European champion Jose Mourinho says yes to Real Madrid
José Mourinho wasn’t as cool as he normally is at the full-time whistle on Saturday night.
When he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, there was barely a flicker on his famous face, while Chelsea’s Premier League successes were met with the same steeliness and not even a hint of over-celebration. At the Bernabéu, for once, his emotions took over.
Leading Inter Milan to their first European Cup for 45 years was just a little too much even for him.
The demanding fans of this giant Italian institution have wanted this for so long, and the fact the Portuguese was the man to deliver it appeared to genuinely humble him. He spoke of avoiding the jubilant players and their celebrations after the match because it could induce tears and make him change his mind on a decision that he appeared to make some time ago. A decision to call the Bernabéu his new home.
“Inter is my house,” he said in his post-match interview, “just like Chelsea was my house before that.” Two houses, and two hugely successful, happy households. The task now is to create a third.
Real Madrid await Mourinho’s appointment for next season, as the Special One sets his sights on another title in yet another country.
Diego Milito’s brace in the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday night were the last goals of Mourinho’s two-year stint at Inter, a reign that has been blighted with bitter conflicts with the Italian press, but which has brought tremendous success – culminating in the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League this season.
Still just 47, his hunger and desire to dominate European football will be seen in Spanish football next season, as he bids to take Real to the top of the La Liga tree and end Barcelona’s current dominance.
It’s a challenge he’ll relish.
Still hated in Barcelona for his comments about the club he served as assistant manager between 1996 and 2000 – they still contemptuously refer to him as “the Translator” in Catalonia, as they felt that that’s all he did for manager Bobby Robson – he’ll attempt to overtake Barça and restore Real to their glory days. To borrow a Sir Alex Ferguson phrase, he’ll want to “knock Barça off their perch.”
For now though, he’s got glory to bask in.
Revamping Real can wait, and as Mourinho’s new club instantly become linked with several of the top stars around the globe, the chances are that the man himself won’t be at all bothered.
He’ll be resting, recuperating and readying himself for the next challenge, which, typically of the man, promises to be tougher than the last one.
Winning the Champions League with Porto was a stunning start, earning Premier League glory with Chelsea made him a legend in west London, and Saturday’s success has seen him write a new chapter in Inter Milan history.
Real Madrid now wait to benefit from his extraordinary skills, and they probably will.
It’s all in a day’s work for him.
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