Jose Mourinho, manager of AS Roma, looks on during the Serie A game against Salernitana 1919 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, May 22, 2023. /CFP
Jose Mourinho, manager of AS Roma, looks on during the Serie A game against Salernitana 1919 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, May 22, 2023. /CFP
Jose Mourinho, former manager of the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur, expressed his disappointment at his tenure in the club owned by Daniel Levy, saying that he feels no connection with the London-based team.
Mourinho has managed a total of 10 clubs since he became a manager in 2020. He was hired by Hotspur in November 2019, worked there for about 17 months before getting fired in April 2021. The club reached the EFL Cup Final during the 2020-21 season, but Mourinho didn't get the chance to lead them in that game. Hotspur lost it under interim manager Ryan Mason.
"I hope the Tottenham fans don't get me wrong but the only club in my career where I don't have still a deep feeling for is Tottenham," Mourinho said on Thursday. "Probably because the stadium was empty, COVID time. Probably because Mr. Levy didn't let me win a final and win a trophy."
Daniel Levy, owner of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League game against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, March 18, 2023. /CFP
Daniel Levy, owner of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League game against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, March 18, 2023. /CFP
Mourinho won at least one trophy in nine of the 10 clubs he has managed, including the UEFA Champions League titles in Porto and Inter Milan. Managing Hotspur became the only trophyless part of his career as a manager.
"But it's the only one, so after that – Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United – all the clubs I feel a connection," Mourinho said. "I go in the streets so many times in Italy and I find Inter fans. I go in London – not just the Chelsea fans but also the Man United fans. Real Madrid all over the world. It's about the feeling that give you everything."
"People think, 'You cannot love every club.' Yes, I love every club. I love every club because I felt the other way around – they also loved me. So with Roma, one day it will be hard but we will be connected forever like I am with all my previous clubs – apart [from] Mr. Levy's club," the 60-year-old Portuguese added.
Paulo Dybala (L) of AS Roma dribbles in the first-leg game of the UEFA Europa League semifinals against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, May 11, 2023. /CFP
Paulo Dybala (L) of AS Roma dribbles in the first-leg game of the UEFA Europa League semifinals against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, May 11, 2023. /CFP
Hotspur are currently eighth in the Premier League with one more game to go, likely to miss both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League next season. By contrast, AS Roma, the club Mourinho is managing at the moment, are sixth in Serie A and will appear in the Europa League final against Sevilla at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on May 31.
Mourinho revealed that Roma's Argentine striker Paulo Dybala may miss the game against Sevilla because of an ankle injury. Dybala has scored 16 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances for the Italian club this season.
"I don't think he can play. Honestly, I hope he can make it for the bench. It's the last game of the season even if after that we have Spezia," Mourinho said. "But for Paulo, it would be the last game. I'd be happy if Paulo could go on the bench and play 15 or 20 minutes. Dybala is still with the doctors."