Jose Mourinho has admitted his dramatic exit from Chelsea was the most painful experience of his life a few days after leaving Stamford bridge.
LONDON: Jose Mourinho has admitted his dramatic exit from Chelsea was the most painful experience of his life.
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge on Thursday after his already-rocky relationship with Blues owner Roman Abramovich completely broke down.
The Portuguese coach had grown to love Chelsea after establishing the west London club as one of the Premier League's dominant forces during his three-year reign.
Although Mourinho admitted his rows with Abramovich meant there was no way he could continue at Chelsea in the long term, he has found it hard to keep control of his emotions in the four days since his departure.
"The truth is our relationship broke down not because of one detail or something that happened at a certain moment, it broke down over a period of time," Mourinho told the News of the World.
"So even if we had beaten Blackburn but lost or drawn the next game, the next week it would still have been the same problem all over again.
"This is the most hurtful, painful experience of my life.
"You have to believe this is my worst moment at any time, at any club anywhere. It hurts me more than anything that has gone before."
Mourinho is believed to be especially hurt because John Terry, his Chelsea captain, reportedly played a role in his exit.
Terry is said to have argued with Mourinho over the coach's decision to ask his medical staff why the England defender was playing so poorly this season.
Abramovich was already unhappy at Mourinho's failure to get the best out of Andriy Shevchenko and the lack of entertainment provided by his team.
So when news of Terry's fall-out with Mourinho reached Abramovich and the Chelsea directors it is thought they regarded that as the final straw.
Avram Grant, an Israeli with close ties to Abramovich, has succeeded Mourinho, but Mourinho is not concerned by suggestions Grant helped speed his exit by briefing against him to Abramovich.
Grant, who has never coached outside Israel, was appointed as director of football on Abramovich's insistence during the close-season and now finds himself given one of the biggest jobs in the game.
"I don't care if I was stabbed in the back. I don't care if that's true," Mourinho said.
"I don't want to spend my time and energy fretting about that. I don't care about anything that happens at Chelsea any more, who they buy, who they sell, who is the manager."
Mourinho has already had two offers to return to management, including one from Tottenham, and is adamant he will take another job soon.
It won't be in the Premier League however after Chelsea insisted on a clause preventing him taking charge of an English top-flight team until next season, so Italy or Germany could be his next destination.
"I have had two offers already but I don't tell you from where, just that I wasn't interested in either," Mourinho said.
"I'm only taking time off because of the circumstances of football.
"Nobody sacks managers in September or October - well not normally - so I'm ready when a job comes."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}