Jose interview in English
Mourinho on Real Madrid, Gerrard, Lampard and playing to win
G.Balague
With his confirmation as the next manager of Real Madrid imminent, Jose Mourinho took time out from the frenetic contract negotiations taking place in Milan last night to sit down with me and discuss his plans for the Bernabeu. (A full transcript of the exclusive interview in Spanish, published in AS, is available here).
Talks between Inter Milan and the Spanish side are in their latter stages, but despite being at the eye of the media storm, Jose was as engaging and revealing as always when I met up with him in Italy yesterday for what could be his final interview before the anticipated official announcement is made in the coming hours....
The former Chelsea boss responded to the concerns expressed by many associated with the Spanish club that his brand of football will not suit their attacking traditions and expectations of entertainment, and said: “Real Madrid will be a balanced side. A team that sets out to win titles must be conscious of its strengths and weaknesses – and must work as a unit. A team that wants to win titles must in games – and a tem that wants to win games must play well. We will be an outfit with our own identity; we will not imitate anybody else. The players and I will shape our identity.”
I like to play with four at the back, but my teams are also prepared to play with three. I`ve won a lot of gmes playing with just three defenders. At Chlesea I won five games with three at the back, at Inter the previous season I won three like that and this year one game. Normally we play with four at the back, but with two attacking full backs like Ashley Cole or Maicon....
My Madrid will always play well, attack - and will win. However, there will be times when things have to be done differently.”
With both Raul and Guti linked with moves to the Premier League, Mourinho has already considered the futures of Madrid`s two longest serving stars: “The veterans deserve to be happy – and they could be happy playing at another club or assuming a different role at the club that has been their home for many years. If a 36 year old wants to be an automatic starter in every game, he`s got to be honest with himself and with the team. For me, Guti has already left. I have read what he has had to say and for me, that is what counts. He said goodbye to the fans and took his lap of honour. If he changes his mind later on, that doesn`t really count. I like people who are true to their word and move on. Raul, on the other hand, has kept quiet and I haven`t heard him say a word. He has always remained calm. Once I`m in Madrid, I`d like to talk to him on the phone or meet up with him somewhere if he wants to chat with me..."
Speculation has also been rife regarding Mourinho`s list of transfer targets, with the former Chelsea manager eyeing a number of his former players along with several Premier league stars. When asked if a move for Daniele De Rossi was imminent, Mourinho explained that “it would be impossible to sign him, because De Rossi and Totti are Roma...De Rossi is a lifelong Romanista and I think it would be impossible to sign him.”
And when asked about potential moves for Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Mourinho explained that while, because of their ages, neither would retain their market value over the years to come, he still sees both as a worthwhile investment: “I like players in the final phase of their careers,” replied Jose, “I like having a few 33 or 34 year old players. Those two are great players who have always given their all.”
Mourinho also explained that he made his mind up to join Real Madrid before the Champions League final and that he intends to work with humility at an institution where, under Florentino Perez, the manager has typically enjoyed a far less influential and high profile role than we usually associate with Jose Mourinho. However, Jose believes that he will have no problem working with the club`s sporting director and said “I am totally compatible with Jorge Valdano.”
