In an interview with TNT Sports, Jose Mourinho, also known as 'The Special One,' answered a question constantly on soccer fans' minds. Asked which player he would have liked to sign, Mourinho picked "the little guy [Lionel Messi]". "In our generation, he was the best," he said.
Mourinho also described the Argentinian national as "uncoachable."
Mourinho coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Despite their strained relationship due to tactical disagreements, Mourinho later praised Ronaldo in 2018, calling him one of the best players of all time.
As a soccer coach, Mourinho won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and three League Cups at Chelsea, a La Liga title and Copa del Rey with Real Madrid, a continental treble with Inter Milan, and a Champions League title with Porto. He achieved success at Manchester United, winning the League Cup, Europa League, and three trophies during his tenure. He managed 1135 games and secured 703 wins throughout his career.
Mourinho praised Roma fans for being the most loyal in his career, mentioning Old Trafford, Bernabeu, and San Siro as iconic stadiums but highlighting Roma fans for their loyalty despite not always winning. He also considers San Siro the greatest stadium in the world.
He managed and worked with several super famous players, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Eden Hazard. He struggled to choose the best player he worked with but named Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he managed at Real Madrid, as one of his favorites, along with Terry, Lampard, Drogba, and Xabi Alonso.
Mourinho admitted that losing at Liverpool in the semi-finals of the 2004/05 Champions League with Chelsea still bothers him, specifically mentioning the controversial goal scored by Luis Garcia in that tie as a moment that still plays on his mind.
Fans had mixed reactions to Mourinho's admission about Messi, with some mocking Ronaldo and feeling that Mourinho has lost his credibility, while others acknowledged that Mourinho has praised both Messi and Ronaldo in the past.
Messi confirmed Inter Miami will be his last club but is not ready to retire yet.
Sources: dailypost.ng, globeecho.com, pulsesports.ng, sportskeeda.com, givemesport.com, sportsbrief.com, elfutbolero.us, dailymail.co.uk, mundoalbiceleste.com, forbes.com, sports.yahoo.com, elanhub.net, theclevelandamerican.com, naijanews.com, com.pk, talksport.com, clutchpoints.com, akhbarkora.com, firstsportz.com, unitedinfocus.com, worldsoccertalk.com, romapress.net, football-addict.com, and rousingthekop.com.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
