"On a methodological level I have left a legacy"

Also, remembering this stage, Mourinho looked back pointing out that «The period that I have been was a difficult period for Madrid, a period in which Barcelona was dominating, not only at the level of results but also at the level of public opinion and played a very nice football, they had players of a creativity and a fantastic magic. We had to break this domain. It was a tough, difficult period, but I think Mr. Thebes is right because it was a period where the world's media attention was here with Cristiano and Messi in a fantastic moment and the teams full of quality players. I had arrived from Inter, Pep was in Barcelona … but more important than all of us is Real Madrid, it is Barcelona, ​​it is the hobby and passion you have for football ».

His memory of Spain

Another of the subjects on which the Portuguese was consulted was the importance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and how this rivalry has improved both players. «I think it's his nature. In my personal situation I always say that I owe so much to my players, as to those who have not been my players and have created problems for me. For example, Messi never played on my team but I played against him and he has made me a better coach for having to prepare matches against him, for having to organize my team … when I say Messi I say all the great players against whom I have played » The Special One pointed out.

INTERVIEW | The EFE Agency exclusively interviews José Mourinho: "Messi made me a better coach," says the Portuguese who, outside the centrifuge, praises the rival from his naturalness https://t.co/PnZASkRQZI

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– EFE Sports (@EFEdeportes) September 13, 2019

As well recognized that throughout his professional career in the benches, «I believe that there is a legacy at the methodological level. People more easily identify the legacies at the level of the tactical system, remember who has been the first who has arrived with the 3 I do not know what I do not know what, the first who has done I do not know what … but there are legacies a little more hidden than not they are visible to everyone and I think the methodological legacy is very important. I think that in the period between 2000 and 2004/2005 I changed many things at the methodological level. I have thought a lot, studied a lot and adapted a lot to come up with a methodological idea and then when I won with Porto people have worried about knowing why and at the university level and at the level of training of young coaches people have worried about looking for and I think that methodologically I have done school or at least I have opened horizons so that people could think about soccer training in a completely different way. And this cannot be taken away from me, it is like that and it will always be like this ».

Atlético de Madrid, Ajax, Premier League … and Real Madrid

As well The Portuguese coach had words about Atlético de Madrid, for the one who had praise and recognized that «It is no longer an emerging team. It is a team that has won the League in the last decade, I do not remember very well in what year, has won Cups, has won Europas Leagues, has reached the end of Champions League, makes incredible investments, they have a new stadium where everyone Those of us who love football have lost the Calderón but football has won a fantastic stadium. Atletico today for me is a strong candidate, and when I say strong I say very strong, to win the Spanish League ». Regarding fellow countryman Joao Felix, José Mourinho recalled that «I always say the same. It is difficult for people to look at it forgetting the price, it is one thing that they will have to charge for some time until these numbers start to be normal, because I think that by one year someone will pay 300 for one and already the People forget Felix and he has to carry that. Without knowing it, it seems to me psychologically with personality, very stable, very confining … it seems to me that it has structure to carry with the backpack of this media weight and with the pressure; It has fantastic qualities. Atletico loses Griezmann, but the way he has built, how he has invested … loses Griezmann, Godín but every investment he does does well. In addition, Simeone feels like a fish in water; I think it's the perfect club for him and he is the perfect coach for Atlético and I really look at them, now from the outside I see Atlético with the ability to win the League, he can win ».

Another of the current issues that the technician talked about was Ajax that so many compliments he won last year and on which he pointed out that «I honestly do not see it as an innovator, I see it as a team with quality players and with this model of people from the house looking for two or three players that can be fundamental in their balance or as Tadic that has arrived and has changed things to best. They have a style of a team that does not have great responsibilities. I played against them in the Europa League final last season and I think the reason they lost that final is exactly the same reason they have lost the Champions League semifinals: it is a team that has its way of thinking and that he lacks pragmatism. People love it, people like it and fall in love with their game, but there are times when you want to win when you have to say 'to win I have to do this' or' to win I can't do this ', and it seems to me that they have not succeeded in two important moments. They failed to make that mental and tactical adaptation to say ‘ok, we are here and we will win’ ».

Meanwhile, and when referring to the Premier League, Mourinho was clear by pointing out that «The panorama is easy. At the beginning of the season I said that City, Liverpool and Tottenham would fight for the title. Now I can change a bit and say that Tottenham is the third best team in the League and that City and Liverpool are going to fight for the title. They are two strong teams and now I see Tottenham a little behind. Then between Chelsea, United and Arsenal will have to fight for fourth place and looking back we must have a little fear and respect because teams like Everton and Leicester are struggling to enter the top six positions. But that Premier League in which four, five or six teams fought for the title is very obvious that this year is not going to be like this and that they will fight it between two ».

Ultimately the coach He has been asked about the possibility of returning to Real Madrid where he has the doors open, something about which he responded «I don't come, I don't go (to Madrid) because I don't like people to interpret it in a negative way. I would love to be more times in Madrid, go to the stadium and watch a game. I've been traveling a lot and I'm going to watch many games, I follow different sports that I love and I would like to be more in Madrid and see my friends, but I don't. I do not do it because I want to protect this situation, which are always situations that I do not like to feed (…) But as you said about the open doors, I felt this at the moment I left. And I felt it with Madrid, with Chelsea, with Inter, with everyone. I am a person who has had the capacity that in all my exits, all either by choice or by club option, I have always emerged as a serious, honest uncle, who has given everything and has open doors. I'm friends with my presidents, even the presidents who threw me out, and that's how I like it to be ».