Jose wants 10 trophies

14 April 2012

As Jose Mourinho puts the finishing touches to his summer shopping list and tops up his tan in Lisbon his mind is consumed with regret. His beloved Setubal's victory over Benfica in Sunday's Portuguese Cup final has cheered his mood but, for all his success in his first season in England, he remains focussed on the one that got away.

Mourinho may have won Chelsea their first Championship in 50 years but he has lost a more glittering title that he had got used to calling his own, that of a European champion. In addition to handing on the European Cup trophy he won with Porto the Portuguese coach has also lost his unbeaten record in all semi-finals and knockout European ties, concessions that have wounded his pride.

Despite Liverpool's remarkable victory over AC Milan last week, Mourinho insists that Chelsea were the best team in Europe last season and deserved their place in the European Cup Final. It will surprise many at Barcelona that he believes his old club should have shared centre stage, not least the much-maligned Frank Rijkaard, who he memorably derided as potty and potless.

Mourinho said: "We wanted to be the best team in Europe and proved we were the best. We had 30 more points in the Premiership than Liverpool who are the European Champions. I was glad that Liverpool won but they were classified in fifth place in my championship. When you eat something and the taste is not good in your mouth you're not happy.

"We know we're the best and the European Cup Final should be between the best two teams in Europe. That's Barcelona and Chelsea. They're champions in the best two leagues in Europe. Champions with impudence and arrogance, each with their own style. But I congratulated Rafa Benitez. I was happy for him and he's a good person."

Mourinho began planning for next season the morning after that anguished defeat at Anfield and his preparations have moved on apace. Athletic Bilbao's Asier Del Horno or Kahka Kaladze of AC Milan will fill Chelsea's void at left-back, with Michael Essien and Adriano his midfield and attacking targets.

Mourinho's primary objective for next season is to retain the title but he is already thinking further ahead, aiming to win 10 trophies in the next five years at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "The main aim for next season is to win the title again. This season we won two of the four competitions and next season we have five competitions with the Charity Shield. Our goal is to win two or three of them. If I was told that in the next five years of my contract we would win 10 titles I would be enchanted. I believe that in the next few years we will win a European competition.

"I'm ready for a more difficult competition next season. Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are strong teams and the lower teams will try to be better. It's going to be impossible to be near our 95 points of this year."

After experiencing some internal conflict at Chelsea this season Mourinho has committed himself to the club by signing a new five-year contract, but is honest enough to acknowledge his problems.

The 42-year-old also admits that his ambitions stretch beyond west London and is candid about his desire to test himself in Italy, before finishing his career as the coach of Portugal.

Speaking for the first time about his threat to quit Chelsea over their row with UEFA, Mourinho said: "It was a moment of frustration, impotence and injustice. I felt a lack of enchantment and was thinking that Chelsea were not defending me in the way I thought was ideal.

"But I am where I want to be and where I believe I will be for the next five years. I sincerely believe that.

"I'm proud of my story in football but understand that I have more ambitions.

"It's unthinkable that someone would say they don't want to go to England because it rains a lot and they want to eat Sardines in Setubal on Monday. Or that they don't want to go to Germany because they don't speak the language or they want to be in Portugal to drink coffee every morning.

"A football professional has to go to the top of his capacity and not think about sentiment. If I had stayed in Portugal I would've broken every record, most victories in the Championship and Portuguese Cup, but what would I think at the end of my career? I would be the best in Portugal but would I be the best in England or Italy?

"I would be happier to go to England, not succeed, get fired and come back to Portugal than win 10 Portuguese Championships. One day I would like to go to Italy and also take charge of the Portuguese national squad."

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Jose wants 10 trophies

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