Here is what Mourinho said during his press conference ...
Mourinho on Pochettino:
Over at Arsenal, Unai Emery told Nick Ames (and other assembled journalists) that Granit Xhaka could be brought back into the fold this weekend.
Summary
- The Portuguese dedicated the start of the press conference to his predecessor, praising Pochettino for the work he did to build Spurs up to where they are today, pointedly saying he does not plan any big changes.
- Mourinho believes the break since being sacked by Manchester United boss has done him good and feels, saying “I am stronger, I am relaxed, I am motivated”. He looked pretty positive both in terms of his lilac jumper and general demeanour as he faced the press, putting great emphasis on how humble he is as a person.
- Spurs can win the Premier League next season, Mourinho says.
- There are no big plans to make signings in the January window.
Updated
Peter Oh emails: “Funny, the thought of José spending the night at the training ground. But seriously, which hotel will he move into?”
People have gone on how he’ll be happier being back in London where he lives. Getting from west London to Enfield in the morning might take him hours.
Mourinho confirms he slept at the training ground last night. The lodge offers “huge pillows”. When Howard Kendall was the Athletic Bilbao manager he lived with at their famous Lezama training ground with the club’s janitor because he couldn’t find anywhere in the city he wanted to live. I hope Mourinho follows suit.
Updated
Mourinho says he is focused on buying gifts for the people he loves, not buying news footballers for Christmas. One assumes Mourinho will not be buying all of them on Amazon, like myself.
There was plenty of fawning over Mourinho from journalists in the press conference. What a treat for the industry.
First up for Mourinho on Saturday is Pellegrini. The West Ham boss is never the most charismatic in press conferences. When asked about facing Mourinho said: “Maybe I can think in a different way, but he’s not my enemy. Everyone has their options to play football in the way they want, to talk what they want to say. We have different ways of thinking about it all.”
I do feel more relaxed ...
@Will_Unwin Seeing Mourinho in all this purple clobber has quite a calming effect. On the other hand, he will definitely default back to a dystopian Tinky-Winky shoving poisonous footballing tubby toast down our throats until it all blows up in his face (again).
— Ciarán Brennan (@cicibrenbren00) November 21, 2019
Mourinho certainly looks refreshed after his time off and time in the Sky Sports studio. There is a bit more of the early Mourinho in his eyes and smile. It shows what time off can do to a man used to the pressure of top-flight management.
Let’s do a little recap of what Mourinho said:
1. Pochettino is welcome back anytime
2. Mourinho has been smiling for two days
3. He has no current plans to sign new players in January
4. He is humble
5. He needed the time away from the game
6. Spurs can win the league next season
7. He now owns Spurs pyjamas
Thanks to the wonders of the modern world, you can now watch the entire press conference back right here:
Someone agrees with Mourinho.
@Will_Unwin trophy next season for @SpursOfficial
— Pee @BabyLane (@BabyLaneP) November 21, 2019
There’s no shortage of quality players with one eye on the exit door at Spurs but Mourinho is hoping to keep the best the squad has to offer in order to take the club forward.
“To try to keep all the best players, to refuse to let the best players go away is part of the vision.”
Mourinho is not looking to win the league this year but says Spurs can take the title next season! Big talk!
One of the less desirable syndromes.
@Will_Unwin I've Stockholm Syndromed my way into backing Mourinho. Brilliant signing! Endless glory awaits!
— Wally Leary (@WallyLeary) November 21, 2019
Mourinho likes the Spurs squad so much that he wanted to buy most of them. Who has he tried to sign in the past? Kane? Sissoko? Skipp?
“I told them that one of the reasons why I decided to come was them. I tried to buy some of them for different clubs, I couldn’t,” Mourinho explained. “Some of them I didn’t even try because you know how impossible it is. But I like this squad very, very much. It is not something new I say to make a point.”
Sky did roughly 45834 hours buildup to this press conference without ever pointing out that they would not be showing it live. Mourinho started speaking 40 minutes ago and they are discussing golf instead.
Ian Burch emails in to point out that we’re not rational: “A rational person might wonder what all the fuss is about when a football managerial post becomes vacant and it’s filled by an unemployed football manager.
“However, football supporters are not rational especially when your former manager pitches up at your most hated rivals. Now there is no moral compass in football and Jose is well be within his rights to think he owes Chelsea and their supporters nothing after being told to ‘do one’ not once, but twice.
“Maybe he thinks it’s just another job, possibly he might be giving Chelsea the two fingers on purpose, but in his heart of hearts he knows he has extinguished any lingering love Chelsea fans may have him, though I doubt he’s that bothered.
“He’s always been very good in recognising the snakes and rats in the various dressing rooms which have resulted in him being shown the door at Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man Utd. I’m sure that when he looks in the mirror he recognises the weasel looking back at him.”
More on new signings (or lack of): “The best gift are the players who are here. I don’t need new players. I just need to get to know these ones better. I know them well but you never know them well enough until you meet them.”
A huge vote of confidence for Michel Vorm.
Updated
Mourinho on his time off: “I always thought that these 11 months were not a waste of time. They were months to think, to analyse, to prepare. You never lose your DNA, you never lose your identity, but I have time to think about many things. During my career I have made mistakes.
“I am stronger, I am relaxed, I am motivated, I am ready and I think the players felt that in two days. I am ready to support them, this is not about me. It is about the club. I am here to try and help everyone.”
Maybe this is just a ploy to promote Spurs’ range of nightwear for Christmas. “I think I am Mr Porto and Mr Real Madrid and other clubs as well, I am whatever club I am at.
“I wear the pyjamas of the club and sleep in them. I am a club man, but I am a many club man.”
Good news considering there is nothing to send. Mourinho says: “I don’t need players I just need time.”
EVERYONE IS GLORIOUSLY HAPPY!
🔋 💨 Positive energy. #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/bk2UH5VKYc
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 21, 2019
Sky keep cutting to what Pellegrini said and it reminds one that it’s good to have a manager that is interesting during press conferences back on the circuit.
Mourinho is sat in front of the media wearing a fetching gilet in honour of Tottenham’s greatest ever manager, Tim Sherwood.
We all want some time off, Jose, but some of us don’t have the option. I do agree, you needed it. Maybe Mourinho is secretly promoting Corbyn’s four-day week policy.
“I’m nobody to advise people but to have a break was very positive for me. Having the first summer where I didn’t work was not good for me. I was a bit lost. But it was good for me. I even learned how to be a pundit.”
The Humble One says: “I am humble. I am humble enough to analyse my career, and the problems. There was no one else to blame ... I went really deep in that analysis.”
Keep saying humble, Jose.
Updated
“During my career I made mistakes, I’m not going to make the same mistakes, I mean I’m going to make new mistakes,” Mourinho says.
I was worried he was going to get everything right for a second.
Speaking of great managers, I hope Sky Sports News show the Chris Kamara Christmas album advert again. Dan Wootton is a fan.
In essence, Mourinho has just been biding his time. “I had a feeling I was going to get a club mid-season. I knew I would be in a situation where I would get only one or two days before my first game. I cannot come here and think it is about myself. It is about the players and going from a base of stability.”
Understandably, Mourinho is quite pleased to be at Spurs. “Happiness-wise I am convinced my choice was a great one.
“The club is huge. I know that I have potentially a great job in my hands.”
Meanwhile ... in France.
Talking of Mourinho, Lille coach is not impressed with the way he poached two members of LOSC's coaching staff: "Everyone has their own way of doing things. But [ironically] it's really classy. Really classy to act like that."
— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) November 21, 2019
The new Spurs boss says he has been “smiling for two days”, implying he has known about the appointment for 48 hours.
Mourinho responds to the Sky Sports News reporter: “I know you would like to keep me at Sky! But this is my life.”
Lovely banter.
Mourinho starts with some praise for his predecessor. He says: “Mauricio, for the work he did, this club will be always his home.
“He can come when he wants. When he miss the players, when he miss the people he work with. The door is always open for him. He will find happiness again. He will find a great club again. He will have a great future.”
Steve Bruce says Mourinho is one of the best managers out there and “you can’t achieve what he has during his career and be a spent force.
“It’s great to have the Special One back.”
I do like the jacket.
Spurs are no one’s second club now.
@Will_Unwin
— krish (@vkmagus) November 21, 2019
The best part of Jose appointment
For 19 teams (nah make it 20) it is easier to dislike spurs now
Emery on Mourinho: “He is a very good coach. His career is very strong with the titles and experience.”
He also praised the work of Pochettino and round his exit a surprise.
Sky offer a few images of the room the press conference is taking place, confirming that it’s absolutely packed! There is a policy of one journalist per media organisation.
IT’S 2PM!!! EVERYONE TRY TO STAY CALM!
Matthew Dony thinks the league is better for the return of Mourinho: “I have always loved Mourinho, and I will continue to love him. The league is an inherently more entertaining place with him in it. I just wouldn’t want him anywhere near Liverpool.”
As a Manchester City fan, I always took great pleasure in defeating his teams.
Gregory Phillips is feeling optimistic: “My first thought upon Mourinho’s appointment, as a Spurs fan: This will not end well. In fact, I doubt it will start well either, nor will it go well in the middle.”
We’ve gone global!
Hell from Brazil, @Will_Unwin! Waiting for the press conference and looking forward Saturday luchtime, despite supporting City. Big hugs and have a nice work!
— Valentin Furlan (@Furlan_Valentin) November 21, 2019
Mourinho was on the training ground this morning trying to impart advice. Hopefully he got through to Son Heung-min.
Updated
Gustav says: “It has been 24 hours and my brain still has trouble processing Jose Mourinho in context as the Spurs head coach. I feel like I am in a parallel universe to the real timeline, but it feels deeply strange in a way that Trump being President of the United States does not. Is it just me?”
It certainly has been a very strange 24 hours.
Brendan Rodgers says Jose is a winner and will be looking to win things at Spurs, while Quique Sanchez Flores explains that he loves Pochettino. This could be an emotional afternoon full of praise and platitudes.
Matthew Pearce asks: “Hopefully we’ll kick off with a hilariously egotistical press conference, but I think the funniest Mou is when things start going wrong. My more recent favourites include controlling Shaw’s brain from the touchline and “why always Lukaku?
“What’s your favourite Mourinho quote?”
Daniel emails in with a few thoughts on “the lack of transparency from Spurs’ board and on Mourinho’s appointment”.
“1. In the build up to getting the stadium built, the goal for Pochettino was to get them into the top four. Surely he overachieved in that regard. Did Levy become spoiled with Pochettino’s success that he ended up overspending on the stadium or on boardroom salaries? If he only expected Champions League qualification as the target for Pochettino’s tenure, then four successive Champions League’s in addition to reaching the final must have brought in an enormous amount of unexpected windfall in Levy’s plan. Where did it all go? Did it contribute to the situation that’s left Pochettino out of a job?
“2. Seems that Levy forgot the turmoil we were in under AVB and Sherwood. Pochettino fixed a broken club, created an identity and philosophy that groomed academy prospects to play an attractive style of football, and made Spurs a family at every level, be it players, staff, or fans. Mourinho does not set up his sides in a free flowing manner tactically. Is one man’s prior successes bigger than the club’s philosophical goal? To me, no.”
Graham Potter, who will face Spurs on Boxing Day, describes Mourinho as a “top top manager”. Not much to write home about there.
The traditional No 9, something at Mourinho’s disposal, one can argue.
Elsewhere ... Emery will be announcing whether Xhaka will be brought back into the fold at the weekend. After the midfielder’s sweary rant at the crowd, the midfielder ha not been seen since in an Arsenal shirt but did enjoy a positive spell away with Switzerland over the international week. Time to forgive an forget?
It might fill up ...
Jose speaking as Tottenham boss for the first time at 1400. Restricted to one reporter per publication.
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) November 21, 2019
Just down the road, standing room only for Unai Emery's press briefing at #AFC pic.twitter.com/A3J0UXIARM
Chelsea wish Mourinho well. I was hoping for more hostility, but you can’t have it all.
What went wrong for Pochettino? Jonathan Wilson gives his view.
A few new names among Mourinho’s coaching staff at Spurs. The club have confirmed the appointments of João Sacramento (assistant coach), Carlos Lalin (fitness coach), Nuno Santos (goalkeeper coach), Ricardo Formosinho (tactical analyst) and Giovanni Cerra (technical analyst).
No bottle from West Ham ...
The other live blog currently on the Guardian website is the launch of a Labour manifesto. Corbyn and Mourinho have a lot in common: two men looking to set out their plans for the future to bring their outfit back to the top. Corbyn does potentially have a bigger budget, though.
Levy and Mourinho, a match made in north London.
Ps you can get in touch in the usual places state above. Please tell me about your lunch and caffeine exploits.
Before we get to Mourinho, we will be hearing from Unai Emery and Brendan Rodgers. I feel the latter will in a cheerier mood than the former, who is under plenty of pressure. They will both be coming up at 1.30pm.
Pellegrini might have something to get excited about soon ...
A bit more from Pellegrini on Mourinho. As with most of his press conferences, he’s not too excitable on any subject:
He is not my friend but he is not my enemy either.
Maybe I think a different way but he is not my enemy. Everyone has their options to play football the way they want and what they want to say.
[Mourinho] is just in charge of the team for two days so I don’t think he can change too much, they will play in a similar way. That is not an important problem for us to solve, we must give a good performance as a team.
Manuel Pellegrin(o)i has been talking prior to West Ham welcoming Mourinho for his first game in charge. The Hammers boss says Mourinho is “not my friend but not my enemy”. Adding he might have a drink with him after the match.
One problem Mourinho will have is a complete lack of transfer funds ...
Mourinho’s new aim is to avoid falling out with his players, which has blighted his recent roles. How will Kane react to his style? Can he get the best out of Alli? Will he wantaway stars change their mind?
Sky Sports News are currently at Brighton for some reasons or other. José isn’t going to be there!! All we care about is Mourinho. It’s OK, they’ve just wished Lewis Dunk at happy birthday, which is sweet. I take it all back,
Updated
Get in the mood for Mourinho with everything he needs to do at Spurs ...
Preamble
Welcome one and all.
José Mourinho is the new Tottenham boss, while Mauricio Pochettino is left to lick some wounds and ponder his next move. Mourinho is the man of now and the next four years, supposedly. Today he will respond to the why, what and who in terms of Tottenham but he knows the ultimate answer will come on the pitch over the coming months.
In the press release churned out by the club he explained that he’s very happy and refreshed but an hour in the company of my colleagues might change his mind whether being back in the rigours of Premier League management is sensible. Chelsea ground him down, so did Real Madrid and Manchester United became a dead end for a man once deemed to be the hottest property in the business.
Spurs are in a bit of a hole, sitting 14th in the league and with a host of players eyeing a summer departure when they massive contracts end. Mourinho will be looking to revitalise a squad who have not recovered from a gruelling season which ended in Champions League heartache. Is Mourinho the man to do that? We will find out in due course. In the meantime, we will just be pleased to learn whether he is the Special, Happy or Monied One in his latest gig.
He’s due to front up to the media at 2pm GMT, but before then we’ll be hearing from fellow Premier League managers at their pre-match Thursday press conferences.
