Mourinho: "The Players Have Protected Me"
Listen to the story
Football coach José Mourinho has spoken publicly about the support he has received from his players and about a past transfer that never happened.
Mourinho said, "The players have protected me," suggesting that his team has stood by him through difficult moments.
He also stated, "I cannot hide or try to be what I am not," a comment about his personal authenticity as a coach.
In the same interview, Mourinho discussed why midfielder Rodri never joined Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in Spanish football.
According to Mourinho, Rodri had doubts about the move at the time. Mourinho explained, "He had doubts, and he gave them to me too."
This suggests that Rodri's uncertainty influenced Mourinho's own opinion about whether the transfer should go ahead.
In the end, the deal did not happen, and Rodri did not sign for Real Madrid.
Rodri later became a well-known player in top-level football, though the summary does not give further details about his current club or career.
Mourinho's comments give a rare look into how personal doubts can shape big decisions in football, even involving major clubs like Real Madrid.
The interview did not include extra details about when this situation took place or what happened afterwards.
Vocabulary6 words
- coach
- a person who trains and leads a sports team
- authenticity
- being real and true to yourself
- doubts
- feelings of being unsure about a decision
- transfer
- when a player moves from one team to another
- midfielder
- a player who plays in the middle area of a football field
- protected
- supported and defended someone
Quiz
Answer key
1. They have protected him 2. Rodri had doubts that affected Mourinho too 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Football _____ José Mourinho has spoken publicly about the support he has received from his players and about a past transfer that never happened.
Mourinho said, "The players have _____ me," suggesting that his team has stood by him through difficult moments.
He also stated, "I cannot hide or try to be what I am not," a comment about his personal _____ as a coach.
In the same interview, Mourinho discussed why midfielder _____ never joined Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in Spanish football.
According to Mourinho, Rodri had _____ about the move at the time.
Mourinho explained, "He had doubts, and he gave them to _____ too."
This suggests that Rodri's uncertainty influenced Mourinho's own opinion about whether the _____ should go ahead.
In the end, the deal did not happen, and Rodri did not _____ for Real Madrid.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think players' personal doubts can affect big football transfers?
- Do you think coaches should always be honest about their true personality, as Mourinho suggests?
- What might make a talented player like Rodri hesitate before joining a big club like Real Madrid?
- How important is trust between players and coaches in professional sport?