Former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has claimed the London side are the only one of his future clubs with whom he doesn't have a connection, saying his bonds elsewhere are because "people are not stupid".
Mourinho took over as Spurs' boss in November 2019 after Mauricio Pochettino left North London, but was sacked before the end of the 2020-21 season. The Portuguese's dismissal came just days before he was due to lead the team out at Wembley, having taken them to the Carabao Cup final.
While the former Chelsea manager prepares for another final with current club Roma, due to take on Sevilla in the Europa League showpiece, Spurs themselves have been dealt a fresh blow in their own manager search. Top target Arne Slot is due to stay at Feyenoord, with whom he lost to Mourinho in the 2022 Europa Conference League final, to leave the Premier League side scrambling for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte.
“I hope my words are not misinterpreted, but the only club in my career I don’t still have a deep feeling for is Tottenham," Mourinho told reporters ahead of Roma's weekend trip to Fiorentina. "Perhaps because during the period that I coached the club the stadium was empty due to Covid and because President [Daniel] Levy did not give me much.
"In all other clubs, there has always been a solid bond because people are not stupid. It’s not about winning or losing. Fans understand that I fight for them every day. In my case, I am Romanista, Madridista and Interista and it’s a mutual thing. I will forever be tied to Roma and the other clubs I’ve coached.”
Mourinho won the Champions League with Inter, while his time with Real Madrid included a 100-point title-winning season in 2011-12. While a top-four Serie A finish looks unlikely for Roma this term, victory over Sevilla on Wednesday would earn the Giallorossi a Champions League return.
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After missing out on the Eredivisie title last season, with Erik ten Hag's Ajax coming out on top, Slot has delivered glory for Feyenoord this time around. The Rotterdam side have wrapped up the league with time to spare, and sit 10 points clear of closest challengers PSV Eindhoven with one game left.
Slot's men haven't lost in the league since September, and have won their last 13 on the spin. Interest from the Premier League was inevitable, with Leeds also making enquiries before Spurs' push, but the Dutch boss is staying put.
“I have been hearing a lot of rumours going around about other clubs' interest in me," Slot told AD. "Although I am thankful, my wish is to stay at Feyenoord and continue working on what we created last year.
“There is not - and there has not been - transfer conversation and yesterday’s meeting was exclusively for an extension. All talks with the club have always been only in that sense. I'm looking forward to next season with Feyenoord.”
