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I’m Not Appreciated Here In Italy – Inter Coach Jose Mourinho

The Portuguese tactician feels he is due more recognition for his work on the peninsula...

Nov 29, 2009 5:38:37 PM

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As his Inter side continue to dominate at the top of the Italian standings, it appears that coach Jose Mourinho feels still doesn’t feel appreciated in Italy following his comments in a recent interview with the Portuguese daily Record.

“In Serie A there are 20 coaches of whom 18 are Italian, one is half Italian and half Brazilian, (Milan’s Leonardo, who is in fact fully Brazilian) and one is foreign,” declared Mourinho.

“When the votes are cast in a month’s time for the coach of the year, I’m sure I won’t win. I might even come dead last. I will probably have to vote for myself if I want to get a vote because my friend Walter Zenga has recently been shown the door by Palermo,” continued the coach pessimistically.

The Nerazzurri tactician then criticised his home country Portugal, for their lack of recognition towards his achievements in recent years.

“In a country that isn’t exactly big, they should be proud of the few people who achieve success elsewhere.

“I have friends that tell me that when they show Inter on Portuguese television they keep the volume down to a minimum level. I see how in Italy they celebrate the successes of [Carlo] Ancelotti at Chelsea, how they angered for the unfair elimination of [Giovanni] Trapattoni’s Ireland, and how they are happy for the progress of [Fabio] Capello’s England.

“If I compare such treatment to that which is shown towards me from my own country, sometimes I don’t know whether to laugh or cry; the difference in absurd.”

'The Special One' was then probed as to whether he would consider a return home sometime in the future.

“The football back home doesn’t stimulate me neither does the idea of going back there to live. Maybe one day I might return to take charge of the national side, but only when I’m old and in my 70s.”

Stefano Federici, Goal.com

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