Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has opened up about his tactics against Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, during his tenure in the Premier League.
In response to Arsenal’s recent 0-0 draw with Manchester City in March, Mourinho dismissed media reports suggesting that Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, employed a ‘magic strategy’ to secure a point against Guardiola’s team. Instead, Mourinho revealed that he had employed a defensive strategy he humorously referred to as ‘park the double bus’ to secure victories against Manchester City in the past.
“In my time, it was not a magic strategy,” Mourinho stated in an interview with The Telegraph. “I won at Manchester City a few times. But it was not an amazing strategy. It was a defensive game. Park the bus. Park the double bus. It was a different perspective.”
Reflecting on his successful tenure at Chelsea, where he clinched three league titles among other trophies, Mourinho emphasized the importance of trust and collaboration within the club. He highlighted the ‘triangle of trust’ between himself, former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and former CEO Peter Kenyon, which facilitated the club’s success.
Mourinho praised the club’s recruitment strategy during his time at Chelsea, citing the signings of key players like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Petr Cech. He emphasized the club’s confidence in his managerial abilities and their willingness to support his decisions in the transfer market.
Currently without a managerial position after being sacked by AS Roma in January, Mourinho expressed his desire to manage a club where objectives are established fairly. He emphasized the importance of realistic targets and objectives, stating that he would not join a club where unrealistic expectations are set.
“I don’t want to say realistic, but [at least] semi-realistic,” Mourinho explained. “It’s not possible I go to a club almost relegated and the objective is to win the Champions League. It’s good but it is not fair.”