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MOURINHO: HIDDINK WILL COPE WITH BOTH JOBS
Sport Express brings all the news about signing of partnership agreement
between Inter and Krylya Sovetov, the first deal of this kind in history
of Russian football.
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Jose Mourinho Photo REUTERS
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On Wednesday Sport Express correspondent Igor Rabiner talked
to Inter head coach Jose Mourinho and his colleague from Krylya Sovetov
Leonid Slutsky. Sport Express published the first half of this interview
yesterday. Today story is the concluding part of this conversation.
- Have you ever heard that your colleague Leonid Slutsky is called in
the Russian press 'Russian Mourinho'? The matter is that he never played
at a high level as a player as well as you.
- No. That is new to me. Then we will learn from one another. The fact
that I have been working on the highest level longer than my colleague
does not mean that I cannot learn anything from others. That is the reason
why I agreed to go to Samara. You can imagine how difficult it is to find
some time for an appointment when you are working in such a club as Inter.
But my partners invited me to come and analyze the structure and philosophy
of the club. And I am going to do it.
My colleague should have his own personality, and if people compare him
with me, it should become an additional boost for further progress, but
not a problem. I hope his career will be fantastic.
I got acquainted with Krylya Sovetov head coach several years ago in London.
I noticed that he was interested in learning something new, so I have
no doubts he is well-prepared specialist, who wants to improve his skills
all the time.
- Leonid, what do you think about expression 'Russian Mourinho'?
Slutsky: I am very pleased with this meeting. As for this expression,
it means that this person achieved great success in his coaching career
not being a great player. It's a rare phenomenon in Russia, and I have
been awarded with this nickname because I was not very successful as a
player and started working with Russian Premier League team at rather
young age. Though I wouldn't hide that I like Mr. Mourinho's principles
and coaching methods.
- Do CSKA and Zenit have good chances to win UEFA Cup trophy?
- Both teams are capable to do it despite many strong clubs still participate
in this competition. But Russian teams can boast rich experience of playing
in decisive stages of Eurocups, so they don't need to get used to it.
Moreover Zenit slipped to UEFA Cup from the Champions League. They lost
Andrei Arshavin, but I think they can demonstrate high-level football
without him too.
- Have you been surprised with Zenit's victory over Manchester United
in the UEFA Supercup?
- Their win didn't come as a surprise for me, because that's only one
game and everything can happen. If Zenit and Manchester meet each other
in two-round clash, St. Petersburg team's success would have been a surprise.
Moreover English season has just begun in August, while Zenit players
were in better form since their domestic season was in full swing.
Slutsky: What do you think about Guus Hiddink's work in Chelsea and Russian
national team?
Mourinho: Chelsea is a great club. I won't be astonished if Hiddink copes
with both jobs.
Slutsky: But work in the club differs from work with the national teams:
Mourinho: Yes, you are right. But Hiddink has worked with the clubs for
major part of his coaching career, so I don't see there anything impossible.
He can brilliantly cope with his job in Chelsea.
Sport
Express Daily, 27 Feb 2009
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