First thing Jose Mourinho said to me – Osayi-Samuel opens up on working with ex-Real Madrid boss

Super Eagles star Bright Osayi-Samuel has opened up on his experience working under José Mourinho, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The former Queens Park Rangers player described the Portuguese tactician as a very interesting coach to work with while also reflecting on the mentorship that comes with training under the ex-Chelsea manager.

What Jose Mourinho said to me – Osayi-Samuel

The Fenerbahçe star recalled his first day with Mourinho, revealing how the legendary coach immediately made his expectations clear.

“I remember my first day — I came late to training because I had a national team game. The first thing he said to me was, ‘You are a good player, but you need to run more.’ I was like, what? You know? That just shows what type of guy he is. He can be ruthless when things go wrong. There were times we had to stay on the training ground for 34 days because we didn’t play well. But if we played well, he’d give us four or five days off,” Osayi-Samuel said in an interview with Oma Sports.

Watch what Osayi-Samuel said about Mourinho here:

“You are a good player, but you need to run more.”

Bright Osayi Samuel reveals the first thing Jose Mourinho ever said to him. pic.twitter.com/zRe7t7kh53

— @ (@OneJoblessBoy) February 12, 2026

The Nigerian international revealed the high standards Mourinho demands, and further noted that players are expected to adapt and perform consistently.

Ex-Real Madrid boss has a rich history of football

Osayi-Samuel also spoke about the personal side of working with Mourinho. He went on to share how the coach would spend hours before matches recounting stories from his long career.

“He had stories for days. We would stay in his room the day before a game and just speak for hours. He would tell us stories of players, and we’d all mention players we knew, because he had a story for every single player. He has a rich history of the game,” Osayi-Samuel added.

The winger described Mourinho as tough. However, a coach who rewards good performances while ruthlessly addressing mistakes.

“He’s a great guy, and I’m honoured to work with him,” Osayi-Samuel concluded.

Not long after Osayi-Samuel’s move to Birmingham City, Mourinho was dismissed as head coach of Fenerbahçe and was later appointed manager of Benfica, where his side currently sit third in the Liga Portugal.