Jose Mourinho has expressed regret over his decision to choose AS Roma over the Portugal national team. The former Roma manager, who was sacked in January, revealed that he was offered the Portugal job last summer but turned it down. Speaking to EA Korea, Mourinho admitted that he made a mistake by not accepting the offer, especially considering the strength of the current Portuguese team.
Mourinho stated, “Which national team would I coach? It’s normal, Portugal. I had the chance to go there twice, but they didn’t come at the right time for me. I got emotional when I didn’t accept the last offer because I decided to stay with Roma and I think I made a mistake. Because now Portugal has a fantastic team, one of the best, I knew, but I felt a great connection with Roma, with the fans, so I didn’t want to take that decision.”
Despite his regret, Mourinho remains hopeful that another opportunity to coach Portugal will arise in the future. He believes that a third chance will come and he will seize it, hoping that the next generation of players will be as strong as the current one.
Reflecting on his time at Roma, Mourinho highlighted the difficulties he faced in reaching two finals with the club. He even compared it to his time at Manchester United, where reaching the Europa League final was also a challenging task due to the team’s initial struggles.
Mourinho acknowledged that some coaches may choose jobs with ideal conditions to ensure success, but he emphasized his need to always work and feel like he is making a difference. He also mentioned that it would be unfair to expect him to win trophies when his team is not the strongest.
In conclusion, Mourinho’s admission of regret over choosing Roma over Portugal showcases his desire to work with top-level national teams. Despite his attachment to Roma, he recognizes the potential of the Portuguese national team and hopes for another opportunity in the future.
