Former Manchester United and Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho, never one to shy away from controversy, has once again grabbed headlines with a characteristically sharp-tongued interview, taking aim at his former club Chelsea and long-time nemesis Pep Guardiola following the conclusion of the Club World Cup.
The 62-year-old, now at the helm of Turkish giants Fenerbahce, reignited old feuds while discussing his storied rivalry with Guardiola during their El Clasico days.
Mourinho, known for his incisive analysis and provocative statements, wasted no time in jabbing at Guardiola’s goalkeeping preferences.
“If you die with your idea, you’re stupid. Coaches must adapt. Playing from the back with a wooden goalkeeper is tough,” he stated.
Mourinho highlighted Guardiola’s past decisions, referencing the likes of Joe Hart, Claudio Bravo, and Ederson as examples of the Catalan’s evolving—and sometimes perplexing—choices between the sticks.
The “Special One” then turned his attention to Chelsea, dismissing their Club World Cup participation as a mere commercial exercise rather than a pursuit of genuine sporting glory.
While acknowledging Cole Palmer’s stellar season, Mourinho downplayed the Blues’ semi-final run, likening it to a pre-season tour.
“This World Cup title only matters for Chelsea because they’ll sell a lot of jerseys with the logo,” he asserted.
In stark contrast, Mourinho heaped praise on Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain, despite their 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final.
He lauded PSG’s historic Champions League triumph – a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan – calling them the “big winners” for their European dominance, especially given they achieved it after losing their star player.
In other news, Mourinho’s current club, Fenerbahce, are reportedly setting their sights on Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface.
The Turkish outfit is said to be preparing a record-breaking KSh 6.072 billion (€40 million) bid to entice Bayer Leverkusen into selling the prolific striker this summer.
This potential move could be overshadowed by Victor Osimhen’s KSh 11.385 billion (€75 million) release clause if Galatasaray successfully secures him permanently.
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