10 contradictory statements and moments from Jose Mourinho

#3 What’s the Europa League worth?

Mourinho's feelings on the Europa League seem to have changed dramatically

Plenty of people in football have had differing opinions on the value of the Europa League – some have seen it as a prestigious tournament to win, particularly now that it allows the victor a chance in the following season’s Champions League, but others view it as a tedious exercise that can distract sides from their own domestic league campaign due to its arduous nature and awkward fixtures. Jose Mourinho? Apparently, he feels both ways. He claimed

“I don’t know the way the other clubs think; I don’t know what is important for them. At Manchester United, for us it’s more important to win titles than to finish in the top four."

Flashback to the summer of 2013, though, and Mourinho was telling a different story. He’d just taken over Chelsea – months after Rafael Benitez had guided them to victory in the competition – but he stated that

“I don’t want to win the Europa League. It would be a big disappointment for me. I don’t want my players to feel the Europa League is our competition.”

So what’s the Europa League worth? Seems like Jose can’t make his mind up.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Akhilesh Tirumala