[2008] Meeting with Mourinho (report)

this post was published exactly one year ago:


Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that last month there was a first face to face meeting between Barcelona representatives and former Chelsea manager José Mourinho (read more here). The Barcelona board would have agreed that, if the team doesn't win a major trophy this year, the Portuguese will replace coach Frank Rijkaard.

During the meeting that took place last January, Mourinho explained the main lines of his football project. He even handed Barcelona vice president Marc Ingla and sports director Txiki Begiristain a dvd that contained a more complete analysis and his view on the team and the players.

The issue of his assistant was also discussed. Barcelona thinks the first asistant should be someone who connects well with the squad. They prefer it would be someone who already knows the club. Mourinho agreed with that point of view. The three names that came on the table were Barcelona B manager Josep Guardiola, former Barcelona player Luis Enrique and Eusebio Sacristán, who is now Rijkaard's second assistant.

Despite all the above, Mourinho will only join Barcelona if the team doesn't win the Champions League or the Liga this season. That may mean Mourinho will have to wait some months to know more about his future. The Portuguese accepted to take that risk, but nevertheless made clear that he wouldn't let an offer pass that would be on the same level as the Barcelona one. Mourinho already rejected offers from -amongst others- the English Football Federation, Olympique Lyon, Bayern Munich and Valencia. He would now also be on the Liverpool list, although the biggest threat would be Inter Milan, who could push for Mourinho if they would be eliminated from the Champions League next week.


Read more 24 February 2008 news:
Garay ready to sign
Ronaldinho too old for Chelsea