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| Thursday, 14 October 2010 20:18 |
No rift with Jesualdo - Mourinho“We have a great relationship” Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has emphatically denied suggestions that this weekend’s clash against Malaga will represent a grudge match between himself and the Andalucian club’s coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
Malaga host Mourinho’s men at La Rosaleda on Saturday evening, with the Portuguese coaches meeting for the first time since the 2003/04 season. Despite having known each other since Mourinho’s days as a student, it has long been speculated that the pair share a frosty relationship. However, Real coach Mourinho says he is baffled by the media interest in such a story and insists he is in regular contact with Ferreira. "What a complete embarrassment," he said. "We don’t have a good relationship - we have a great relationship. So the fact that this is being said will not hurt us in any way. But it does make me a little sad. "Jesualdo had a great career in Portugal. He earned the right to coach in Spain. He has the titles and experience to back him. He doesn’t deserve the treatment he has received. I may have had problems and riffs with different coaches, but not with him. We don’t have a close relationship, but we speak on occasion and we are friends. Related article: Malaga boss Ferreira prepares to meet old enemy Mourinho in Spain: "My players don't need motivation" "I know he wants Real Madrid to finish as champions and I want him to win all his matches with Malaga except the two against us. We are both Portuguese and friends and we have a perfect relationship. I am upset that the press will say anything, but it isn’t enough to prevent a hug between friends before and after the match. We meet on occasion, we crossed paths at the UEFA coaches meetings and we call one another. I called him five minutes after Malaga defeated Zaragoza and he did the same after we beat Deportivo. We have a great relationship. We went to the same university and I call him “Professor” because he was older than me and he was one of my professors. I really don’t understand anything that has been said, but it’s okay." By Sean Gillen Keep up to date with all the latest news on Portuguese football with the PortuGOAL Twitter! |
Mourinho's short stint at Benfica ended because Ferreira was preferred by Vilarinho who had just won the election... at the time Mou had a chip on his shoulder because of that so he made the comments he made...
almost 7 years later, Ferreira has won some titles and Mou has continued to win titles, but that animosity between them is gone because they both found success after that Benfica incident
it does Mou no good to play mind games with a team like Malaga who's a team Real should handle easily... Mou's saving the mind game for Barca :-)
Since he arrived in Spain he hasn't really caused or said anything controversial, fallen out with anyone, the way he handled not being able to coach Portugal was admirable too.
Maybe he is losing some of that arrogance he is normally famous for?
If I was Jesualdo I don't think I could ever forgive Jose for those donkey comments. So while he probably respects Jose as a coach I don't think likes him as a person.