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PARTING SHOT: Mourinho's warning to old club

Tuesday September 25,2007

By Tony Banks

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JOSE MOURINHO last night talked about how he wept on leaving Chelsea and warned his old club: "You're going to miss me...especially when you start losing at home."

Mourinho also insisted he is in no rush for another job but questioned why he was forced out of Stamford Bridge while rival clubs stay loyal to managers even after barren years without top trophies.

In an emotional interview, Mourinho said: “The fans never left Stamford Bridge crying, because we never lost. We beat the record [Chelsea are unbeaten in 42 home league games] and the day they lose a match at home they will remember they were three years without losing a single league game there.”

Mourinho contrasted his departure after constant run-ins with his employers with the more stable record at Manchester United and Arsenal when both clubs have had to contend with interruptions on the trophy trail.

He said: “Here [England] the culture is not one of change. Sir Alex Ferguson was at Manchester United a lot of years without winning titles, I think it was three years in a row, and he continues in his job. Wenger’s already in his third year without winning titles and continues in his work.

“If it were for the fans I’d have a contract for 20 years. Here the culture is different. People like me and there is an excellent relationship.”

And he admitted he went out on a limb in dubbing himself the Special One – but is content the gamble worked. “I took a chance in saying that I was special, but I think there are now a lot of people who would sign up to that,” he said. “I think I’m still special. I achieved good things and it was a fantastic period in my career. I’ll try to forget the bad things and remember the good ones which are endless.”

He will surely remember his tears, too, on leaving his players last week after an emotional final get-together at the club’s Cobham training camp. His players cried, too. “Yes, I cried,” said. “I tend to say that I have a family at home and another at work. I’ve always had a relationship of love with the players and fans. I won’t forget them and they won’t forget me.”

For all that, he wishes he had left Chelsea in the summer when offers were on the table, a sign of the deteriorating relationship with owner Roman Abramovich.

He told Portuguese paper Maisfutebol: “At the end of the season I had good options to leave, but I’d given my word and I stayed.”

HE WALKED THE WALK AND TALKED THE TALK

25.09.07, 8:34pm

Mourinho – although I’m not a fan of his, will be missed, not only by Chelsea fans! The man was obnoxious and arrogant; however, he walked the walk and talked the talk - this can be said only about a few in football.
Roman’s universe is unravelling as it should; Mourinho’s legacy will outlive the wannabe tsar’s.

• Posted by: misanthrope • Report Comment

SPECIAL HE MOST CERTAINLY WAS.

25.09.07, 10:15am

Of course mourinho was special.Its no coincidence that his kids are big wrestling fans which relies on the personalities of the wrestlers.EAch one trying to outdo the next with outlandish outfits and claims.Jose said he was the special one because he knew it would get him noticed and it worked a treat.Underneath mourinho is a different character but he backed up his claims with results on the field.Thats why hes special.

• Posted by: sergio • Report Comment