Ex-Chelsea's Jose Mourinho swipes at Rafa Benitez after Madrid link
Real Madrid boss and Chelsea favourite Jose Mourinho has had a sly dig at current Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez.
Benitez, while speaking to a Spanish radio station, was informed he was on Madrid’s radar to become Real manager next summer.
‘I know things, but I am not going to say anything about Real Madrid because I don’t think I should,’ he replied.
This has fuelled various reports that he has been lined up to take over from Jose, who is widely expected to step down from his role at the end of the season.
The Portuguese manager reacted with: ‘As a Chelsea fan, all I can say is that I hope he was not thinking about Real Madrid during the Corinthians game.’
This was a swipe at the Spaniard’s failure to manage a win over Corinthians in the World Club Cup final, a match that finished 1-0 to the Brazilian side.
The Portuguese tactician refused to comment on the Champions League draw which has pitted his Real side against Manchester United, but did comment on his teams performance so far this term.
He said: ‘We have to improve in all aspects of the play. We are not happy with our numbers from these first months of the season.’
‘The Special One’ also denied that Madrid would be active in the January transfer window, saying: ‘I think the winter market is not something that works for Madrid. I don’t think anyone will be coming in or going out.’
Jose obviously hasn’t forgotten Rafa’s insulting words towards him and us all those years ago, and understands the fans. Roman should want to bring him back, but is apparently unhappy about the severance cheque he had to pay to remove the Portuguese manager back in 2007. Roman needs to stop being so stubborn. Jose is the best manager around, and he loves us. Please Roman!
People have a totally wrong impression of Roman and Jose’s relationship. I remember a couple of years ago when being interviewed on TV Jose recalling how he received an unexpected gift of his favourite classic Ferrari (about £200,000 worth) as a gift from Roman when Jose was at Inter Milan. They talk very regularly and have stayed in close contact since Jose left the Bridge. The £20m ‘severance’ pay cheque Jose got from Roman was also over £12m in excess of what Roman needed to have paid. Personally though I would love to see Roman give up on his Barcelona in Blue dream for Chelsea and appoint Jose as the clubs Manager again with Franco Zola bought in as his assistant. That would be my dream team at the Bridge.