Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has revealed why he never developed the same special bond with Spurs that he enjoyed with his other former clubs.
The Portuguese tactician managed Tottenham between November 2019 and April 2021 after replacing Mauricio Pochettino. However, his spell in North London was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches played behind closed doors for much of his time at the club.
Mourinho believes the absence of supporters in the stadium prevented him from building a strong personal connection with Tottenham fans.
Speaking about his relationships with former clubs, the 63-year-old admitted that Tottenham was the exception.
He explained that his time at Spurs coincided with the pandemic, leaving little opportunity for meaningful interaction with supporters because the stadium was almost always empty.
Unlike his experience at Tottenham, Mourinho revealed that he always felt at home at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Roma and Benfica, even when his departures were difficult.
He also admitted that leaving Roma was particularly painful, insisting that he still holds the club and its supporters in high regard.
Mourinho’s Tottenham spell ended in April 2021, just days before the club’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
Now back at Real Madrid, his latest comments have reopened the conversation about his complicated relationship with Spurs as Tottenham prepare to face Chelsea.
Do you think Mourinho would have had a better relationship with Tottenham fans if COVID-19 had never happened? 👀👇
