Jose Mourinho says he has arrived at Tottenham with a new philosophy “where it is not about myself”.
Mourinho was appointed Tottenham head coach on Wednesday, less than 11 hours after Mauricio Pochettino “was relieved of his duties” as the club’s manager.
It is Mourinho’s first job since he was sacked by Manchester United 11 months ago and the Portuguese says his time away from the dugout has allowed him to evolve.
“I think I am new and improved. I have to believe so,” said Mourinho.
“I always thought that these 11 months were not a waste of time. They were months to think, to analyse, to prepare, to anticipate things. You never lose your DNA, you never lose your identity, but I have time to think about many things.
“Don’t ask me what mistakes they are but I realise that during my career I have made mistakes. And I’m not going to make the same mistakes. I’m going to make new mistakes.
“I am stronger from an emotional point of view, 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.
“In your career – not only your career but in your life – you go through periods, and I’m in a period where it is not about myself at all. It is about my club, my club’s fans, my players. It is not about me. I am here to try and help everyone.”
Mourinho’s most successful spells in England have come with Chelsea, who have a fierce rivalry with Spurs, making his appointment a controversial one among some Tottenham supporters.
Asked how he could get Spurs fans to see him in a different light from ‘Mr Chelsea’, Mourinho said: “They have to see me as Mr Inter, Mr Real Madrid, Mr Porto.
“They have to see me as Mr Club. Which means every club that I go to, I arrive and I wear the pyjama of the club and I even sleep with the pyjama. I work and I sleep, I confuse the tracksuit with the pyjama.
“I’m a clubs man, but a many clubs man. I decided in my career to have this adventure going through many countries until I had what I called the Grand Slam – Spain, Italy, England. I didn’t stop, I wanted to do it.
“Then the Premier League is my natural habitat. It is where I’m most loved, it is the league I consider the best and most enjoyable and it is where I’m most happy.”
source: Sky Sports
