Master versus pupil at White Hart Lane
Master versus pupil at White Hart Lane
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- Master versus pupil at White Hart Lane
Master versus pupil at White Hart Lane
- How Will They Line Up: Tottenham vs Chelsea
How Will They Line Up: Tottenham vs Chelsea
It’s London vs London. The Liverpool vs Everton of England’s capital city. Ian has got a new job, whilst Anthony tells a sad story about a hamster.
- ESPN FC: London derby at the Lane
ESPN FC: London derby at the Lane
Jose Mourinho insists he does not care about Andre Villas-Boas’ comments towards him, adding he is “not a kid” in discussing relationships with the media.
• Worrall: Chelsea passion key to derby
• Bennett: Master against pupil
Tottenham manager Villas-Boas, who worked under Mourinho during his first spell as Chelsea boss, as well as at Porto and Inter Milan, revealed their breakdown in relationship was down to him wanting to move on his career, while stating that the pair are no longer friends.
However, when Mourinho was asked to describe his relationship with the Spurs boss, he refused to be drawn into the debate.
“I would not describe it because I am not a kid, discussing relationships. I don’t discuss this with the media. It’s a personal thing. I don’t care what he says. I’m not here to do that. I’m not interested,” he said.
“I have had so many assistants in my career. I was always an open book to them and with the coaches in the academy. Will I go for a glass of wine with him? When people invite me I always go. I never refuse.
“But I have nothing more to say on this.”
Despite Mourinho being pitted against Villas-Boas when Tottenham welcome Chelsea on Saturday, the former Real Madrid boss says he is still very much excited about the clash.
“I look forward to playing Tottenham as always — always big matches, good matches,” he said. “I played them with Harry [Redknapp], with Martin [Jol], also in my first season with Jacques Santini. I always like to do so. I know there is rivalry, I know it’s one more London derby, and I like these matches.”
Mourinho did, however, take another swipe at Villas-Boas when pointing to his professional relationship with Louis van Gaal.
He suggested the Spurs boss could take note of the way the pair behaved when they met in the 2010 Champions League final.
“I played a Champions League final against a club [Bayern Munich] where the manager was somebody very important in my career [Van Gaal], somebody that gave me the chance to grow up and teach me so many things, and I had to play against him in a Champions League final. And I did it in a professional way. He did it in a professional way. That’s the way you have to do it.”
When asked whether he should get any credit for Villas-Boas’ development as a manager, Mourinho added: “I have no idea. Ask him, not me. It’s not my problem. I had so many assistants in my career, I was always an open book to all of them. I’m trying to do the same now with [Chelsea coaches] Chris Jones, Steve Holland, people who are working with me for the first time. I try to be an open book for the coaches in the academy. I am an open book. If they want to read the book or not, it’s their problem, not mine.”
Mourinho did say, though, that he would share the customary post-match managers’ glass of wine with Villas-Boas if asked, and that he sees Spurs as title contenders.
“When people invite me, I always go,” he said. “I never refuse. I never refused in the Premier League when an opposition manager invited me. I never refuse.
“I think they are a big contender. I think they are. I think, when a team for two consecutive years with Harry, qualified for the Champions League, played Champions League, they reached a quarter-final against Real Madrid in Harry’s time. The next year they also finished fourth but didn’t play in the Champions League because Chelsea won it. But in these two years, when a team reaches that level — last year they did worse, they didn’t do the same –but the team have big quality.
“This season they have the same manager for the second consecutive year. They were the champions of the transfer market. They bought a lot of players, and all of them are international players and players with quality. The squad is very, very good.
“Probably, before, there was probably a bit of a difference between the first-choice players and the second line. At this moment they have two teams. Against Aston Villa they played with many players who hadn’t played against Cardiff, so they’re a very good team. They’re big contenders.”
Mourinho eventually sought to shut down any discussion of Villas-Boas.
“It’s enough, enough, enough. I’m not a kid to discuss these kind of things with the media,” he said. “If I have something to discuss with Steve (Atkins, Chelsea director of communications), we go upstairs, have lunch and speak about it. I’m not here to discuss it in front of you. I’m not disappointed. I’m just here to speak about anything you want related to the game, not this situation. I think nothing. I don’t think nothing. I have a match tomorrow and I’m going to try and help my team to get a good result. That’s my job.”
Mourinho did, however, have time for one final dig at the Spurs boss.
Villas-Boas has previously discussed how Bobby Robson was a huge help in his career when he was younger, but Mourinho said: “Why? Where has he [Robson] worked with Andre? I don’t understand.”
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