“He gave me a tough time” – Jose Mourinho speaks on managing ex-Super Eagles captain

Jose Mourinho managed Chelsea in two different stints, winning the English Premier League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup

Former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has explained what it felt like to work with former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Portuguese manager managed the London club during two different stints: 2004–2007 and 2013–2015, with John Obi Mikel joining the club in 2006.

The 60-year-old tactician, currently plying his trade with Roma, spoke with Mikel and Chris McHardy on the Obi One podcast on how he built the winning team that involved Premier League greats like John Terry and Frank Lampard.

“Lampard was a proper professional, a top player. He was aware of his records and always wanted to keep breaking them. He always got mad whenever he didn’t play. Even when he was sick, he still wanted to play.”

The former Real Madrid manager jokingly hinted that he grew grey hair simply because he managed Mikel Obi and Lassanna Diarra.

“Obi is my boy, he was a great player, but he always wanted to play fine football. He wanted to look like a fine player, he always gave me a tough time. Diarra’s agent always disturbed me for a new contract whenever he played ninety minutes,” the treble-winning manager with Inter added.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma are currently in seventh place on the Serie A table, sixteen points behind league leaders, Inter Milan.