Monthly Archives: April 2005

An extract from the book I am currently reading:

‘Arguing, for English males, is a crucial element of the ‘pursuit of intimacy’. The pub-argument allows them to show interest in one another, to express emotion, to reveal their personal beliefs, attitudes and aspirations – and to discover those of their companions. It allows them to become closer, more intimate, without acknowledging that this is their purpose. The pub-argument allows them to achieve intimacy under the macho camouflage of competition. The English male’s tendency to aggression is channelled into harmless verbal fisticuffs, and the ’symbolic handshake’ of round-buying serving to prevent any escalation into more serious, physical violence.’

Watching the English by Kate Fox, Hodder 2004.

Ahead of today’s big Champions League game I thought I would all give you a taste of Jose Mourhino’s best quotes:

At the time I said that, I had just become European champion. I came with my ego up here. And now? Now it is even bigger.

I told Mr Ferguson United didn’t deserve to leave with nothing. [After beating them 1-0]

If I wanted to have an easy job… I would have stayed at Porto – beautiful blue chair, the Uefa Champions League trophy, God, and after God, me.

Maybe when I turn 60… I’ll have the power to speak to people and make them tremble a bit [on Alex Ferguson]

There is no pressure at the top. The pressure’s being second or third.

During the afternoon it rained only in this stadium – our kitman saw it. There must be a micro-climate here.

My family love living in London. It is a fantastic city and a city such as this deserves to host the Olympic Games.

We are on top at the moment but not because of the club’s financial power. We are in contention for a lot of trophies because of my hard work.

If I made a mistake then I apologise. I am happy that I’m not going to jail because of that.

Mr Roth has two ways out, apologise or it goes to court [on being called the enemy of football]

If Roman Abramovich helped me out in training we would be bottom of the league and if I had to work in his world of big business, we would be bankrupt!

I don’t have a taste for having 10 cars.

That was not a football score, it was a hockey score…in training I often play matches of three against three and when the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing room, because they are not defending properly [on Arsenal 5, Spurs 4]

On meeting Peter Kenyon at the airport: “Thank you for those warm words of welcome… now get my bags”

On his relationship with Kenyon and Abramovich: “A football club is a team, we all must help each other out. Each day my vast intellect will be engaged with a host of challenging problems. There are many minor tasks that will also need my attention, such as photocopying and unblocking the toilets at the training ground. These are the things that Kenyon and the Russian will be doing”

On his training methods: “At Porto all my players had a microchip put in their heads so I could monitor what they were doing 24 hours a day. This is normal. It is entirely up to the players of Chelsea whether they choose to do this, but they should know that those Porto players who didn’t want the microchip disappeared and were never seen again. I know they will make the right choice”.

On Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson: “I think I am different to them. I am not a sad lonely bastard and I am not a purple faced imbecile who is obsessed with money. I am Jose Mourinho and I am invincible”.

duck walks into a pub and says to the barman: “Got any bread?”
Barman says: “No.”
Duck says: “Got any bread?” Barman says: “No.”
Duck says: “Got any bread?” Barman says: “No, we have no bread.”
Duck says: “Got any bread?” Barman says: “No, we haven’t got any
f**king bread.”
Duck says: “Got any bread?”
Barman says: “No, are you deaf, we haven’t got any f**king bread, ask
me again and I’ll nail your f**king Beak to the bar you irritating
bast**d bird!”
Duck says: “Got any nails?”
Barman says: “No.”
Duck says: “Got any bread?”

As requested I am opening up a discussion on the new pope. As I don’t really have an opinion on the matter please by all means express your views!

The results from my predictions from the last round:

Liverpool v Juventus
= Juventus (Wrong)

AC Milan v Inter Milan
= AC Milan (Correct)

Lyon v PSV Eindhoven
= Lyon (Wrong)

Chelsea v Bayern Munich
= Chelsea (Correct)

Next round predictions:

Liverpool v Chelsea
= Chelsea

AC Milan v PSV Eindhoven
= AC Milan