“I DO NOT THINK WHAT I AM DECIDED TO DIE IN THE TIME OF THE MATCH”
- Did your failed career as a coach encourage you?
- I was not an outstanding footballer, although, as a player, I could achieve more. But - did not achieve. Because football at some point faded into the background. They gave me a car for my 18th birthday, and I drove it to the university every day. I forgot what bus and metro rides are. I could afford to attend recreational activities with a girlfriend - my future wife; I had money. If I needed them for the weekend, father, and he worked in football, he never refused me. In general, it was a sin to complain about life. Was it worth it to wish for something better?
The other day, one of my Portuguese friends asked where I spend money. Yes, nowhere. I don’t really care. He asked: “Don't you want a cool car? Or something you dream about? ”“ Yes, I don’t dream about anything, ”I replied. In addition to a successful coaching career - and I strive for this. In life, in general, you need to constantly strive for your dream.
- And where did you get such a thirst for coaching from? You didn’t feel a burning desire to become a football player?
- The thirst for coaching appeared later. When I was a player, I knew my ceiling. He knew that I would never be a star. Although, I repeat, as a player, I could achieve more. However, the status of a mid-level football player did not particularly inspire me. But how the coach felt that I could succeed. When I worked as an assistant, acquiring skills that I might need for independent work, I realized: “I will succeed.” And every year I approached my goal.
- Are you not afraid to burn out at work?
- No, no, that you! Football doesn't age me. Gray hair or thinness are in no way connected with him. Absolutely. I get great pleasure from football. The only thing is that from time to time I need a break. But sometimes one weekend is enough for me. This does not mean that I like stress, but I like this kind of life. I love matches, especially matches with the prefix “super”. The only thing I don't like is idleness an hour before the game. At this time, the players are given a massage, they change clothes and warm up in order to prepare for the game, while I am not doing anything.
- That is, football is completely stress-free for you?
- Absolutely.
- Aren't you nervous?
- No, I'm not nervous. I focus my attention. I try to make decisions in advance. When I find out the starting lineup of an opponent, I try to understand who they have left. What are they going to do if they lead in the score or lose in the course of the match - how will they try to change the result. I try to anticipate the situation as much as possible. By the movement and gestures of my football players, by their behavior I’m trying to find out how ready they are for the game. Are you not complacent? Have you overdone yourself? Do they need to say something? But at the same time, I'm not nervous. After the game, however, I can’t fall asleep. I don’t know why, but I can’t.
- Is it because of the excessive pressure experienced by the Chelsea coach who is expected to win all tournaments?
- This is a given that cannot be changed. We are we, and perhaps ourselves are to blame. If we had not become champions twice in a row, maybe we would have been treated differently. Perhaps people would think: “OK, it takes time to start winning. No one won the Premier League in their first season. "They have a lot of good players, they have money, but they need time to get used to it." So, perhaps, we ourselves are to blame for the fact that it came "came, saw, won." Now we have no choice but to win. And if you do not win, then you lose.
- Health problems, for example, cardiac, do not scare you? (December 3, Mourinho was taken to the hospital with a severe headache - approx. The Sun)
- Never say never". Maybe the next game will make me feel bad with my heart. I don’t think that I am destined to die during the match, although who knows? I only know that during the game I am so absorbed in football (I enjoy beautiful moments, I try to fix negative ones) that I don’t think about health. Maybe someday judges with their erroneous decisions will finish me up - I don’t know. This is the only thing that really pisses me off.
“I AM NOT A HYPOTHETIC AT ALL, AND THIS IS BAD”
- By the way, about the future. Will your departure from Chelsea be loud?
- For the first time in my life, I can work as a head coach for three years in one club. Although in fact, my coaching career began not so long ago. In Benfica and Leiria, I worked for two months, and in Porto for 2.5 years. In England, everything is different: a different culture, a different team. I left Porto because as a coach I wanted to achieve more. And I don’t even know if there is a more suitable place for this than in Chelsea. The challenge is crazy. The pressure is colossal. Responsibility is gigantic. And the English championship, in my opinion, is the best in the world. You can argue about the quality and style of the game and say that you prefer Spanish or Italian football. But if you analyze the championships in general, compare attendance and the level of competition, then all doubts disappear. In England, all stadiums are jam-packed, and four teams are fighting for gold, and several more are on the way.
- But there are more great clubs - such as Milan and Real Madrid.
- Yes, these are the largest representatives of the club football industry. With a rich centuries-old history. Cunning, I would say clubs. But when we play with them in the same tournament, people, forgetting about justice, are sometimes ready to discuss only the amounts that Chelsea are spending. They do not notice or do not want to notice that the traditions of these clubs are piled on the other side of the scale. At Stamford Bridge in a match with Real Madrid, we are supported by 40 thousand fans. But when we come to Madrid, 100 thousand are sick against us. Chelsea have never won a European Cup yet. Madrid “Real” is a mastodon club with a rich history. We are different. But Chelsea, I believe, is a very ambitious and at the same time attractive project.
- Then why at the end of last season you started talking about leaving?
- I do not know. Last season, something sagged me a bit. But this is how life works: when you find yourself in another club, in another country, you are faced with new problems. Ideal clubs, countries, championships or coaches do not exist. I certainly have flaws too.
- What kind?
- I do not care about my image, I do not think about the consequences of my words and deeds. In football, it is extremely beneficial to be a little hypocrite. I don’t even have a drop of duplicity in me, and I think it’s very bad for working in football. I'm not a hypocrite at all.
- If you were a hypocrite, then, as a coach, would you be better?
- Yes. Because I would take care of my image and did everything to protect it. I would control my speech to a certain extent. I would not say what I think, because when you speak directly, you sometimes get in trouble. From a coach that many love and hate, I would turn into a coach that everyone loves.
- Is it generally difficult to work with you? Are you a burden to Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon?
- No, I do not think so. Only they can answer this question, but I don’t think so.
- You like spectacular gestures. It was something acting, when Porto won the Champions League, and you tore off the medal?
- Yes, I ripped off, but when I won the UEFA Cup, I cried. When Chelsea leveled the score at Camp Nou, I jumped out of the bench and rode on my lap. But when we scored Manchester United, I didn’t react at all. It all depends on the situation and internal emotions.
- Are you really emotional?
- Yes.
- As a person or as a coach?
- Both.
“Are you doing this on purpose?” Are you calculating in advance?
- No, it is not. Not.
- From the side it seems that you are very prudent and will do everything to win?
- Not.
- Do not you prepare ahead of time a speech for the press on the eve of this or that match?
- Not.
“Is this pure impromptu?”
- Yes.
- But your speeches at press conferences serve as a kind of message to your opponent, your team or referee, right?
“I think that's fine.” At press conferences before and after matches, you can touch on certain issues; it is in the order of things. I can influence the game only indirectly. But when, for example, before the match with Manchester United, I said that we were going to win, but if after returning home the gap in points remained the same, then it’s okay - these words were intended for players who knew that we would be happy with any result, except defeat. The Mankunians, on the other hand, had a great chance to increase the lead, so they were only happy with the victory. As a result, a draw, I think, did not become a good result for them, but it became a good result for us.
- Do you like to remind MJ about this?
- Yes, I like it. And they try to do the same. It all depends on the interlocutor. If the Levski coach said that he was going to Stamford Bridge with the intention of beating Chelsea 5-0, then these words would be an empty phrase for me. My influence on Sir Alex Ferguson, however, was also negligible. What I'm saying, I am doing in order, firstly, to relieve tension from my players. Secondly, for our fans, a draw at Old Trafford is a good, from a strategic point of view, result, because they know that we think globally. Thus, contact is maintained with everyone.
- You seem to have influence on Rafa Benitez - because of you, he is always constrained.
- No, what are you! Matches between our teams always take place in a very stubborn fight, only once we defeated Liverpool with a big score (4: 1). The rest is 0: 0, 1: 0 or 1: 1. Sometimes we win against them, sometimes we have them. Usually we beat them in the championship. They usually prevail in relegation matches. I respect Benitez as a coach and I think he has similar feelings for me. When problems arose in our relations, we solved them. Maybe in the future they will appear again. But we will solve them, because we respect each other.
FOOTBALL “BY CIRCUMSTANCES”
- Admit it, you at least a little envy “Manchester United” or “Arsenal” because they preach a more attacking and bold football? For example, they play with wingers.
- We had wingers last season, but they told us that we were not an attacking team. This season we are doing without them, so it’s time for some to change the record.
- But these clubs are famous for more beautiful football.
“I think they just know how to present themselves.”
- Do you not agree that their game is more attractive?
“Who told you that?”
“They all say that.”
- Really?
- And also that you have a very good power team.
- I do not agree with any of these statements. We are a team that adapts to reality, that’s why Arsenal cannot win a visit to Bolton, and Chelsea won three victories with me in three matches in the same Bolton and did not miss a single goal ... Best football - This is football "according to circumstances." You can’t play in Bolton just like at home against Watford. I have the feeling that some coaches in all matches adhere to the same philosophy, strategy and principles of the game. Sometimes they win 6-0, and sometimes they lose to someone who should not concede in theory. One of the trump cards in football is the ability to adapt to different situations, and this is what I'm trying to do with Chelsea. In the Champions League we cannot play in the same manner as in England.
- It seems that your strategy completely eliminates risk, the main thing is the excellent organization of the game, so God forbid not to run into a counterattack.
- It all depends on the situation. If you play at Old Trafford and change the right back to the left winger, as we did, then at first glance it looks like a crazy, not predictable move - when the left winger comes out instead of the left back or midfielder. Subsequent replacements, by the way, were also out of the ordinary category. We played some home games with three defenders, and some with five players in the attack. Chelsea are an attacking team, but if you do not defend against Bolton, which we have done in the last 15 minutes, you have no chance. What can be opposed to ten strikeouts, ten free throws and ten corner ones? Plowing the whole team on the defensive, replacing the “kids” with tall footballers and fighting for every ball.
- Three years ago, Arsenal showed such an attractive game that can only be in football. Would you like to build a team that demonstrates the same beautiful game?
- Yes, they played beautifully when they became champions without a single defeat. But they did not play beautifully last year when they finished fourth.
- That is, the main thing is to win?
- Win and play well. Play beautifully.
- Your opinion about Wenger as a person and a coach?
- In my opinion, this is an excellent coach, one of the best in the world. I don’t think that he and I are best friends. And not friends at all, but colleagues. But I respect 200 percent of what he achieved.
“Have you ever truly communicated with him?”
- We had a couple of conversations during the coaching forum in Geneva. Nothing else. If for many years you do not work in the same city or country and do not meet regularly, it is very difficult for trainers to be close friends.
- Is it really possible to be friends with a coaching colleague?
- It's difficult.
“Ferguson likes you?”
“And I like him.”
"SHEVCHENKO ON THE RIGHT WAY"
- You are used to control everything that happens in the locker room. And how did you feel about the intention of William Gallas to leave the team? Was there a problem with him?
- The Gallas case was not a situation between a player and a coach. It was a situation between a player and a club. If Gallas is an honest man, he will say that I have always supported him from the first day we met. I supported him very well, and he gave me a lot in return. He showed a high level of play not only for me - but for the whole team. He was ready to play in any position and never complained. People can say anything, but he never complained about his roles, and William knows that I consider him one of the best defenders in the world. He knows that I did everything I could to keep him on the team. From the first day of our joint work until the moment when there were problems with the contract, in which I could not help, we had a very good relationship. I’m not going to talk about what happened - the refusal to go on the field or about own goals. I, I think, should not do this. If William is a decent person, he will never say that there were problems in our personal relationships.
- Your extreme defenders play a key role in ensuring the breadth of attack. So you could not resist the temptation to get Ashley Cole from Arsenal?
- We cannot play 4-4-2 without connecting extreme defenders to the attack, especially on the left. On the right, many are suitable for this position. I can’t wait for Lampard or Ballack to provide us with the necessary latitude on the left. But this is extremely important. At the same time, Ashley damn cool plays in defense. Initially, I saw him as an attacking defender, but he turned out to be good in both qualities. He knows that we are defending with only one opornik in front of the two central defenders, so he does not forget to cover the right insider zone of the enemy. He thinks brilliantly on the field. We have a special relationship with him and Wayne Bridge. Ashley had five days off; he did not play against Levski. And Breeches signed a new contract because he knows that we trust him. We need him, and we want him to play, we give him chances. Therefore, both players are still with us and both are happy.
- Is the picture different on the right flank of the defense?
- I tried the option with Bularuz, but this is a football player of a purely defensive plan. As an extreme defender, he is ideal only if he plays on the same flank with the winger, that is, someone must act in front of him. He had a great home game against Barcelona, acting in a purely defensive manner. But he does not fit the scheme that we are using now. As a result, the choice is limited to Paulo Ferreira and Jeremy. The latter works better with the ball, serves well, passes, holds the ball and is very mentally stable. He enjoys the game. Jeremy is a right-back who is inclined to play in the middle line, and he is doing well so far.
“But you still need a new right-back?”
- Not necessary. We have a very good right back who plays on loan at Portsmouth. Glen Johnson, according to him, is all right, he speaks warmly about his coach Harry Redknapp, and Tony Adams helps him improve the game in defense. Naturally, next season Johnno will be with us.
- Let's move on to the problem with Shevchenko, who still can’t adapt in any way, right?
- I agree. But I also agree that the most difficult job in football is the work of the striker, and no one will convince me of this. Adapting to a new team, in a new environment, a defender is much easier than a striker. In Italy and England they play completely different football. A good example of this is Thierry Henry. I know that this is the best sniper of the Premier League of recent years and an amazing player, but he began with the fact that after moving from Juventus to Arsenal he scored only one goal in 12 matches.
- But Shevchenko came to Chelsea as an already established footballer, a mega-star, with richer experience.
- I know. But Thierry was already damn good then. We must give Shevchenko time. And I give him time. It’s good that he himself doesn’t like his game. Otherwise, everything would have been much worse: he would not have tried to meet my requirements. ! , , . «» . . .
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- Alex Ferguson won only the English league, and he is special, so I do not think that the main thing is the omnipresence. The main thing, and I do not get tired of repeating this, is actions. Work in series A is what motivates me. But what motivates me most is the work in the best league in the world. And the best league at the moment is English.
“But if you had to leave foggy Albion, would you prefer Italy to Spain?”
- I worked for four years in Barcelona, so I know almost everything about specifics. Italy is unknown to me. But never say never. Maybe someday I’ll go to Spain. But at the moment, while I am not dismissed from Chelsea due to the fact that Abramovich wants to determine the composition of the game, I do not think about changing jobs.
Translation by Andrey KARNAUKHOV