Tottenham Hotspur appointed José Mourinho as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last November.
The Portuguese tactician returned to management 11 months after he was sacked by Manchester United. If reports at the time were to be believed, Mourinho had fallen out with key stars at Old Trafford.
He was also publicly critical about Tanguy Ndombele before football was suspended due to the Coronavirus crisis. This has led to rumours linking the midfielder with a move away from Spurs.
The former Chelsea manager appeared as a guest on Fox Sports Brasil’s program, ‘Expediente Futebol’ and was asked why he had issues with certain players in his managerial career.
“I never had problems with great players, I had problems with players who did not like to win,” he said.
“Football is about tactical discipline, serious work, but it can never be about freedom, pleasure. And when you’re lucky enough to have special players, you have to feel free.”
Despite having more than three years left on his current deal at Tottenham, Mourinho was asked if he would be open to the idea of managing in Brazil. Although the current Tottenham manager stressed it seems difficult, he didn’t rule it out.
“In football I think you can never say: ‘I will never drink this water’. You never know what’s going to happen,” Mourinho told Fox Sports Brasil.
“I left Portugal in 2004 and haven’t gone back yet. There are those who expect me to return to train the Portuguese team one day, and I can’t even say yes or no.
“One thing I say is, I’m 57 years old, and that’s not enough for a coach. People think I’m tired because I’ve been in this high dimension for many years, but I’m tired of being home now due to the Coronavirus, I’m not tired of training and playing.
“If God is willing and gives me health, I will have many years ahead of me and I do not say I will not drink this water. At that moment it is difficult to say yes, but it is also impossible to say no [to managing in Brazil].”
