if it’s true that Brazil wants me,” Mourinho said. “They haven’t spoken to me. I asked my agent not to tell me anything about any contacts.”
Ednaldo Rodrigues, upon his reinstatement as CBF president, has identified selecting a full-time national team manager as his initial priority. Reports indicate that São Paulo coach Dorival Júnior is his favoured candidate for the position.
Mourinho, currently under contract with Roma until June 30, has stated that he has not yet made a decision about his future.
Amid reports that Roma are looking for a new manager, the former Chelsea and Manchester United coach said: “I have no reason to think that the [Roma owners] Friedkin family is not honest; I trust the ownership 100%. It doesn’t mean I’ll stay here 100% but it means they’re not looking for someone else behind my back.”
Having joined Roma in the summer of 2021, the 60-year-old Mourinho has rejected coaching offers from both Portugal and Saudi Arabia.
Roma’s manager, Jose Mourinho, expressed frustration over the financial constraints binding the Serie A club, emphasising that their “reality is different” compared to clubs like Manchester City.
Despite Roma’s significant spending of over €100 million ($109 million) in Mourinho’s inaugural season, the last two seasons have seen minimal transfers totaling €9.5 million.
This conservative approach aligns with UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, leading to the sale of first-choice center-back Roger Ibañez to Al Ahli in August for financial stability.
Notably, marquee signings Romelu Lukaku and Renato Sanches were secured through loan deals this summer.
Compounded by the challenges of long-term injuries to striker Tammy Abraham and defender Chris Smalling, Roma currently find themselves struggling in fourth place in Serie A.
The imminent departure of center-back Evan Ndicka for the African Cup of Nations in January further exacerbates the defensive concerns.
Despite the desire to strengthen the squad in the upcoming January transfer window, Mourinho acknowledges the hurdles Roma faces due to financial limitations.
“Not that I’m jealous, but Man City paid €80 million ($87 million) for [Kalvin] Phillips and now Pep [Guardiola] has said it would be better for him to leave in January. So he’ll leave and they’ll get someone else,”Mourinho said in his news conference ahead of Roma’s Europa League clash with Sheriff on Thursday.
“Our reality is very different. We’d like one, two, three or four new players. Tiago [Pinto] too. And the owners, too. We all want to try and improve the team to make us better for the second half of the season.
“However, it’s not easy for us to do that. I’ll be honest; if we bring in a defender in January, I’ll already be happy. But if you ask me if I’d like more than that, of course I’d like more. But it’s not possible. They’re working to try to give me options, to give me a defender.”
In the recent 3-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade, Phillips, acquired by City for €49 million in 2022, secured only his second start for the club this season and impressively scored a penalty. Sources revealed to ESPN last month that Newcastle United are considering a move for the talented England midfielder.
Heading into Thursday’s encounter against Sheriff, Roma hold the second position in theirEuropa League group, with qualification for the next round already assured. Their latest Serie A fixture saw them secure a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina last Sunday.
Jose Mourinho is reportedly eyeing the managerial role for the Brazil national team, viewing Carlo Ancelotti as the ideal candidate to lead Real Madrid.
Despite ongoing speculation linking Ancelotti with the Brazil position when his contract with Real Madrid concludes next year, AS Roma’s Mourinho has expressed his interest in managing Selecao after his contract with the Italian club concludes at the end of the current season, as per UOL.
At 60 years old, Mourinho believes that the opportunities with top European clubs have closed for him, prompting consideration of a future role with a national team.
In a recent TG1 interview, the former Chelsea manager recommended that Ancelotti continue his tenure at Los Blancos, emphasising that the Italian is well-suited to manage a club of such stature.
He was quoted saying, “I think only a madman would leave Real Madrid when he is still wanted. I am certain that at the first sign from Florentino [Perez, Madrid’s president], Carlo will remain, because he is perfect for Real Madrid and Real Madrid are perfect for him.”
When Rai2 asked if there was a possibility that the Portuguese manager could move back to his former club in Spain, he said, “Me at Real Madrid? When you have a super coach, why should you think of another? Knowing Don Florentino [Perez, Madrid president], and I know him very well, he is a super intelligent man.
“If he reads the press, he has very clear ideas. As a Madridista, as a man who has some white ribs, and as an Ancelottian, I hope that the season goes fantastically and that next season Carlo is still there, because I think he is the perfect coach for Real Madrid.”
During the summer, the AS Roma manager received lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League but opted to decline them, choosing to uphold his commitment to the Giallorossi by honouring his existing contract.
Regarding the potential departureof Carlo Ancelotti from the Spanish giants, there is speculation that Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is a leading candidate to succeed him.
The legendary manager, however, remains dedicated to his current club and is currently concentrating on their upcoming Europa League match against Servette on Thursday.
In a moment of jubilation, Jose Mourinho expressed his joy by embracing a ball boy on the sidelines after AS Roma secured a late victory against Udinese on Sunday.
The Giallorossi initially took the lead with Gianluca Mancini’s first-half strike, but Florian Thauvin’s 57th-minute equaliser added suspense to the match.
In the 81st minute, Paulo Dybala’s goal restored Roma’s lead, and Stephan El Shaarawy sealed the victory with a goal in the 90th minute.
Mourinho’s excitement reached its peak after El Shaarawy’s decisive goal, prompting him to dash towards the Roma bench and share a bear hug with the first person in sight, who happened to be a ball boy.
Speaking to reporters after the match, the legendary manager said, “I celebrated the goal that closed the match… There was a kid, but luckily it wasn’t a woman or a policeman. He was the first one I saw in front of me!”
AS Roma has successfully ended their winless streak, ascending to the fifth position in Serie A with 21 points from 13 matches. Their next challenge awaits in the Europa League as they face Servette on Thursday.
Robert Sackey is sceptical about Jose Mourinho’s ability to achieve positive results if appointed as the head coach of the Black Stars for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024.
The former Black Princesses coach argues that the current challenges within the Black Stars present difficulties for any coach to produce desired outcomes.
Consequently, he urges the Ghana Football Association to maintain Chris Hughton as the coach for the tournament.
Sackey asserts that it is too late for a new coach to adequately prepare the team for the tournament, scheduled to be hosted in Ivory Coast.
Concerns have been raised regarding Hughton’s future with the Black Stars, particularly in light of recent results.
Speaking to Asempa FM, Sackey opines that parting ways with Hughton before the tournament would result in a situation reminiscent of the one in 2006.
“We are going toward the end of November and you are talking about appointing a new head coach. It was the same problem we encountered in 2006,” he said.
Before adding, “It’s about psyching. How to be able to motivate the players to go and perform. I feel we should keep the coach because it is too late to sack him.”
Sarri characterised Mourinho as a ‘pain in the butt,’ expressing his displeasure with the Portuguese manager’s communication style in press conferences.
Despite this, Sarri acknowledged his admiration for Mourinho as a person.
The pre-match war of words between the two managers included Mourinho asserting that Sarri’s achievements were comparatively limited in contrast to his own distinguished career.
Speaking to reporters, the Italian said, “We had already crossed paths before the game. I told him, ‘You are a right pain in the butt’.
He replied, ‘For that matter so are you!’. I don’t like dealing with Mourinho the media character, but Mourinho the person is great.”
Serie A returns to action after the international break on November 25, with Lazio taking on Salernitana in the opening match of gameweek 13.
Serie A has imposed a €10,000 fine on AS Roma for their deliberate delay tactics involving ball boys during Sunday’s league match against Monza.
Under the management of Jose Mourinho, Roma clinched a thrilling 1-0 victory over Monza, with Stephan El Shaarawy netting the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Italy’s sports judge determined that Roma’s ball boys intentionally slowed down the process of returning the ball after the home team had scored the winning goal.
A league statement read: “Roma, by way of objective responsibility, to have its own ball boys after the goal has been scored, systematically slowed down the regular restart of the game, forcing the referee to extend injury time by two minutes.”
Mourinho also received a one-game touchline ban following his dismissal near the end of the match, during which he mocked Monza’s bench by gesturing as if crying.
Due to the red card, Mourinho will not be able to be on the bench for Roma’s upcoming league fixture, which will be an away game against his former club, Inter Milan.
It’s worth noting that the Portuguese manager has previously expressed his strong opinions about the role of ball boys.
During his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho commended a club ball boy for swiftly delivering the ball, which led to a quick throw-in by Sèrge Aurier, ultimately sparking an equalising goal in a 4-2 Champions League victory over Olympiakos.
“I love intelligent ball boys, like I was,” Mourinho said at the time. “I was a brilliant ball boy as a kid. This kid today was brilliant. He reads the game, understands the game and made an important assist.”
Nevertheless, the former Manchester United manager expressed his discontent with the ball boys at Old Trafford for their sluggish response in returning the ball. In response, he decided to replace them with academy players.
Back in 2014, during his tenure at Chelsea, Mourinho also voiced his frustration with Newcastle United’s ball boys, accusing them of time-wasting during his team’s 2-1 defeat at St. James Park.
Roma is reportedly contemplating making a bid to acquire Trevoh Chalobah fromChelsea during the January transfer window.
The Serie A team is currently facing a shortage of options in the center-back position due to injuries to Chris Smalling, Diego Llorente, and Marash Kumbulla.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma is exploring the possibility of adding a new defender in January, and Chelsea’s Chalobah has emerged as a potential target.
Chelsea is prepared to offload Chalobah in the winter transfer market as he does not feature in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.
Chalobah, a product of Chelsea’s youth academy, is eager to make a move and was close to joining Bayern Munich during the summer, although the deal eventually fell through.
The report suggests that Chalobah is not the sole defender on Roma’s radar.
The Serie A club might also consider reuniting Jose Mourinho with Tottenham’s Eric Dier, who has yet to make an appearance for Ange Postecoglou’s team this season.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Oumar Solet is also being monitored by the Giallorossi, and veteran center-back Jerome Boateng remains an option after Bayern withdrew from a potential deal to sign him.
For their upcoming weekend match against Monza, Roma is likely to field an emergency defensive pairing consisting of Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes, who typically play in defensive midfield roles.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Mourinho’s name has emerged as a favourite candidate to take over the coaching role at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Currently managing Roma, Mourinho is likely to part ways with the club when his contract expires this summer.
Ancelotti’s anticipated move to the Brazil national team is linked to his contract with Real Madrid expiring at the end of the season.
Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has confirmed that Ancelotti will replace Fernando Diniz in the summer.
Nevertheless, Mundo Deportivo’s report suggests that Ancelotti might consider extending his contract with Madrid if the club makes such an offer.
Mourinho has a history with Real Madrid, having previously served as the club’s manager for three years.
He joined the team after leading Inter to a European and Italian treble.
His tenure was marked by intense rivalries with Barcelona and Pep Guardiola, during which he secured one La Liga title in 2012 before departing a year later, citing it as the worst season of his career.
Ancelotti, who took overfrom Mourinho, is also expected to fulfil his contract with Real Madrid before making his next career move.
Romelu Lukaku has made a remarkable beginning at Roma and has responded to his critics following yet another impressive display on the field.
After a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian striker joined the Italian powerhouse on a season-long loan during the final hours of the transfer window.
Since then, Lukaku has displayed exceptional form, netting seven goals in eight appearances across all competitions.
This includes his two goals in the recent 4-1 triumph against newly promoted Cagliari over the weekend.
His current performances are a stark departure from his time at Chelsea.
“I prove on the pitch what I can give to a team. Today things went well,” the Roma striker said [via Tuttomercatoweb].
Lukaku also talked about his special relationship with Jose Mourinho and him being one of the reasons for his good form: “As I’ve said in the past, he and I have a special relationship.
He knows me and my children,” said the Roma striker. “He’s someone I can trust, and he puts his trust in me. He’s tough, but that’s the only way that I can grow.’
Thanks to his outstanding performances for Roma, Lukaku has earned a place in the Belgium squad for the upcoming international break.
During the Euro 2024 qualifying round, Domenico Tedesco’s squad is set to face off against Sweden and Austria.
AS Roma is continuing to contemplate the possibility of signing Spain international Alvaro Morata following discussions with the player’s agents, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Jose Mourinho’s club had been linked with the 30-year-old over the summer, but Morata had expressed his desire to remain with Atletico Madrid.
Roma’s sporting director, Tiago Pinto, held talks with the player’s representatives to explore the financial feasibility of a potential transfer.
It’s worth noting that Mourinho previously managed Morata during his tenure at Real Madrid.
Morata said of Mourinho in the summer: “He’s a great coach; he was the one who gave me the opportunity to play my first professional match. I’m very grateful to him and Iwish him the best.”
Roma’s manager, Jose Mourinho, has taken another swipe at referee Anthony Taylor as he reminisces about some of the pivotal matches in his managerial journey.
Mourinho has been revisiting significant games in his career and has shared his sentiments regarding those encounters.
The Portuguese manager achieved success in the Europa League with Porto and Manchester United during his earlier managerial years. However, his stint with Roma in the same competition ended in disappointment, as they were defeated in the final by Sevilla last season.
Mourinho faced consequences from UEFA, receiving a four-game ban for his confrontation with the match official in the parking lot after the loss. He still seems to harbour strong feelings of frustration towards Anthony Taylor.
“Winning the Europa League with Manchester United was a normal feeling for me. Roma-Sevilla… if I say what I think, I will get banned for ten games,” he told Sky Italia.
“Roma-Feyenoord [In the Europa Conference League] but I could also have indicated the match against Leicester. I’ve never cried on the pitch after a loss. Sometimes, I cry after a win and these two gamesare historic for Roma.”
Jose Mourinho says he could get a 10-game ban if he speaks his mind about Roma‘s defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League final last season.
The team from Spain called Sevilla won a game on penalties. This made Mourinho, who used to coach Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, lose a European final for the first time.
Mourinho, who coached Roma in Italy, became very angry with English referee Anthony Taylor after the 2023 Europa League final. Mourinho said that Taylor acted like he was from Spain.
Mourinho angrily spoke to Europa League officials in the parking lot after the game and used offensive language towards them.
Referee Taylor and his family were then attacked by Roma fans at an airport. The fans were throwing chairs and bottles at the Premier League official.
Mourinho got a punishment of not being able to play in four matches because of his actions. Mark Halsey, a former referee in the Premier League, criticized Mourinho and said he should have been given a bigger punishment.
The manager from Portugal, who led United to win the Europa League in 2017, has recently talked about his different experiences in European competitions.
Mourinho told Sky that winning the Europa League with Manchester United felt like something that happens regularly to him. I can’t express my thoughts about Roma-Sevilla because I might be banned from playing for 10 games.
I believe that the Roma-Leicester match in the 2022 Europa Conference League semi-final was equally significant compared to the Roma-Feyenoord match in the 2022 Europa Conference League final.
I have never shed tears on the field after losing a game. Sometimes, I feel so happy that I cry when we win, and these two games are very important for Roma in their history.
Romelu Lukaku is set to reunite with Jose Mourinho at AS Roma, following Chelsea’s acceptance of a £5 million ($6 million) loan proposal from the Italian club.
Roma has reached an agreement to pay £5 million for Lukaku’s season-long loan, as reported by The Telegraph.
In a notable move, the Belgian forward has agreed to a reduced salary, negating Chelsea’s responsibility for any portion of his £6 million ($8 million) earnings during his time in Rome.
Initially, Lukaku seemed destined to stay with Chelsea this season, declining offers from Inter, Juventus, and the Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal.
While Chelsea was eager to offload the 30-year-old striker, they have now succeeded in removing his salary from their financial commitments for the remainder of the season.
Lukaku will be making a return to Italy, this time playing under the guidance of Mourinho, who previously managed him during their time together at Manchester United.
Acquired by Chelsea from Inter for £97.5 million ($135 million) in 2021, Lukaku has consented to an additional reduction in his wages in case he makes a comeback to Chelsea after this forthcoming season.
Notably, he still has three years left on his existing contract.
Renowned football manager Jose Mourinho has taken on the role of global brand ambassador for Football.com, a multifaceted platform encompassing football, gaming, betting, and media.
This collaboration signifies a noteworthy development in the realms of both football and igaming, as Mourinho’s association with Football.com aims to establish an innovative hub for football enthusiasts.
The platform’s primary objective is to seamlessly blend football, media content, and gaming experiences.
It has already introduced licensed real-money gaming options in specific countries with fervent football followings, and it envisions a worldwide reach, with plans to expand its geographic presence and diversify its offerings.
An integral component of this partnership involves Mourinho’s exclusive contributions in the form of monthly articles on the platform.
These articles will provide insights into some of the most remarkable moments from his illustrious managerial career and his personal experiences.
Furthermore, this collaboration will foster the creation of branded real games, combining Mourinho’s influence with the platform’s expertise to engage and captivate users.
On the partnership, the Roma boss said, “Football has been my passion and my life, and I am delighted to be associated with the category-defining platform Football.com as their Brand Ambassador.
Together, we aim to redefine football-themed online entertainment, offering fans an experience like no other.”
On getting the Portuguese manager on board, Elias Gallego, VP of Business Development for Football.com, said, “We are thrilled to welcomeJosé Mourinho to the Football.com family.
“His partnership with Football.com will undoubtedly elevate the entertainment, betting, and gaming experience for our users, providing them with unrivalled content and an immersive platform that celebrates the beautiful game of football.”
Mourinho’s Roma is scheduled to participate in their upcoming pre-season friendly match against Partizani on August 12.
As AS Roma wraps up their pre-season camp in Portugal,Jose Mourinho is using this opportunity to convey a message to the club’s board. The upcoming season is set to begin on August 20.
Despite facing speculations about his future and receiving tempting offers from prominent European clubs, as well as a lucrative proposal from Saudi Arabia, Mourinho has chosen to stay at the helm.
This decision comes after he led the team to a sixth-place finish in Serie A last season and guided them to the UEFA Europa League final.
Notably, this marked their second European final appearance in two years, with a previous victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League a year earlier. Mourinho is committed to fulfilling the final year of his contract with the club.
Mourinho’s message to Roma board
With the Serie A season commencing in less than three weeks, AS Roma faces a notable void in their lineup as they are yet to secure a new striker.
This situation arises from the extended absence of Tammy Abraham due to injury, sustained on the final day of the previous season.
Moreover, Andrea Belotti’s future remains uncertain, given his struggles to find the net in the league last season.
Jose Mourinho addressing his players after a pre-season training session in Portugal. Photo by Fabio Rossi.
Source: Getty Images
In preparation for their pre-season match against SC Farense in Portugal, manager Jose Mourinho took charge of the team’s final training session.
He shared a snapshot of the group on his Instagram page, highlighting their progress.
Notably, Football Italia observed a subtle gapbetween Mourinho and one of his assistants, which symbolically represents the vacant striker position within the team.
Rumors have linked Roma with potential signings like Alvaro Morata and Gianluca Scamacca.
However, it appears that Scamacca might be on his way to rivals Inter Milan, as per reports from Roma Press. Additionally, the prospect of acquiring Morata seems financially prohibitive.
Chelsea’s centre-back Thiago Silva has revealed that he has had conversations with Paulo Dybala about a potential move to the Blues this summer.
Dybala, who has been heavily linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge, is reportedly a target for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino as he looks to strengthen his team’s attacking options.
According to reports from Football London, Chelsea has already reinforced their forward line with the signings of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
However, the addition of Dybala could further enhance their squad.
The Argentine forward had an impressive season with Roma, contributing to 19 goals in his debut campaign under the guidance of coach Jose Mourinho.
Silva’s discussions with Dybala suggest that Chelsea is actively pursuing the player and exploring the possibility of bringing him to the club to bolster their attacking firepower.
Silva wants Dybala at Chelsea
Silva has further fueled speculation that Dybala is a wanted man at Stamford Bridge after revealing he has spoken with the Argentine over a possible move.
Metro UK reports that Dybala is currently in England on holiday and has been taking in some huge sporting events.
The Argentina international has since linked up with Silva, with the Brazilian defender expressing his desire to play with the forward at Chelsea.
“I saw Paulo Dybala here, they [the media] talk about him coming to Chelsea,” Silva told Sky Sport Italia, via Metro UK.
“I’ve talked with him and asked him if he is coming. He is a world-class player,” he added.
Mourinho on Dybala joining Chelsea
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that AS Roma boss, Jose Mourinho has broken his silence on reports that Chelsea are looking to sign Paulo Dybala this summer.
Dybala has spent just one season with Roma, having joined them in the summer of 2022 from Serie A rivals Juventus.
Reports claim the Blues are leading the race to sign the Argentine forward in the coming weeks.
