Tag: jose mourinho

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MOURINHO SEEKS WINNER’S MEDAL AND BONUS IF MAN CITY ARE STRIPPED OF TITLES

Jose Mourinho cheekily said he is looking to add a fourth Premier League medal to his glittering cabinet if Manchester City are stripped of their titles and rivals Manchester United are awarded the Premier League trophy for the 2017-18 season.

Mourinho, who won three titles with Chelsea, guided United to a second-place finish behind City in that campaign, 19 points behind Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking side.

City, who have won the English title a record four times in succession, were referred to an independent commission in February 2023, with the various charges dating from 2009 to 2018. They have always denied any wrongdoing.

Should City be found guilty of some or all of the charges, they could face penalties or huge fines, points deductions, being stripped of their titles or even be demoted from the top flight.

“We won the Europa League and finished second in the Premier League. I think we still have a chance to win that league,” Fenerbahce boss Mourinho told reporters ahead of their Europa League clash against United.

“Maybe they punish Manchester City with points (deductions) and maybe we win that league. They have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.”

Mourinho was the first manager since Alex Ferguson’s last season in 2012-13 to bring United the closest to winning the league title again but he was sacked in December 2018 after a poor run of form.

Ferguson is United’s most successful manager and although he is set to step down as a global ambassador after the club’s part-owners Ineos ended his multi-million pound contract, Mourinho said the 82-year-old did not need the position or the money.

“The ambassadorial role… I don’t know in depth the situation. It doesn’t matter why, what (happened). Sir Alex has the most important thing, which is the love and respect of every Man United fan around the world,” Mourinho said.

“That is more important than an ambassadorial role, it is more important than a few pounds that he can make that he doesn’t need.”

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INTER MILAN DUMP ROMA OUT OF ITALIAN CUP ON JOSE MOURINHO’S RETURN

Inter Milan marked the return of Jose Mourinho to the San Siro on Tuesday by dumping their idol’s new team Roma out of the Italian Cup 2-0 and reaching the semi-finals. Mourinho coached in front of an Inter home crowd for the first time since leaving in 2010 but after being warmly welcomed back by supporters in Milan Roma limply exited the competition thanks to a goal almost straight from kick-off by Edin Dzeko and Alexis Sanchez’s second-half pile-driver.

The win for Inter, who will meet either AC Milan or Lazio in the last four with those sides facing each other on Wednesday, was the perfect response to losing the derby on Saturday, the tempestuous aftermath of which has led to coach Simone Inzaghi being suspended for the weekend’s huge clash at fellow Serie A title chasers Napoli.

Portuguese Mourinho is a footballing deity for Inter fans thanks to two magical seasons on the Nerazzurri bench which culminated with the treble triumph of Serie A, the Italian Cup and most importantly the Champions League.

He beat Roma to the league title and cup in a battle of former Chelsea managers with Claudio Ranieri, only seeing off his Blues predecessor to the championship on the final day of the 2009-10 season.

“I won’t ever hide that my relationship with Inter is one that will last forever. But I came here to win for Roma and my supporters who today are the Roma supporters.” said Mourinho.

“We didn’t win but apart from the first five minutes I saw a Roma team play well against a team against whom it’s not easy to play well.”

The fans present at the San Siro — in much lower numbers than for the derby — made their feelings very clear about their former boss of bosses.

The hardcore supporters in the Curva Nord unfurled a banner which read “Welcome home Jose” and chanted his name throughout the build-up to kick-off.

Once the teams came out the applause for the home fans hero spread around the stadium, and Mourinho responded by waving and blowing kisses to all four corners of the ground.

Supporters even booed referee Marco Di Bello when he booked Mourinho for protesting at the end of the first half.

With the match underway the Inter players were in no mood to do Mourinho any favours, with Roma old boy Dzeko placing home a beautiful volley from Ivan Perisic’s cross with just over a minute on the clock.

Nicolo Barella then crashed a long-rage drive off the bar before Milan Skriniar headed straight at Rui Patricio from point blank range.

Roma then woke up and after a Rick Karsdorp cross was diverted onto the bar, Nicolo Zaniolo wasted a great chance to level the scores, shooting straight at Samir Handanovic when put one-on-one by Tammy Abraham.

The contest then turned scrappy and not long before the break a tearful Alessandro Bastoni was carried off the pitch after going over on his right ankle, with Inter later saying the defender had twisted it.

Handanovic and Patricio both pulled off impressive stops from distance efforts from Sergio Oliveira and Barella just after the hour mark, but Patricio could do nothing to keep out Sanchez’s rocket which ended the tie in the 68th minute.

All that was left for the Inter fans was to belt out Mourinho’s name one last time and look ahead to a massive week which as well as Napoli away includes the Champions League visit of Liverpool.

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Jose Mourinho buys Afena-Gyan £675 trainers after match-winning Roma display

Jose Mourinho made good on a promise to buy Felix Afena-Gyan an €800 pair of trainers after his match-winning exploits for Roma at the weekend. 

The Ghanaian 18-year-old scored a double off the bench to lead Roma to a 2-0 Serie A victory over Genoa on Sunday, ending their three-game winless streak in all competitions. 

He became the first player born since January 1, 2003 to score in the Italian top flight and the third-youngest foreigner to score at least twice in a single Serie A game. 

Afena-Gyan celebrated his first goal, which came when he slotted home Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s throughball in the 82nd minute, by running over to Mourinho. 

“I promised him a very expensive pair of shoes, for 800 euros, and he came to me to make sure I didn’t forget,” Mourinho told broadcaster DAZN. 

“I really like his coldness, his physicality, but above all his humility.” 

Afena-Gyan on Monday shared a video on Instagram of himself unboxing the new shoes in the presence of Mourinho. He included the caption: “Forever grateful Sir. I’ll make you proud.”

Speaking to Roma’s official website after the game, Afena-Gyan said of Mourinho: “He is teaching me a lot and I am learning a lot from him. He is someone who has achieved a lot during his career and he is a great person. I am glad to be working with him. 

“He encourages me day in and day out to do everything that will help me improve in future. So I am happy to be working with Jose Mourinho. I thank him very, very much. I thank him a lot. He’s a great person.” 

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JOSE MOURINHO SEES RED AS ROMA ENDS NAPOLI 100% START WITH GOALESS DRAW

AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho was sent off to the stands as his side ended Napoli’s winning start to the Serie A season following a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

Napoli came into the contest having won their opening eight Serie A matches this season and dominated much of Sunday’s showdown, with Victor Osimhen denied by the post in the second half.

In a tightly contested affair, Roma created little. Tammy Abraham had the best of their chances, slotting wide from a good position in the first half.

As a frustrating Roma struggled in the second half, it got too much for Mourinho late on, and he was sent off for protesting with the referee.

Striker Osimhen thought he had won it at the death, but his header was ruled out for offside, with the point for Napoli enough to move them back to the top of the standings, above AC Milan on goal difference.

After making an impressive start to the season themselves, Roma have now won two of their last six league games to sit fourth.

“I was asking for a situation in our favour, but I didn’t say anything special, nothing that warranted being sent off for,” Mourinho told DAZN.

“But it is not a match in which the referee has done wrong, the feeling is that the referee has done a positive job.”

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SERIE A: NAPOLI RECLAIM TOP SPOT, LAZIO SQUEEZE PAST MOURINHO’S ROMA IN DERBY

Napoli maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Cagliari which ensured they reclaimed top spot, while Lazio won an eventful derby 3-2 to down Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Luciano Spalletti’s side cruised to their sixth victory in as many league games against a Cagliari team coached by former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri thanks to Victor Osimhen’s sixth goal in all competitions this month and a second-half penalty from Lorenzo Insigne who pre-match celebrated his 400th Napoli appearance.

They are two points ahead of AC Milan after another confident display that ends a week in which they scored 10 goals without reply in three league matches.

“The best way to celebrate was to win and score a goal,” said Insigne to DAZN, who is four goals away from Diego Maradona’s Napoli total of 115.

“We did it together as a team. We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground, keep our heads down and work because there is a very, very long way to go.”

Next weekend Napoli travel to Fiorentina in what will be the first true test of their title credentials, as their 2-1 win over Juventus earlier this month came against a team missing a host of starters.

They made easy work of a passive Cagliari, with Osimhen making it four Serie A goals in five appearances this campaign in the 11th minute when he met Piotr Zielinski’s low cross with a typically assured finish.

Osimhen was involved again when a low-key match was settled in the 57th minute, the in-form Nigeria attacker being cleaned out by Diego Godin and Insigne lashing home the subsequent penalty to ensure a simple win.

Lazio win derby honours

Goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Pedro and Felipe Anderson gave Lazio a tight derby win over Roma at a raucous Stadio Olimpico which saw two teams attack each other for 90 minutes.

Maurizio Sarri’s side were winless in three league matches heading into the weekend but now sit sixth on 11 points, seven behind Napoli and just one behind fourth-placed Roma, who twice pulled goals back through Roger Ibanez and Jordan Veretout.

In the aftermath Mourinho lashed out at referee Marco Guida and the VAR officials after what he saw as a clear foul on Nicolo Zaniolo just before Lazio launched the counter-attack which ended with former Roma player Pedro putting Lazio 2-0 ahead in the 19th minute.

“The referee and VAR weren’t up to the standards of a match of this level. From 2-0 it could have been 1-1, the referee made a mistake on the field and VAR made a mistake… they all made a mistake,” Mourinho said to DAZN.

Dybala misses Chelsea

Juventus will have to face Chelsea in the Champions League without Paulo Dybala after the Argentina forward limped off with a thigh injury early in their 3-2 win over Sampdoria.

Dybala opened the scoring with nine minutes on the clock at a wet Allianz Stadium, with Leonardo Bonucci and Manuel Locatelli netting the other goals to move Juve ninth on eight points, but soon afterwards the 27-year-old left the field in tears after the latest in a long line of injuries.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side host European champions Chelsea on Wednesday and the coach said Dybala and centre-forward Alvaro Morata, who also exited with a thigh problem towards the end of the match, would be out of action until after the next international break which runs from after next weekend’s matches to October 15.

Fiorentina bounced back from midweek defeat to Inter Milan with a battling 1-0 win at Udinese which moved them into fifth on 12 points, six behind Napoli.

Promoted Empoli are threatening the European places after beating Bologna 4-2 to win their second match on the bounce and climb up to eighth, while Salernitana remain rooted to the bottom of the league with a single point after losing 1-0 at Sassuolo.

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MOURINHO SUFFERS FIRST DEFEAT AS ROMA BOSS

Jose Mourinho suffered his first defeat since returning to coach in Italy as his AS Roma side were beaten 3-2 by Hellas Verona in a thrilling Serie A encounter on Sunday.

A stunning volley from Verona captain Marco Faraoni proved decisive, ending Roma’s 100% start to the Serie A season while earning his side their first win of the campaign.

Roma appeared to be on course for another three points in the pouring Veneto rain after Lorenzo Pellegrini had given the visitors a halftime lead with a sublime back-heel flick.

However, the game swung in the home side’s favour early in the second half as goals from Antonin Barak and Gianluca Caprari edged Verona 2-1 in front.

Ivan Ilic’s own goal as he beat Roma striker Tammy Abraham to a cross levelled things up in the 58th minute, before Verona again took the lead five minutes later through Faraoni.

Roma piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Mourinho’s men were left frustrated to sit second in the standings on nine points, with third-placed AC Milan playing Juventus later on Sunday.

“We didn’t play very well, we didn’t adapt well to their way of playing.” Mourinho told DAZN. “We lost many individual duels. I need the videos, I need a few hours to better understand what happened.”

Verona moved out of the bottom three and up to 14th as new coach Igor Tudor got off to winning start after replacing Eusebio Di Francesco in midweek.

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Tammy Abraham opens Roma account as Jose Mourinho’s side continue strong start

Tammy Abraham scored his first Serie A goal for Roma as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Salernitana.

The England international, who linked up with Jose Mourinho when he made a £34million switch from Chelsea earlier this month, scored Roma’s third goal with a fine finish after Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout had put them in control.

Pellegrini’s second goal of the game wrapped up a routine win.

Another former Chelsea striker, Olivier Giroud, scored twice for AC Milan as they claimed a convincing 4-1 victory over Cagliari. Napoli won 2-1 at Genoa and Sassuolo played out a goalless draw with Sampdoria.

Barcelona handed teenager Gavi his competitive debut in their 2-1 win against Getafe.

The 17-year-old midfielder impressed as first-half goals from Sergi Roberto and Memphis Depay ensured Barca made it two wins from two at the Nou Camp this season.

Luis Suarez was on the scoresheet as a stoppage-time own goal from Aissa Mandi ensured Atletico Madrid secured a point in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

The former Liverpool man cancelled out Manu Trigueros’ opener, only for ex-Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma to retake the lead for the visitors.

It looked as if Villarreal would put an end to Atletico’s unbeaten start to the season, but Mandi’s own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time earned Atletico the draw.

Rayo Vallecano had four goalscorers – Alvaro Garcia, Oscar Trejo, Randy Nteka and Santi Comesana – in a 4-0 thrashing of Granada, who have yet to win a LaLiga game this season.

And stoppage-time goals from Roberto Torres – a penalty – and David Garcia stunned Cadiz as Osasuna snatched a 3-2 win.

Lionel Messi had to settle for a substitute appearance as Kylian Mbappe stole the headlines with both goals in Paris St Germain’s 2-0 win at Reims.

Entering the action in the 66th minute to replace Neymar, the Argentinian’s first touch was greeted with screams and cheers from the 6,000 travelling fans.

But it was reported Real Madrid target Mbappe who stole the show, opening the scoring after 15 minutes and wrapping up the points just after the hour.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1, last season’s title winners Lille beat 10-man Montpellier 2-1.

Yusuf Yazici had opened the scoring for Lille in stoppage time at the end of the first half, but there was still enough time for Gaetan Laborde to equalise before the half-time whistle.

Jonathan David scored the winner before Montpellier’s Junior Sambia was shown a straight red card with just over 15 minutes remaining.

A goalkeeping howler from Rennes’ Alfred Gomis gifted Angers their opening goal in a 2-0 win that moved them third, while Clermont drew 2-2 with Metz and Lens played out the same result against Lorient.

Strasbourg beat Brest 3-1 and Sofiane Diop scored twice as Monaco won 2-1 at Troyes.

In the Bundesliga, table-topping Wolfsburg maintained their perfect start to the season with a narrow 1-0 win over RB Leipzig.

Jerome Roussillon scored the only goal of the game just after half-time. Union Berlin also secured a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

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JOSE MOURINHO CRITICAL DECISION TO GIVE SAKA THE LAST AND CRUCIAL PENALTY KICK

Jose Mourinho has criticised Gareth Southgate’s decision to have Bukayo Saka taking England’s fifth penalty in the Euro 2020 final shoot-out.

The 19-year-old Arsenal forward’s penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand Italy victory in the Wembley final and Mourinho felt more experienced England players should have been taking a spot-kick.

The Roma manager told talkSPORT: “The decision of the penalty takers, I think it is hard to leave Saka as the last one. I think it is hard for a kid to have everything on his shoulders at that moment. I just feel very sorry for him.

“In this situation where was (Raheeem) Sterling, where was (John) Stones, where was (Luke) Shaw?

“I feel that Gareth is such an honest guy. Such a protective coach of his players. I don’t think he would ever say players were not ready (to take a penalty).”

Former England full-back Stuart Pearce disagreed with Mourinho and defended Southgate’s choice of penalty takers.

“When we won the last two penalty shoot-outs before last night nobody was complaining about the process in picking the players to take them,” Pearce told talkSPORT.

“Jadon (Sancho), Marcus (Rashford) and Bukayo look like strong characters. These three boys will spring back. Our profession is tough at times but you have got to be resilient.”

Despite the heartbreak of losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties, Mourinho believes England can take confidence into next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

“I believe that if you look forward and you know that you have a World Cup coming very soon there are only reasons to be optimistic. Move to the future with great hope. A lot of these players can be even better for the experience.

“I think people have to start looking at the England national side with different eyes and, for the next World Cup, England will be a strong contender.

“But at the same time I can imagine the frustration and sadness because it was closer than ever. To lose a final at home is very, very hard.

“I think it is a missed opportunity. When you get to a final, anything less than a win is not good. When you lose a final I don’t think you ever forget that. It stays with you forever. I don’t know when they are going to sleep properly because it is hard.

“But the reality is that they did very well. They have a very young team. Gareth and Steve (Holland) together are doing a great job.”

Pearce agreed that England have much to be positive about after reaching their first major tournament final since 1966.

“We’ve gone all the way to the last game. In the end we’ve ended up being beaten by the best side in the tournament,” he said.

“I think the players knew they were so close. The only emotion I have is pride in what they have achieved. They have given the nation a massive lift. I think it is a fantastic achievement. A major step forward. We’ve beaten a decent Czech side, Croatia and the Germans on the way to the final.

“Next year I am looking at the squad of players and thinking that for a lot of players in there this experience will have done them good. Next year we can have a real tilt at the World Cup.”

Mourinho had a difficult relationship with Shaw during his spell as Manchester United manager but admitted that the full-back had enjoyed an impressive tournament.

“Because people feel I don’t like Luke Shaw I have to say amazing tournament, fantastic final, no mistakes,” he said. “For him and his career, very good Luke Shaw.”

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“I HAVE WON 25 AND A HALF TROPHIES” – JOSE MOURINHO CLAIMS MISSED CUP FINAL COUNTS

Jose Mourinho has claimed he deserves recognition for steering Tottenham to the Carabao Cup final, insisting he should get half a trophy because he was sacked shortly before the Wembley showpiece against Manchester City.

Mourinho has won 25 league titles and cups during an illustrious managerial career with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United and seemed to have the chance to add Spurs to that list in April.

However, less than a week before the fixture against City, Mourinho was removed from his position as Spurs head coach after just 17 months in charge, with Ryan Mason overseeing a 1-0 defeat against Pep Guardiola’s side.

And in an interview with The Sun, Mourinho, who will take the reins at Serie A side Roma from next season, asserted he is justified in adding to his trophy haul.

He said: “So if you want me to be proactive now you can ask me, ‘how many trophies have you won in your career?’ And I’ll tell you 25 and a half. The half is the final that I didn’t play with Tottenham.

“You ask the guys who played lots of finals and everybody will tell you, ‘to play a final is a dream’ and it doesn’t matter if it is the first final or number 20 or number 50, a final is always a dream.

“A Wembley final is more than a dream, I played the first on the new Wembley and every time I go there, it’s more than a dream and to have a chance to win a trophy with a club that doesn’t have many of course was a double dream.

“I am the kind of guy that when I close the door of a club, I move and I just wish good to people, but in a funny way I would say I have 25 and a half titles because it’s something that marks my career which is not to play a final that I won the right to go there.”

For all Mourinho’s faults at Spurs, he helped striker Harry Kane go to new levels, with the 27-year-old winning the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards.

Kane is understood to have told Tottenham he wants to leave this summer, but Mourinho would not be drawn on whether that should happen.

He did say, however, that for the England captain to leave a legacy, he needs to win trophies.

“I think he has to play where he is happy. And I think he is happy in England. He is a very Premier League guy,” Mourinho added.

“It is about legacy. Legacy is about medals. I believe all the top players have the feeling of ‘I want to win’.

“But who knows? In five weeks Harry could be a European champion.”

The highlight of Mourinho’s spell in north London was the partnership between Kane and Son Heung-min.

The pair combined for 14 goals last season, breaking a Premier League record set by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton in 1994-95.

Mourinho said of working with Kane: “I enjoyed very much, I enjoyed the fact he won the Golden Boot again. To win the Golden Boot, to win the award for most assists, for him and Son to beat the record of most assists to each other.

“I love very much to work with Harry from an individual point of view but I always enjoyed the partnership between these two fantastic players.”

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AS ROMA APPOINTS JOSE MOURINHO AS THEIR NEW MANAGER AHEAD FOR 2021/2022 SERIE A SEASON

AS Roma, the Serie A club owned by American businessman Dan Friedkin, announced the appointment of José Mourinho as their new head coach beginning in the 2021/22 Serie A season.

The Portuguese manager, dubbed the “Special One” by the soccer community, will sign a three-year deal with Roma.

“AS Roma are delighted to announce an agreement has been reached with José Mourinho to become the club’s new head coach,” reads the statement on Roma’s official website.

“Mourinho has agreed a three-year contract with the Giallorossi that will run until 30 June 2024.”

Mourinho, who less than three weeks ago was sacked by English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, returns to Serie A 11 years after his successful stint at Inter Milan, when he managed to do what nobody had ever done in Italian soccer – win the treble.

Mourinho has thanked the Friedkins and expressed great enthusiasm about the opportunity to take over as the new Roma boss.

“Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,” Mourinho was quoted as saying on Roma’s website.

The appointment of Mourinho as the new Roma manager came just a few hours after the announcement that Paulo Fonseca, Mourinho’s compatriot and incumbent Roma manager, will depart at the end of the 2020/21 Serie A season.

“On behalf of everyone at AS Roma, we would like to thank Paulo Fonseca for his hard work and leadership over the past two years,” reads a statement by Friedkin on Roma’s official website.

“Paulo guided the team through many challenges, including the Covid pandemic and a change of ownership, and did so with selfless integrity and great character. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours and know that he will be a great asset wherever he goes.”

In the summer of 2019, Fonseca signed a two-year deal with the Giallorossi, and now the contract is set to expire on June 30, 2021. In both seasons, Roma have failed to clinch one of Serie A’s top-4 positions, which grant direct access to the UEFA Champions League.

Even though Roma are currently involved in the UEFA Europa League, their odds to access the tournament final are very low, as they would have to come back from a four-goal deficit against Manchester United in the second leg on Thursday at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

With the appointment of Mourinho, Friedkin intends to bring “tremendous leadership and experience” to Roma’s project, key ingredients for the club’s goal to feature again in the most important competition in European soccer.