- Title: SOCCER-ENGLAND/CHELSEA I won't give medal away this time, says Mourinho
- Date: 22nd May 2015
- Summary: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 22, 2015) (REUTERS) CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: REPORTER: "In 2006 when you won it (the Premier League) Jose, you threw your medal into the fans, are you planning to keep hold of it this time?" MOURINHO: "Yeah, I keep, this time I keep." REPORTER: "Why's that?" MOURINHO: "My son now is collecting all my stuff, he keeps everything. At that time he was too young for that. In this moment he's collecting everything, he steals everything from me. Shirts, medals, cups, replicas. In this moment he is the owner."
- Embargoed: 6th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA52XJFIBD5V3CH5K6BE3LBW77N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Jose Mourinho will receive a third Premier League winners' medal on Sunday (May 24) but the Chelsea manager is not feeling so charitable this time -- meaning no surprise souvenir for a lucky fan at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea host Sunderland in their final game of the season on Sunday where they will be presented with the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2010.
After claiming a second English title in 2006 following a 3-0 win against Manchester United, Mourinho launched his medal and blazer into the crowd.
"I keep, this time I keep. My son now is collecting all my stuff, he keeps everything. At that time he was too young for that. In this moment he's collecting everything, he steals everything from me. Shirts, medals, cups, replicas. In this moment he is the owner," Mourinho told reporters during a news conference at the club training ground near London on Friday (May 22).
Mourinho was also named Premier League manager of the season for the third time following previous triumphs in 2005 and 2006.
"I was not waiting for it. Never manager of the month, so I was not waiting for this but obviously I'm happy with it. I think it's a club trophy, it's not individual it's club. It's me, my assistants, my players, everybody that works directly with me. It's something you don't get by yourself. As you like to say in England: the cake and the icing on the cake. I work for the cake, I don't work for the icing on the cake I work for the cake. The cake is much more important. The Premier League is the real cake but obviously to be manager of the season is nice, is nice for me and nice for my people," he said.
Forward Eden Hazard, who has played in all 37 of Chelsea's league fixtures, is unlikely to feature against Sunderland after undergoing emergency dental surgery on Wednesday (May 20) to have three wisdom teeth removed.
"He had surgery in three teeth. Yeah, three, but infection? He's a bit in trouble," said Mourinho.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is struggling with a muscle injury but Mourinho said the 33-year-old, who could leave at the end of the season after being used as back-up to Thibaut Courtois, will play some part against Sunderland.
"I think this is a very personal thing, I don't want to speak about it. I keep saying that I would like him to stay and when I would like him to stay, I have no preferences in case that he leaves... he will play, he will play something yes," said Mourinho.
The Chelsea boss also heaped praise on former player Frank Lampard who is preparing to make his final Premier League appearance for Manchester City on Sunday before heading to the U.S. to join New York City FC.
"One of my best players ever. One of my best professionals ever. A Chelsea legend and a legend in the Premier League. So, last match for Frank and obviously I have to honour him and to wish him the best in the States and I hope he can be back to England as soon as possible because people like him makes this country much better. Big loss, big loss for English football." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None