Mourinho reveals all: my team, my boss,
The Times December 08, 2006
Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent
José Mourinho has called for Chelsea to be allowed to field a B team in the Coca-Cola Championship, a controversial request that will stir a fevered debate in English football. The outspoken Portuguese argues that the move would benefit not only his own club, but also the development of young players for the national team.
Speaking to The Times, Mourinho also revealed that he would walk out if Roman Abramovich ordered him to pick Andriy Shevchenko and, to back up his claims of autonomy over selection matters, says that the Ukraine forward is not among the nine “untouchables” who are guaranteed selection. “Sheva is not untouchable because [of] the way he is playing,” Mourinho said, although he has stuck doggedly by him.
He also divulges that his next career move will probably be to Serie A, where Inter Milan have a longstanding interest, and he vehemently rejects accusations that Chelsea are an unattractive team compared with Manchester United and Arsenal, whom the champions entertain on Sunday.
“They [Arsenal] were pretty when they were champions without defeat, yes,” Mourinho said. “Not pretty when they finished fourth, when they had to win their last game to qualify for the Champions League. Not pretty when they get zero points in two matches. The best football is the football adapted to the circumstances.”
The manager’s remarks feature in his most candid interview since he arrived at Stamford Bridge 2½ years ago lauding himself as a “Special One”. He appeared dumbfounded when it was suggested that he was under pressure from Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, to pick Shevchenko. “If he doesn’t trust the manager, he has enough money to sack me, to give me my compensation, send me home and bring another one in,” Mourinho said.
Yet speculation continues about Shevchenko’s future and the record £30.8 million signing was forced to deny comments attributed to him yesterday in which he allegedly talked of leaving London and of Abramovich interceding on his behalf if necessary. “If he was happy, we would have a problem,” Mourinho said. “The good thing is that he is not happy with the way he is performing.”
There are expectations that Mourinho could walk away if Chelsea win the Champions League in May. “I don’t know at this moment where I can find more than I have in Chelsea,” he said. “I keep saying that Serie A is something that motivates me. But what motivates me more is being in the best league in the world. And the best league in this moment is here.”
Mourinho’s suggestion that top clubs such as Chelsea should be able to field their reserve teams in the second tier, as Real Madrid do in Spain, is sure to provoke a reaction. Some will interpret it as another sign of Chelsea’s unfettered ambition, but Mourinho insists that his motivation is to provide better competition for young players and the FA Premier League, which has set up a working party to look at reserve-team football, may welcome his opinion if it encourages sensible debate.
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