As Jose Mourinho celebrates his 51st birthday, Standard Sport presents a rundown of 51 top quotes from the Chelsea boss. Seat back, read and Laugh Out Loud 1. If Roman Abramovich helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt. Mourinho on his relationship with Chelsea owner during his first spell as manager. 2. He must really think Im a great guy. He must think that, because otherwise He would not have given me so much. I have a great family. I work in a place where Ive always dreamt of working. He has helped me out so much that He must have a very high opinion of me. The managers reply when a Spanish radio station asked what he believed God thought about him. Special One: Posing for photographs on his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004 3. “I think he [Arsene Wenger] is one of those people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have this big telescope to look into the homes of other people and see what is happening. Wenger must be one of them - and it is a sickness. Mourinho taunts the Arsenal manager in 2005 after Wenger makes comments about Chelseas pursuit of Ashley Cole. 4. Some clubs are treated as devils, some are treated as angels. I dont think we are so ugly that we should be seen as the devil and I dont think Arsene Wenger and David Dein are so beautiful that they should be viewed as angels. Mourinho discusses his sometimes fractious relationship with Arsenal and manager Wenger. 5. “Wenger complaining is normal because he always does. Its something that we know. The rivalry continues to fester as Mourinho issues a riposte to claims made by the Arsenal boss over the sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United. 6. It’s all about omelettes and eggs. No eggs, no omelette. And 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. Back in 2007, just before his Chelsea team played Rosenborg, the Portuguese spoke negatively about some of the signings the club had made. He left the club 24 hours later. Emotions: The Portuguese in familiar mode on the touchline 7. “Beautiful, young eggs. Eggs that need a mum, in this case... a dad... to take care of them, to keep them warm during the winter, to bring the blanket and work and improve them. One day the moment will arrive when the weather changes, the sun rises, you break the eggs and the eggs are ready to go for life at the top level.” Mourinho referenced eggs again when asked six years later for his thoughts on the Chelsea players. 8. Look, Im a coach, Im not Harry Potter. He is magical, but in reality there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real. The Portuguese boss warns Real Madrid supporters not to expect miracles as he opens his reign at the Spanish giants with a goalless draw against Mallorca in 2010. 9. Sometimes you see beautiful people with no brains. Sometimes you have ugly people who are intelligent, like scientists. Our pitch is a bit like that. Mourinho when discussing the condition of the pitch at Stamford Bridge ahead of a Champions League clash against Barcelona in 2006. 10. Its like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But I am content because the blanket is cashmere. It is no ordinary blanket. On a Chelsea injury crisis in 2007. Young melons: Scott Sinclair didnt enjoy the best of times 11. Young players are a little bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good. Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they dont taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and when you open them, the taste is fantastic. One thing is youth football, one thing is professional football. The bridge is a difficult one to cross and they have to play with us and train with us to taste the melon. For example, Scott Sinclair, the way he played against Arsenal and Manchester United. We know the melon we have. Mourinho discusses the youth talent at Chelsea. 12. Ricardo Carvalho seems to have problems understanding things, maybe he should have an IQ test, or go to a mental hospital or something. Mourinho hits back after his defender Carvalho attacks decision not to pick him. 13. I am more scared of bird flu than football. What is football compared with life? I have to buy some masks and stuff – maybe for my team as well. Mourinho shrugs off the pressure of a Premier League title battle following the spread of bird flu to Britain in 2006. 14. During the afternoon it rained only in this stadium - our kit man saw it. There must be a micro-climate here. The pitch was like a swimming pool. Commenting post-match against Blackburn in 2004/05. 15. Look at my haircut. I am ready for the war. Jose unveils a new close-cropped style. Controversy: Del Horno brings down Messi 16. How do you say cheating in Catalan? Mourinho accuses Lionel Messi of getting Chelsea full-back Asier Del Horno sent off during Barcelonas 2-1 win over the London club. 17. This is nothing against Sir Alex [Ferguson] whatsoever. After the game on Wednesday we were together in my office and we spoke and drank wine. Unfortunately it was a very bad bottle of wine and he was complaining, so when we go to Old Trafford for the second leg, on my birthday, I will take a beautiful bottle of Portuguese wine. Mourinho speaks about his relationship with Ferguson in 2005. 18. If you have at home one Bentley and leave the Aston Martin in the garage you are a bit stupid. Mourinho discusses why he chooses to rotate his squad. 19. In normal conditions, Porto will be the champion, in abnormal conditions, Porto will also be the champion. Declaring his confidence midway through the Portuguese league season. 20. The dog is fine in Portugal - that big threat is away - you dont have to worry about crime anymore. Mourinho making reference to his wife having to take his terrier dog, Leya, back to Portugal following a row over quarantine status and whether it had a pet passport in 2007. Man management: Mourinho talks tactics with his players 21. Please dont call me arrogant, but Im European champion and I think Im a special one. Mourinho announcing his arrival in England during his first press conference. 22. I am no longer Chelsea coach and I do not have to defend them anymore, so I think it is correct if I say Drogba is a diver. During his spell as Inter Milan manager, Mourinho changes his view of former Chelsea talisman Drogba. Loyal: A Real Madrid fan holds up a photograph of club captain Iker Casillas which says Iker, you are the special one. Mourinhos upset supporters with his decision to axe the Spain No1 23. Casillas? I have no problem with him. I like Diego Lopez more. And I have that right. Just as if Iker likes Pellegrini more than me. While Im Real Madrid coach, Diego Lopez will always play. Once and for all, lets see if you can understand. I am a football coach. I was hired to coach football and a football coach has the power, among other things, to choose who plays. For me, I like Diego Lopez as a goalkeeper more so than Iker Casillas. I am not harming anyone. I like him better. Mourinho tells a press conference he is dropping long-standing Real No1 and Spain goalkeeper Casillas. 24. The press dont go on the plane with the team? Im sorry but I think that is correct. The press are not allowed in at training sessions? Correct. The press dont know the starting XI? Correct. I dont put your beloved children in the team? Correct. ... More on Casillas 25. As you Spanish are world champions, your friends in the press protect you ... like the goalkeeper. Mourinho continued to defend his decision over axing Casillas 26. As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. Mourinho moans after Tottenham held his Chelsea side to a goalless draw in 2004. Controversy: Mourinho complained of Luis Garcias ghost goal 27. “It was a goal that came from the moon – from the Anfield stands. I felt the power of Anfield, it was magnificent. I felt it didnt interfere with my players but maybe it interfered with other people and maybe it interfered with the result. You should ask the linesman why he gave a goal. Because, to give a goal, the ball must be 100 per cent in and he must be 100 per cent sure that the ball is in. Accusing Liverpool of scoring a ghost goal from Luis Garcia which knocked Chelsea out of the 2005 Champions League. 28. Eden can become one of the best players in the world. Now he sees his football and profession with different eyes. He trains much better, he concentrates much better. Tactically, he has had a big evolution. Hopefully, the big talent can transform himself into the big player.” On the talents of Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard. 29. “My history as a manager cannot be compared with Frank Rijkaard’s history. He has zero trophies and I have a lot of them.” On his rivalry with Barcelona’s Rijkaard in 2005. Happy days: Mourinho (left) with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich at the beginning of his first stint at the club 30. I have to train with 10 men [to prepare for the Barcelona semi-final], how to play with 10 men, because I go there with Chelsea, I finish with 10, I go there with Inter, I finish with 10 and I have to train to play with 10 men because it can happen again. Speaking as Real boss, ahead of a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. 31. I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans. [Claudio] Ranieri had been in England for five years and still struggled to say ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon. Following comments from Juventus boss Ranieri, Mourinho gave his view on the Italians spell in England with Chelsea. 32. “The moral of the story is not to listen to those who tell you not to play the violin but stick to the tambourine.” Mourinho responding to suggestions he would find life difficult at Chelsea after winning the Premier League title in his first year at the club. 33. One is a coach with a 30-year career, the other with a three-year one. The one with 30 years has never won anything; the one with three years has won a lot. The one with a 30-year career will be forgotten when he ends it; the one with three could end it right now and he could never be erased from history. This could be the story of a donkey who worked for 30 years but never became a horse. On his relationship with Sporting Lisbon coach Jesualdo Ferreira. 34. I had just one problem with Cristiano, very simple, very basic and its from a tactical aspect that I noticed, which I brought up in order to improve upon and make him better. And at that moment he didnt take it very well because maybe he thinks he knows everything and the coach cannot help him to develop more. Mourinho reveals how his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo broke down during his last season at Real Madrid. 35. 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. Speaking about his decision to join Chelsea in 2004. 36. That was not a football score, it was a hockey score... in training I often play matches of three against three and when the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing room, because they are not defending properly. Giving his view on Arsenals 5-4 win over Tottenham in 2004. Passionate: Mourinho celebrates after guiding his Porto side to a Champions League win over Manchester United 37. I wont hold back. What I did last season was the consequence of something. So, if the competition is absolutely normal without anything strange, I would love to be a good boy and to behave well. Talking about his behaviour during Chelseas Champions League campaign in 2005. 38. Im not bothered by the whistles at me. Its not a problem. Its the first time its ever happened to me. Theres a first time for practically everything. [Zinedine] Zidane was whistled at here. Ronaldo has been whistled at here. Cristiano [Ronaldo], who is the latest Golden Boot winner, has also been whistled at. Why cant 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. Mourinho hits back in the wake of crowd hostilities at the Bernabeu. 39. As you know Gallas had an unbelievable holiday. I hope he enjoyed it very much in Guadeloupe, which I think is a fantastic place to be on holiday, so he wanted to stay there for a long time. Mourinho has his say after defender William Gallas missed a first-team trip to the USA as he was on holiday. Jose Mourinho in action as Chelsea crush Manchester United 40. Like me or not, I am the only one who has won the world’s three most important leagues. So, maybe instead of the ‘Special One’, people should start calling me the ‘Only One’. Ahead of the 2012/13 season with Real Madrid, Mourinho requested a new nickname. 41. I am Jose Mourinho and I don’t change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects. In 2010, after he was named Real Madrid coach. 42. I always wanted to coach a big club in Italy. The job at Inter is a big challenge for me. And I do believe it could be very entertaining for the journalists. Mourinho at a press conference after being appointed Inter Milan manager. 43. I asked the boss do you want me back? and the boss asked do you want to come back? After a couple of minutes the decision was made. On his return to Stamford Bridge after discussions with owner Roman Abramovich. Motivation: Giving instruction during a Champions League match against Basle 44. I want to keep him. I want to keep him. I dont want him to go, thats my wish. But my door is open, the clubs door is open too so when a player wants to sit with us, we are there waiting - waiting for them. Mourinho on the potential sale of midfielder Juan Mata. 45. Madrid is politics. Madrid is not about football, Madrid is not about sport, but about many [other] things around. The Portuguese boss on his time in Spain with Real. 46. What position is my wife in? Eighth, at least. That is crazy. I’m not even in charge of my own home … Mourinho reacts to being told by a Spanish journalist that he has been named the ninth most influential person in world by AskMen. 47. I started studying after Inter first contacted me. That was the day after the second leg between Inter and Liverpool in the Champions League. I already speak Spanish which is similar to Italian. The manager conducted a 40-minute press conference completely in Italian, saying it took him a maximum of one month or three weeks or something like that to learn. 48. If they made a film of my life, I think they should get George Clooney to play me. Hes a fantastic actor and my wife thinks he would be ideal. Speculating whether he should be immortalised in film. 49. I could write a book of 200 pages of my two years at Inter with Mario Balotelli. On his time spent managing striker Balotelli at Inter. 50. A player from Man City showed half of his ass for two seconds and it was a big nightmare. But this is a real, real nightmare. Discussing Petr Cechs serious head injury and comparing it to City midfielder Joey Barton baring his bottom. 51. “I’m here to stay. I belong to Chelsea, Chelsea belong to me. I gave a lot to Chelsea in the past but they also gave a lot to me. This is a different professional relationship.”
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 17:37:19 +0000
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