Top 10 Quotes from 'The Special One' Jose Mourinho

Arguably one of the best managers in the world, Jose Mourinho is no mug when it comes to public speaking. Against the norm of a run-of-the-mill interview, he is ever-ready to let out a quote or two to embellish the front pages of newspapers. Here are a few of those smashing, eccentric quotes that stand out from the 'Special One'.

#10 Would you phone the President of Ghana?

In one of the press conferences during his previous managerial reign at Chelsea, he was asked by a Ghanian journalist as to whether he had ever telephoned Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, to know about his well-being.

Mourinho answered the question using a sensational one-liner after which the journo couldn’t dare to interrogate him any further!

#9 In normal conditions, Porto will be the champion, in abnormal conditions, Porto will also be the champion.

After clinically winning the Primeira Liga with FC Porto in his first season (2002-03) itself as manager, Mourinho exuded tremendous confidence in his side, claiming that they would retain their title in the following season as well.

Mind you! Mourninho doesn’t make lame claims. Does he?

Stunningly so, his team backed up his claims by obtaining an unassailable lead five weeks before the end of the season; the icing on the cake being their perfect record at home.

#8 If you have at home one Bentley and one Aston Martin, if you go all day everyday in the Bentley and leave the Aston Martin in the garage you are a bit stupid.

Defending his rotation policy at Real Madrid, Mourinho elaborated on the necessity to utilize all the available resources in the best possible way.

There is no denying the fact that Real Madrid, the richest club in the world, have always had the luxury to choose between two world-class players for almost every position.

#7 Pressure? What pressure? Pressure is millions of parents around the world with no money to feed their children.

Right at the start of the 2012-13 La Liga season, Real Madrid were in a spot of bother after suffering two back-to-back away defeats at the hands of Getafe (1-2) and Sevilla(0-1).

Mourinho, Real Madrid’s manager then, when questioned regarding the pressure on the club on trailing the table toppers Barcelona by 8 points, was emphatic in his denial.

In fact, his statement was rephrased by many a celebrity.

#6 99.99% of the Liverpool fans think they are in the final. They are not.

Jose Mourinho guards against complacency as much as he flaunts effrontery.

In 2005, after the first leg of Champions League’s semi-final was drawn against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the Liverpool fans were seen celebrating joyously in anticipation of a comfortable victory at Anfield in the second leg.

Their manager, however, wasn’t taking anything for granted and made it extremely clear with the above statement the need for his players to be on their toes in the home leg.

Nonetheless, Liverpool did win in the second leg by 1-0 and eventually lifted the coveted Champions League title at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.

#5 Im not Harry Potter. He is magical, but in reality there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real.

Despite proclaiming to be out of the ordinary, Jose Mourinho’s pragmatic approach is quite fascinating.

Signing a 4-year long contract as Real Madrid’s manager in 2010, he expounded how the fans shouldn’t be expecting miraculous, title-winning performances in his first year itself as it would take him time to get accustomed to the new culture.

Los Blancos although, ended runners-up in the 2010-11 season of La Liga, but went on to clinch the title in the very next season.

#4 Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy [Lionel Messi] has learned very well. Hes learned play-acting.

In the 2005-06 Champions League, Chelsea were eliminated in the pre-quarter finals by Barcelona.

The loss at Stamford bridge didn’t go down well with Mourinho, the then Chelsea manager. He blamed the Barca wonderboy Lionel Messi whom he believed got the Blues’ defender Asier Del Horno wrongly sent off, which eventually cost them the game.

#3 If Roman Abramovich helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt!

During the 2005-06 season, there were reports that the sole owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich, was interfering in the tactical decisions of the club.

Mourinho, the then manager of the club, denied the allegations in his very own manner. The manager’s claim wasn’t all too wrong, as the Blues clinched their third championship in the very same season, 8 points clear of runners up Manchester United.

#2 Everyobody was waiting for Chelsea to not win every game, and one day when we lose, there will be a holiday in the country.

Never did Jose Mourinho have the best of relationships with media.

In fact, he believed that even the media, apart from the referees, obviously, conspired against the Blues. Chelsea eventually suffered their first defeat in the 2006-07 season post an 8-match long undefeated streak.

The English residents were hurt, nonetheless, as there was no declaration of a holiday!

#1 Please dont call me arrogant, but Im European champion and I think Im a special one.

Jose Mourinho is, by no means, just another manager of a football club. And he wants everybody to be aware of that fact. On his arrival at Chelsea as their football manager, he famously called himself ‘a special one’.

Well, he had all the rights to do so, considering the host of titles won by him at FC Porto: Portuguese Cup (2003), UEFA Cup (2003), Portuguese Super Cup (2003), Portuguese League (2004), UEFA Champions League (2004).

‘The Special One’ didn’t cut a poor figure of himself in England either; as he went on to win two Premierships, two League Cups, followed by a FA Cup title.