Jose Mourinho has opened up about his "love" for Newcastle United and revealed he came very close to joining the club.
Mourinho's connection with Sir Bobby Robson is well-known, as his affection for the club - which transferred from the man he called "Boss" after he mentored him when the pair were at Barcelona.
Mourinho was a translator at first but took on more responsibilities at the Nou Camp and there offer was there for the Portuguese to join him at St James' Park. But Mourinho, while admitting he was tempted, says he always had eyes on becoming a coach in his own right.
That has not stopped him from carrying plenty of affection for Newcastle, as he explained to Sky Sports ahead of today's 2pm kick off.
Asked whether he might have joined Newcastle at that early point in his career, he said: "More or less, yes. But at the time I was already eyeing a different direction.
"Mr Robson always knew that I wanted to give everything that I could to him, but at the same time he also knew I had my eyes in a different direction too. But yes, there was a chance.
"But independent of that it is a club that I feel a connection with through Mr Robson. It's as simple as that. He had a huge passion for Ipswich Town too but Newcastle was his area, Durham (he) had in his heart.
"So through him, I become a little Magpie and I like the club very, very much. And in spite of never winning there I love to go there and to play in front of these incredible fans."
Those who know him feel he will - at some point - become Newcastle manager if the opportunity is right and these words hardly dispel that notion.
Of today's match, Mourinho believes it is a "big game" and has praised Steve Bruce for the work he has done at St James' Park.
"It's a difficult match. Good work by Steve [Bruce] in the transfer window. They have a certain style of play that they feel very comfortable with. They had a very good start, of course they lost last week," he told Sky Sports.
"At this moment it's three points for them and three for us, so it's a big game."
