Jose Mourinho news: Portuguese ‘not happy’ and ‘full of fire’ in anticipation of return to management

The Portuguese has been out of work since last December when Manchester United sacked him

Jack Rathborn
Tuesday 30 July 2019 15:01 BST
Comments
Jose Mourinho praises a 'pragmatic' Liverpool after Champions League win

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jose Mourinho is underlined his desire to return to management when the right opportunity arises.

The Portuguese has been out of work since December last year following his sacking at Manchester United, but he remains “full of fire” in anticipation of his return.

Despite the lure of international football, Mourinho is eager to get back into the club game, specifically the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga Serie A or Ligue 1.

“I have some time to think, to rethink, to analyse and what I feel is exactly that ‘Ze’ (Mourinho’s nickname as a boy) is full of fire,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“My friends tell me ‘enjoy your time, enjoy your July, enjoy your August, enjoy what you never had’. Honestly, I can’t enjoy. I am not happy enough to enjoy. I miss my football, I have the fire.

“The most difficult thing for me is to say ‘no’ to the possibilities I had to work.

“I have to be patient and wait for the right one and the right one is one at the dimension of what I am as a manager.

“I have to be patient and that is the most difficult thing because I had the impulse during this period so many times (to say) ‘yes, I go’. No, I cannot go. I cannot go. I have to wait exactly for the right one.”

Mourinho is learning German but says he is not thinking specifically of going to the Bundesliga, adding: “No club is waiting for me, nobody knocked at my door.”

When asked if it would still have to be one of the ‘big five’ European leagues to attract him, the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss said “yes.”

He added: “If you tell me a club in another country, to fight to be champion, to build something special, to bring that club in that country to a different level – maybe, who knows. But my focus is on the biggest ones.”

Mourinho also insists international management is something he may do in the future.

Mourinho is eager to return to the game
Mourinho is eager to return to the game (EPA)

“A national team job for me...one match per month? Lots of office. No pitch. No matches. Wait two years for a European Championship, wait two years for a World Cup....no. Still no,” the 56-year-old said.

“But one day maybe, if not Portugal then another country. Because when I go to the World Cups, the Euros, when I am there in the centre of that event, I have the feeling one day I want to do it.

“Then I think it is not the job for me. But maybe one day – and, if it is Portugal, obviously I would be very proud.”

PA Sport also contributed to this report

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in