Jose Mourinho names his Premier League bogey team and side he loved to beat

Jose Mourinho never looked forward to a trip to St James’ Park (Picture: Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho says he never enjoyed going to St James’ Park during his days in charge of Premier League clubs, with Newcastle something of a bogey team for the Special One.

The 61-year-old had two spells with Chelsea and stints at Manchester United and Tottenham over the last 20 years, and now unemployed after leaving Roma, he probably isn’t ruling out a return to the Premier League.

The Portuguese was known for his rivalries with fellow managers, notably the likes of Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson, but he says it was not so much beef with other men, but with clubs that he remembers.

Mourinho says he loved playing Arsenal during his time with Chelsea because he enjoyed a brilliant record against them, but dreaded going to Newcastle because the opposite was the case.

‘Not with the managers, with the clubs yes,’ Mourinho told FIVE on his Premier League rivalries.

‘When people speak about me and Wenger, we had our things on the touchline, in words. But what I enjoyed the most was beating Arsenal every time we played against them, because it was every time Chelsea, boom, boom, boom. That was what I enjoyed.

‘I didn’t enjoy to play in Newcastle because I never win. Every time I went to Newcastle it was lose or draw, lose or draw. I think I won there once probably with Chelsea, with Man United or Tottenham. Out of 10 I would win once or twice,

Mourinho struggled with Alan Pardew’s Newcastle back in 2013 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘There was no rivalry with [Alan] Pardew or with [Sam] Allardyce or anyone there, I just knew that going to play St James’ was really, really hard.’

Mourinho has been touted for a remarkable third stint at Chelsea, with current Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino under pressure at Stamford Bridge.

There have also been rumours of a return to Manchester United, although he described them as ‘not true’ despite remembering his time at Old Trafford fondly.

‘I loved it, I loved my time there. I was so proud of going there,’ Mourinho said of his stint with the Red Devils.

Mourinho had a mixed time of things as Manchester United boss (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I was even prouder when a couple of years later I went back as a Sky commentator with Roy Keane and felt the reaction of the crowd. I was like “wow”.

‘I always felt like we were together in the time I was there, but to have that reaction touched me. I loved my time there.

‘The club, the history, everything, to be a coach in the same club as Sir Alex, you have to feel it, you have to feel the pride and responsibility and I felt it.

‘It was a hell of a job you know, in the first season to win the Europa League was great, to qualify for the Champions League was great too.’

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