Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho says he turned down an approach from Tottenham after
leaving Stamford Bridge in September 2007.
The Blues boss admitted that an exit clause forbade him from managing in
England for two years and that even Spurs' attempts to pay compensation to
Chelsea fell well short seven years ago.
"I couldn't go," said Mourinho, ahead of Sunday's Capital One Cup final
against the north Londoners. "I couldn't train in England for two years."
The Portuguese is aiming for his first trophy in his second spell in charge
at the Bridge at Wembley and, asked if he would have considered the White
Hart Lane, Mourinho said: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much."
He then insisted he wished to remain in English football - ideally at
Chelsea - for the rest of his career.
Mourinho has often spoken of his love for the Premier League since his
return in June 2013 after spells at Internazionale and Real Madrid.
He was asked if he feels the same way now after complaining of a "clear
campaign" against his side this season.
"Good question," Mourinho, in the second year of his four-year Chelsea deal,
said. "That I love it? Yes. I would not change my feelings about it. About
my desire to work for this club? No change. Exactly the same.
"Maybe in two, three, four months, maybe I can change my feelings. In this
moment I'm a bit disappointed, yes.
"The only way for my frustration to go away is to play matches and to finish
matches with the best feeling. And to finish matches with the best feeling
is not just because you win.
"I remember clearly when we lost our first game of the season, at Newcastle,
and after the game I told the media this was the way I like to lose. Great
referee, no controversial decisions, we played well and tried everything and
were unlucky - this is the way I like to lose.
"So that the good feeling is not because you win - it is a consequence of
what happened, what you smell and what you feel.
"The only way I can be really comfortable is when the 90 minutes give me
everything I love in football."
Mourinho's most recent frustrations have surrounded the two-match suspension
given to Nemanja Matic by the Football Association for the midfielder's
reaction to a tackle from Burnley's Ashley Barnes last weekend.
The Serbia midfielder will be a spectator against Spurs, but Mourinho
pleaded ignorance surrounding the full extent of the punishment.
"I don't even know if he's allowed to go to the dressing room after the
crime he committed by reacting the way he did, by pushing a player and
getting a two-match ban," Mourinho said.
"I don't know if he is allowed to go into the dressing room. I don't know if
he's allowed to go to Wembley. I don't know the rules."
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