Mourinho unveiled as new Real Madrid boss
By Soccernet staff
May 31, 2010
Jose Mourinho has been officially paraded in front of the press as the new manager of Real Madrid.
Mourinho, who led Inter Milan to an unprecedented treble last season, takes over from Manuel Pellegrini who was sacked after finishing second in La Liga and failing to get past the Second Round in the Champions League.
Mourinho is the Spanish giants' ninth coach in six years, with Real paying a reported ¬8 million in compensation.
Mourinho said: "I don't know if I was born to coach Real Madrid but I was born to be a football coach. I love important challenges. I am Jose Mourinho and I don't change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects.
"My attraction to Real Madrid is due to its history, its frustrations in recent years and its expectations to win. It's a unique club and I believe that not to coach Real leaves a void in a coach's career. Luckily, I've had a beautiful career and it makes me proud to have come here.
"I am very enthusiastic. I want my players to think that way. The beauty is not so much to train or play at Real, but to win at Real Madrid.''
With Real's history of disposing of managers regularly regardless of success, Mourinho insisted he was not afraid for being sacked.
"I think a coach needs to be ready to be sacked,'' Mourinho said. "But if a coach fears that, he doesn't work well and has great problems. I am a coach that has a lot of self-esteem and confidence and I don't think about the possibility of being sacked.
"I think four years of contract is enough to win, to build a strong team for the present and the future. The sacking of Pellegrini doesn't make me happy. I am never happy when a coach is sacked. But football is like that. I have a lot of confidence in my players, I have the hope that my new players have confidence in me.''
Mourinho shed little light on what he will bring to Real but outlined his vision for the future of the club.
He said: "It's too early to speak about changes. I believe it's time to analyse the situation, to get to know my club, ask lots of questions and get answers. I need to realise the direction of my work. The most important thing is not the coach or the players but the club.
"We are too small compared to the dimension of the club. If we work as a group, it's not difficult to get results. I want this group to have an identity, to win everything. The strength of my team is always the team and not the individuals.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible player not only for Real but for the whole of football. Cristiano is a winner and it's not difficult to persuade him of this.''
When asked if this was his greatest career challenge, Mourinho said: "I cannot say this is the biggest motivation in my career. My biggest ambition is always the next one. Right now it is Real Madrid. I don't change my level of ambition or motivation. I gave everything to every club where I have been and I will do the same here.
"I don't feel any kind of different pressure. I am a coach that improves day-by-day. I arrive with everything a coach can win at club football.''
Mourinho refused to shed light on Real's transfer objectives. "I don't like to talk about players because their prices will go up if I do,'' Mourinho said. "The club is happy with the roster of last season and so am I. We don't need major changes.
"We need three or four players for the coach to have more possibilities to get closer to my ideal of a team. But I don't think it's going to be a summer with a lot of changes. I think it will be a more calm summer with all the focus on the World Cup.
"I am not anti-Barcelona. I am coach of Real but Barca doesn't worry me. My only concern is to grow Real. Barca are great rivals and we respect them. If I am hated at Barcelona, it is their problem but not mine. Fear is not a word in my football dictionary.''
The former Chelsea manager had kind words for Inter. "I hope my former players can win everything in Italy but not the Champions League,'' he said. "I cannot forget the group that I've had. Inter has a team for the future.
"They will need a quality coach and the coach that arrives will need to be intelligent and follow the path he needs to follow. Whoever arrives will be lucky because they will get the chance to play in three finals, the Italian Super Cup, European Super Cup and World Club tournament, a present I have left.''
Real sporting director Jorge Valdano said: "Mourinho has signed a contract for four seasons. It's an honour to have with us one of the most prestigious coaches in the world. We are delighted to have him here with us.
"The best thing for our club right now, is to have Mourinho with us.
