Jose Mourinho insulted his players in the same way at his last four clubs

Players training under Jose Mourinho have always had to endure awful insults and verbal abuse.

The career of the Portuguese manager has been on a steady decline for the past few years. He has been sacked mid-season in his last three managerial spells, including a controversial April exit from Tottenham in 2021.

The last time that Mourinho left a club of his own accord was in 2013, when the Real Madrid locker room turned against him. The Special One would then complete a return home to Chelsea, where he would win the Premier League in 2015.

Mourinho: A legend in decline

That Premier League victory is Mourinho’s last big title. The Portuguese did touch silverware while managing Manchester United, but not the most prestigious trophies.

His biggest accomplishment with the Red Devils was a Europa League trophy in 2017 – an ironic feat for a man who once said he would only work with Champions League teams.

That was also Mourinho’s last title. It’s plain to see that the 58-year-old is no longer the coaching star he was in his thirties and forties. His managerial spells have been growing progressively shorter: he hasn’t stayed at the same club for three full seasons since his Madrid days.

Critics claim that his tactics are stuck in the past and that his dictatorial managing does not sit well with star players. From John Terry to Iker Casillas, Mourinho has had his fair share of arguments with football legends.

Because of his famously short fuse, Mourinho struggles to maintain a sense of camaraderie in his teams’ locker rooms. He is quick to publicly turn on his players, with his snappy attitude coming to light whenever a mic is near him.

For example, Mourinho’s contemptuous view of Dele Alli was a point of discussion throughout his entire Tottenham spell. The Portuguese called out the attacking midfielder for his poor display in training sessions several times.

Alli was hardly the first player to be accused of idleness by Mourinho. At the time, he was just the last name in a long list that included stars like Eden Hazard or Karim Benzema.

In fact, Mourinho was treading extremely familiar territory.

Jose Mourinho insults: What did he say to Roma players?

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As one Reddit user has noted, The Special One has doubted his players’ mental strength in his last four stints as a manager. He fired variations of that insult at his players at Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham.

His latest outburst came after his current club Roma conceded three goals in seven times to lose against Juventus.

He said: “When we allowed them back in for 3-2, a team with a strong mentality like Juventus, a strong character. The fear set in. A psychological complex. It’s not a problem for me having 3-2, it’s a problem for them. For my team.

“At the end of the day, when you’re in the s**t, you get back on your feet and find your character. But there are people in this locker room who are a bit too nice, a bit too weak.”

Six months into the job, Mourinho hasn’t won the heart of Roma fans so far. His promise that he would make the club competitive again has fallen short, with Roma standing in the seventh position in the Serie A, an unsurmountable 17 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

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The Special One has fared better in the Conference League, where he’s won six of his eight matches. However, a manager commonly regarded as one of the best ever should aspire to greater heights.

After 29 games with Roma, Mourinho’s points-per-match record is just 1.76 – the lowest in his managerial career. If he doesn’t turn things around soon, he might find himself jobless again.

Featured Image Credit: Getty