Jose Mourinho has once again infuriated his Serie A peers by strongly hinting that Italian coaches are influenced by their club presidents when making team selections according to a recent article in the Times.
“When I mentioned coaches that lose their own dignity, what I wanted to state is that while I choose the team that goes out on the pitch, other coaches don’t do that, and in the world of football it’s full of them,” Mourinho, whose Inter side are on course for a fourth straight league title, said. “If anyone told me what to do with my line-up, the next day my office would be empty and I would have my suitcases packed.”
Renzo Ulivieri, the president of the Italian Football Coaches Association, said:
“Mourinho is a member of our association and we are happy that he is but this time, he has gone too far. Ask [Fabio] Capello, [Marcello] Lippi, [Luciano] Spalletti, [Cesare] Prandelli, [Massimiliano] Allegri to name a few, if their teams are selected by someone else.”
Carlo Ancelotti, the AC Milan coach who has exchanged barbs with Mourinho in the media all season, said:
“If I am the one [Mourinho] is referring to, then I can only say that I have won two cups under [AC Milan owner Silvio] Berlusconi as a player and the other two as assistant coach.”
Massimiliano Allegri, the Cagliari coach, labelled Mourinho’s comments “pathetic”, adding: “To step on other coaches shows a lack of respect. With club president Massimo Cellino, I have had several discussions during the year, but never has he gotten involved in team selection.”