Jose Mourinho writes a weekly column entitled 'Hotel Chelsea' for the Portuguese sports daily 'Record'.

In this section read a translated summary of Mourinho's fascinating insights.

12 September 2005

Transfer frenzy

Real Madrid, Liverpool, Newcastle, Benfica and Sporting used the final minutes before the transfer deadline to wrap up deals. I acknowledge that the financial clout of my club puts us in an ideal position, but as I believe in structuring and organisation, I find it difficult to understand these kinds of deals that smack of desperation.

Michael Owen and Newcastle were the main focus of attention. The scenario was perfect. On the one hand a Real Madrid player, undisputable and important for the English national team and his former team and on the other hand a club that is desperately seeking success. Sixteen million pounds, twenty thousand ecstatic fans to welcome him… everything perfect. Even more so because before Owen another excellent player had arrived, Luque, which shows the potential of this club and its ambitions.

Delicate Simão situation

Simão, Benfica and Liverpool also were protagonists, but in a different way. A player with legitimate ambitions to develop, only possible in one the main European leagues; a club that are champions and did not want to lose their best player; another enormous club prepared to make a huge investment…

If I was Simão, I would really want to go to Liverpool; if I was Liverpool I would really want to sign him; if I was Benfica, I wouldn’t sell him at any price… for now!

Now the problem will be how to recuperate a disappointed and frustrated player to ensure he keeps playing at the highest level. To do so there are two solutions: either a new contract to show the player he is wanted for life, offering something like the money he could earn in England; or an unequivocal guarantee that he can leave at the end of the season, leaving Benfica time to search for alternatives.

Sound investments by Lisbon clubs

Miccoli is good; Karagounis also. Both add important qualities to Benfica. Alves is a good Portuguese solution and Wender could give Sporting a good balance.

Maniche

Maniche admitted his mistake in going to Dynamo Moscow. Maniche doesn’t like Moscow, Dynamo, the country, the city, the league, the climate, and so he wants to leave. It seems normal to me.

What doesn’t seem normal to me is the way he showed it and the moment he chose, coinciding with Portugal’s trip to Russia and the closure of the transfer period.

It’s going to be difficult for Maniche to play for Dynamo until the market reopens and very difficult for a club to pay the 16 million euros for him. Is there another solution? Yes, if Jorge Mendes [Maniche’s agent] manages to find a club that accepts Maniche in exchange for another player or players valued at this price.

Incredible Africa

It was an incredible journey to the Ivory Coast. The match began at 4.00pm, but at 10.30am the stadium was already full. After visiting the residence of the president of the country, I arrived half an hour before the start of the game. The crowd on their feet applauded me and sang my name: all of them Chelsea supporters!

I had divided loyalties. On the one side, a country that has my Drogba, the king; on the other side my Geremi and Artur Jorge [Cameroon’s Portuguese coach], whom I admire and respect and who left Portugal too soon.

The best team won. Cameroon, thanks to Artur Jorge, have more tactical maturity and nous, a more solid defence, less distance between lines, better occupation of spaces, better definition of rhythms. They are in Germany deservedly.