Jose ready for summer appointment
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 19 April 2008
Jose Mourinho is backing former club Chelsea to overcome their Champions League nemeses Liverpool in the sides’ semi-final tie, and has also revealed he has had ‘some good options’ in terms of job opportunities this month.
The Portuguese tactician fell to The Reds twice at the last-four stage during his reign at Stamford Bridge, and he now wants his old side to make it third time lucky against Rafa Benitez’s men.
“I don't know who will win,” Mourinho told The Times. “I think always between big teams the result is a question mark. I want Chelsea.
“Mathematically it's possible. I want them to win. Yes, for the fans, for the players, yes, for the friends I have in the club.
“And when I say friends I include the board. I have no problems with Peter [Kenyon, the chief executive] or Roman [Abramovich, the owner]. I always support my friends.”
Mourinho has been linked with a number of positions since his exit from West London last September – most notably a very close dalliance with Italian champions Inter – and he has said he will be in employment at a club for the start of next season.
“I will be somewhere next season,” he said. “I've not agreed anything but it's a good time for me for many reasons.
“I have no contact with clubs. They know where I am. They know the kind of clubs I want, the level of challenge I want. When the leagues finish that's when they make decisions.
“I had some good options this month. Some good clubs and some good countries.”