Mourinho Rules Out National Teams, Open to PSG Only If Chelsea Let Him Go
1 October 2014
José Mourinho has made it clear: his future lies strictly in club football. The Portuguese manager, currently in charge at Chelsea, has ruled out any interest in managing a national team, signalling a long-term commitment to the Stamford Bridge side—unless the club decides otherwise.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon, Mourinho addressed speculation linking him with Paris Saint-Germain, in light of rumours that PSG were considering a managerial change amid a shaky start to their season.
“I won’t leave. It’s not an option,” Mourinho told beIN SPORTS. “But if Chelsea sack me? Yes, I could go to Paris. Otherwise, I’m unshakeable.”
The comment came in response to mounting speculation in the French media following PSG’s high-profile 3-2 victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night—a result that may have eased pressure on head coach Laurent Blanc.
Blanc’s position had come under increasing scrutiny after PSG’s inconsistent start to the Ligue 1 season, prompting reports that the club’s Qatari ownership was eyeing alternatives. Among the names circulated were Roberto Mancini, currently unattached after leaving Galatasaray, and Mourinho.
While Blanc may have earned some breathing space with the win over Barcelona, questions over his long-term future at the Parc des Princes persist. Mourinho’s comments, though far from a declaration of intent, suggest he would consider PSG as a viable next step should his time at Chelsea come to an end.
For now, however, Mourinho remains firmly in control at Chelsea. The club sits atop the Premier League table and leads its Champions League group, with performances that have reinforced Mourinho’s reputation as one of the game’s top tacticians.
His aversion to national team management is consistent with previous statements. Mourinho has repeatedly expressed a preference for the daily intensity and tactical challenges of club football over the intermittent schedule of the international game.
“I like the day-to-day work, the training, the constant competition,” Mourinho has said in the past. “That’s where I belong.”
PSG, backed by Qatar Sports Investments, remain one of Europe’s most ambitious clubs, eager to add a Champions League title to their growing domestic dominance. Mourinho’s stature and track record would undoubtedly align with the club’s lofty ambitions.
But for now, the ‘Special One’ is staying put—unless Chelsea decide otherwise.
