Mourinho Reveals Messi as the One Player He Wished He Could Have Coached
In an interview with TNT Sports, newly appointed Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho shared his thoughts on the illustrious players he has coached throughout his storied career in the world of football.
The “Special One” has mentored a mouthwatering array of talent, including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, and Eden Hazard during his time at Chelsea. However, one notable absentee from this star-studded list is Lionel Messi, whom Mourinho revealed he would have loved the opportunity to coach.
“Of course I would say the little guy [Messi]. But the little guy was not coachable.” The Portuguese tactician then went on to praise Messi’s brilliance, adding, “But I have to say in our generation he was the best.”
Mourinho and Messi have only ever faced each other as bitter rivals, with the former spending three years at Real Madrid while the Argentine superstar starred for fierce foes Barcelona. Despite this, the 61-year-old manager still holds Messi in the highest regard.
Later in the interview, Mourinho was asked to choose his favorite player he has worked with, a difficult task given his impressive list of former protégés. Though he has overseen the likes of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, the “Special One” opted to remain neutral, stating, “You know, it is very hard to say. To speak about [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Didier] Drogba, Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Man United, all the Inter [Milan] guys… I don’t know.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Mourinho shared his fondness for Roma’s supporters, describing them as “so, so loyal to the team,” despite the difficult end to his tenure as the club’s manager. He also revealed his cooking skills, claiming he can make “amazing scrambled eggs,” and named 1936 Olympics hero Jesse Owens as the greatest sportsperson of all time.
As Mourinho prepares to embark on his latest challenge with Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig, football fans eagerly await to see what the “Special One” has in store, especially in the context of major competitions like the Euro 2024, Champions League, and FIFA World Cup.
🔗 Source