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.

7 January 2006

Lisbon clubs' sound investements

Robert a quality player

Laurent Robert is a high quality player. He has a terrific left foot, and playing in the final 20 metres he can make the difference. He isn’t a player that makes much effort with defensive duties, and that’s why for clubs like Portsmouth, that have a defensive style of play where there is no space for talents who only attack, he struggled.

I spoke to him a month ago and we were of the same opinion. Laurent is a player who needs to be at a big club, where he has freedom to roam. A big Portuguese team, in my opinion, is much more suited to his football personality than an average Premiership side. I believe it is a good option for him and a good buy for Benfica.

Caneira an excellent purchase

Caneira is a great acquisition for Sporting. Like William Gallas, he’s one of those players who’s worth three, such is the ease with which he adapts to three defensive positions. I don’t think Sporting have a better right-back, they don’t have a better central defender, and they don’t have a left-back who defends better.

Caneira therefore brings a lot of balance to Sporting, as well as the fact that he seems an extremely professional and well-focussed player, who doesn’t make mistakes and guarantees solidity.

Pontes at Guimarães

It’s extremely difficult to coach when your philosophy is completely the opposite to your predecessor. This is the situation of Vítor Pontes at Guimarães, who has a totally different style to the one implemented at the club hitherto this season.

I believe Pontes will succeed, because I believe in quality work, because I believe in structured and well thought out football, and because I believe in intelligence. But it won’t be easy.

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