Jose Mourinho says he wanted the Portugal job
Jose Mourinho, a man always in the headlines for one reason or the other; The charismatic manager of Real Madrid was recently offered the interim job of Portugal’s national coach for couple of Euro 2012 qualifiers. His employers
Real Madrid though did not let him take the job and wanted him to focus solely on the job at hand.
Mourinho at the time did not voice his opinions and accepted the decision made by the club. But now he has said that he would have loved to manage his own country’s team, but still he respects the decision made by Real Madrid.
The 2 matches in question are due to take place in the coming week, and after Carlos Queiroz was relieved of his duties following a spat with the board over WADA regulations Jose was the man favourite to take the job on a temporary
basis. He did show interest but admitted that his job at Bernabeu was currently his first priority and he could not take the offer.
The man who led Chelsea to 2 back to back league titles in England, and left Inter Milan after a historic treble win admitted that he had started to think about the national job but sadly it could not happen.
Jose said: "For two days I felt and I thought like the Portugal coach," he told the Association of Football Coaches.
"I liked it but I have to admit that Real Madrid is a giant institution, which 'bought' me from Inter, who pay me, and who cannot takes risks in front of their members and fans.
However he reiterated that managing Real Madrid remains his biggest challenge and first priority. Mourinho said that he has never been happy with mediocrity and has always strived to be the best. He added that in a job that would
have lasted few weeks he would have never been able to assert himself and may have not left on great terms. He said that what he is doing at Madrid may go down in history and to win silverware, and bring Real back to the level where they belong is his biggest
challenge.
The Portuguese also said that there is a lot of time before he hangs his managerial boots, so maybe in the future he may opt to take the national job at Portugal.
Later on Paulo Bento was appointed as the Portuguese manager; Mourinho wished him luck and said that he is sure that Bento will be able to bring good success to Portugal.
Mourinho has always been a manager who seems to have an impact on his players, as seen at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan. When Jose decided to leave Inter after the European final, there were emotional scenes witnessed as the whole
of Inter team bided him farewell.
Now at his new club, the captain Iker Casillas has come out praising his manager. The start of the season for Madrid was not ideal but slowly and surely they look to be heading towards their best. The 6-1 drubbing of Deportivo
was a great evidence of what Mourinho is bringing to the club.
Casillas who also led Spain to the World Cup win in South Africa said that Mourinho is not only special by name, but he does have something special about him. The goalkeeper added that Mourinho has managed to bring together the
team like never before, and instilled enormous confidence in the squad. The Spanish number one said that the team is finally well balance and in terms of defence and attack there is enough firepower and stability.
Casillas also said that this season it may not be a fight between Real Madrid and Barcelona as far as the title race is concerned. He said that teams like Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Valencia have started the season well and
it will be a tough fight to win the league this season. However with Mourinho in charge he has all the confidence in the world that Real Madrid will be able to pull it off.
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