4 of the Best Things Jose Mourinho Has Said About Tottenham Over the Years
Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was announced as manager of Tottenham Hotspur today, less than 12 hours after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino.
Mourinho, who had two stints at Spurs' rivals Chelsea, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract, keeping him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2023.
However, the controversial boss from Portugal has not held back when speaking about his current employers in the past, and may have tarnished the legacy he created at Chelsea by making the switch to North London.
So here are the most controversial, hilarious and hypocritical Mourinho quotes about Tottenham, per the Evening Standard, from years gone by.
"I'm Chelsea" - March 1, 2015
When Chelsea beat Spurs in the Capital One Cup final, Mourinho was asked whether Spurs had made an approach in 2007. He said: “Yes. I couldn’t go. I couldn’t train in England for two years." He was also asked whether he would have moved to White Hart Lane, but the then-51-year-old said: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much. I’m Chelsea.”
This quote would fall into the 'not aged well at all' category, but times have changed for Mourinho. He was hounded out of both Chelsea and Manchester United, so a quote from 12 years ago may not be entirely accurate towards how he feels in the present day.
"They Left the Bus in Front of the Goal" - September 19, 2004
Now, Mourinho has made a name for himself by organising his defence and allowing his opposition little space in the final third, so this quote can be taken with a pinch of salt.
He said: “As we say in Portugal, they brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend.
"This is a difficult league with everyone losing games. Maybe even Tottenham will lose a game defending with 11 players.”
This quote dates back to 2004, his first year in the Premier League. That season, Chelsea finished first while conceding just 15 goals. A slightly hypocritical statement from Mourinho back then, but Spurs fans will be crying out for a similar record right now.
"I Feel Very Sorry for Mauricio” June 1, 2019
Despite taking his job, not 24 hours after his sacking, Mourinho admires former Spurs boss Pochettino. With a subtle swipe at Tottenham for not backing the Argentinian to bring his players in, he sympathises with his lack of trophies for the club.
He said: “Mauricio has four very good years at Spurs, brings them to the final of the Champions League and is still waiting for the first trophy, not just with Tottenham but of his career. I feel very sorry for Mauricio.”
"They Have Their Eyes in Bigger Pictures" - September 1, 2019
Mourinho may not be the best man-manager in football. That may be a fairly popular decision, but he knows the ultimate end-game for footballers.
Trophies.
This has never been an issue wherever the 56-year-old has gone, but has highlighted the unrest in Tottenham's dressing room, even before he was appointed. Spurs failed to win a trophy under Pochettino, but Mourinho has a proven track record that he is a serial winner.
He said: “Maybe now, the feeling that I have what is happening with Christian Eriksen, with Jan Vertonghen, in the end of last season with Toby Alderweireld, it looks like probably now some of the boys they are not so happy to stay. They have their eyes in bigger pictures.
"Other players getting more money than them, other players getting more titles, look to Kyle Walker winning trophies, looking to the possibility to play for Real Madrid, for Barcelona, for Paris Saint-Germain. Maybe in this moment the team is not that focused family full of chemistry.”