Next up for José Mourinho, Real Madrid
José Mourinho was once the translator at Barcelona but now his job is to convert Real Madrid’s Galácticos into Champions League winners. Next season would do nicely thank you.
Mourinho is the ninth manager in six years at the Bernabéu, and his appointment looks to be the final piece to the Real Madrid jigsaw puzzle.
“I don't know if I was born to coach Real Madrid but I was born to be a football coach. I love important challenges. I am José Mourinho and I don't change,” he said with typical understatement.
“I arrive with all my qualities and my defects. My attraction to Real Madrid is due to its history, its frustrations in recent years and its expectations to win. It's a unique club and I believe that not to coach Real leaves a void in a coach's career,” said Mourinho.
Mourinho conquered Europe for the second time in his career and became only the third manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, following in the footsteps of Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld. Inter Milan’s 2-0 triumph over Louis van Gaal’s Bayern Munich in the Champions League final- the two men who were together at the Camp Nou - was Mourinho’s last game in charge of the Italian outfit.
The 47-year-old has brought success at his previous clubs - Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan - winning six domestic titles and two Champions League trophies. Now, he is looking to add to his CV as he searches for instant success at Madrid. “Luckily, I've had a beautiful career and it makes me proud to have come here. I am very enthusiastic. I want my players to think that way. The beauty is not so much to train or play at Real, but to win at Real Madrid,” said Mourinho.
Mourinho departed Inter Milan after one of their best seasons as they claimed a treble, with the Champions League win completing that feat following league and domestic cup success. The colourful Portuguese manager is aiming to bring Europe’s biggest prize to Madrid - as Real have not gone beyond the second phase in the Champions League for the last five years, and have not won the competition since 2002 - and win the trophy again. “I won the Champions League during my second years at Porto and Inter. I reached the semi-finals twice with Chelsea. I believe it is the top championship, the hardest of all. We know our challenge here is difficult, but we must be calm as we work,” Mourinho said.
After last year’s summer spending spree on Cristiano Ronaldo (£80million), Xabi Alonso (£30million), Kaka (£55million) and Karim Benzema (£35million), Real Madrid were expected to mount a strong challenge to their rivals Barcelona, but after losing out on the La Liga title to them, being eliminated early from Europe by Olympique Lyonnais and an embarrassing exit from the Copa del Rey (Spanish domestic cup), they didn’t have anything to show for their huge spending. The major disappointment was not reaching the Champions League final, staged last year at their home, the Bernabéu stadium.
“I am not anti-Barcelona. I am coach of Real but Barça doesn't worry me. My only concern is to grow Real. Barça are great rivals and we respect them. If I am hated at Barcelona, it is their problem but not mine. Fear is not a word in my football dictionary,” said Mourinho.
Mourinho’s style of play will have to be something that the Galácticos will have to get used to, as he likes to build a team on a strong defence and focus on playing as a solid unit. As long as it delivers success, the Madrid faithful won’t care. “The strengths of my teams were always the team, not the individuals. And was always the fact that my players understand that the most important thing is the club, not the players, not the coach,” said Mourinho.
Always known to speak his mind and rile his opposition managers, Mourinho will do things his way at the Bernabéu, whether they like it or not.
Real Madrid is a special club for the “special one” to manage.
Just so long as that translates into success.
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