- Title: No emotion for Mourinho on Chelsea return, but a 'hug' for Lampard
- Date: 20th December 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WILL REACT TO CHELSEA MANAGER AND FORMER PLAYER FRANK LAMPARD, SAYING: "Our stadium is built in a way where my office is completely on the inside of our private headquarters and until now I never invite any manager to go there and I don't think I'm going to do that with Frank (Lampard). But, like I used to say, a big hug before the game, and another big hug after the game that's for sure independent of results, independent of who is happy I think our feelings are going to be forever, I will be always grateful to him for what he gave me as a player and nothing is going to change. I love the guy, I will always love the guy, I hope he lose on Sunday." MOURINHO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, TALKING ABOUT RETURNING TO CHELSEA, SAYING: "I am 100% Tottenham. I am 100% my club always, all of my career, 100% my club and no space at all for my previous clubs. My previous clubs I gave everything to all of them, everything. I kept nothing from them, I gave everything to my previous clubs, but they are my previous clubs, so I give everything I have to my club, and my club is Tottenham. So, for me it is so, so easy to play that game. Difficult because of the quality of Chelsea, but not difficult for the emotional point of view. Not at all. Easy." MOURINHO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, TALKING ABOUT DEFENDER TOBY ALDERWEIRELD SIGNING A NEW CONTRACT, SAYING: "Little. I believe little. When I read his comments that jumped immediately is I couldn't be happier in another place, so I think that that's a fundamental thing. He loves it here, he was always happy here, he believes in a better future, he was more than happy to agree. The only thing that maybe I had a little bit of influence on him, maybe the fact he knows my belief in him, he knows I think he can be very influential in the team. He has played every minute of every match since I arrived, so I think that's a good feeling. Six matches playing every minute, but for me the fundamental thing is his quote I couldn't be happier in another place." MOURINHO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, TALKING ABOUT SPURS REACHING TOP FOUR THIS SEASON, SAYING: "You know, in this moment we know we can end the year in the top four, but end of the year is not important, important is end of season and this is not just between us and Chelsea. Manchester United is involved, Wolves is involved, there are many other teams involved in this top six, top four fight, so every point is crucial point, every match is a big match." MOURINHO SPEAKING
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2020 14:59
- Keywords: Chelsea Frank Lampard Jose Mourinho Premier League Spurs Tottenham football soccer
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAS6PTR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said there will be no emotion for him when his side take on his former club Chelsea on Sunday (December 22) but there will be the offer of a hug for his rival manager Frank Lampard.
Chelsea manager Lampard was a talismanic presence during Mourinho's title-winning spells at the club and the two are still friends.
Mourinho said he still 'loves' Lampard and will offer him a hug before and after the game, but he hopes to see him lose when Chelsea visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Portuguese coach has overseen a resurgance in Tottenham's form after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino and they are now just three points off Chelsea in fourth place, putting even more pressure on Lampard's side, who have lost four of their last five league matches.
Mourinho also said he is happy to see defender Toby Alderweireld sign a new contract after the Belgian international was linked with a move away from the club. Mourinho said Alderweireld knows he has great belief in the player and hoped that was part of what persuaded him to resign with Spurs until 2023.
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