- Title: Stamford Bridge no longer lucky stadium, says Mourinho
- Date: 21st October 2016
- Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 21, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "But when I play there with Inter (Milan) before that I never lost a match at Stamford Bridge because I had that home record that is still in the Guinness (Book of Records). Now I lost already a few matches at the Bridge. Last season I lost two or three matches in the Bridge so I cannot use the same words because now I lost there." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "I don't have to analyse their start to the season but you look to the table and you see where they are and they are in a good position so the start of the season cannot be bad if they are where they are. And, you know, I knew that working in England, staying in the Premier League I knew that sooner or later I had to play against Chelsea and I had to go to Stamford Bridge and the computers decided that was to go now and here we go."
- Embargoed: 5th November 2016 10:07
- Keywords: Manchester United Jose Mourinho Chelsea Stamford Bridge Premier League
- Location: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00154Y7CCF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS A WHITE FLASH TO SEPARATE THE SOUNDBITES
Jose Mourinho will always have a place in the hearts of Chelsea's faithful but as prepares to return to Stamford Bridge as manager of Manchester United on Sunday (October 23) the Portuguese admits the ground is no longer lucky for him.
Mourinho holds the record for the longest unbeaten home streak as a manager during his two stints as Chelsea boss. During his first spell from 2004-2007 and then from when he returned in 2013 until April 2014, Mourinho didn't lose one match at Stamford Bridge in nine years. Even as the Inter Milan coach, he won 1-0 away to Chelsea in the 2009-2010 Champions League. Sunderland ended the record by winning 2-1 and since then Mourinho lost a further six matches in all competitions.
On Thursday (October 20), after Manchester United won 4-1 against Fenerbahce in the Europa League, Mourinho said he could no longer call Stamford Bridge a lucky ground for him.
"When I play there with Inter (Milan) before that I never lost a match at Stamford Bridge because I had that home record that is still in the Guinness (Book of Records). Now I lost already a few matches at the Bridge. Last season I lost two or three matches in the Bridge so I cannot use the same words because now I lost there."
The visit to Stamford Bridge could hardly have come at a worse time for a United side who have won only one of their last five Premier League games to stall what had been a promising beginning to the Mourinho reign.
Fifth-placed Chelsea have also had a whole week to prepare following their demolition of champions Leicester City last weekend while United have been working overtime.
Mourinho's new team drew 0-0 at Liverpool on Monday and will play Turkish club Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday before they can fully focus on the visit to west London.
No wonder Mourinho, whose side are seventh in the table, said it was a time for digging in.
Former Italy coach Antonio Conte, the man now sitting in Mourinho's old office, has made a steady enough start and the victory over Leicester was the ideal confidence-booster after defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal had lowered expectations.
Mourinho said Chelsea had made a solid start to the season under Conte.
"I don't have to analyse their start to the season but you look to the table and you see where they are and they are in a good position so the start of the season cannot be bad if they are where they are," he said.
"I knew that working in England, staying in the Premier League I knew that sooner or later I had to play against Chelsea and I had to go to Stamford Bridge and the computers decided that was to go now and here we go." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None