Mourinho Praises Newcastle United Ahead Champions League Clash

Jose Mourinho, currently the head coach of Benfica, expressed deep admiration for Newcastle United ahead of their Champions League match at St James' Park, highlighting the club's passionate fans, rich history, and recent economic strength under new ownership. Mourinho's connection to Newcastle is rooted in his long-standing relationship with the late Sir Bobby Robson, whom he worked with as an interpreter and assistant coach at Sporting Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelona, crediting Robson for launching his coaching career and instilling important values. He praised Newcastle's recent success, including their League Cup victory which ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought, and commended the stability provided by manager Eddie Howe and the club's strategic player acquisitions. Despite his affection for Newcastle, Mourinho stated he has never been approached to manage the club and is currently fully committed to Benfica, hoping Newcastle continues its positive trajectory without needing a new coach. He emphasized that Newcastle is a very strong and physical team, and warned against underestimating them based on their league position. Throughout his remarks, Mourinho conveyed respect for Newcastle's culture and optimism about their future in European competition.