Benfica star reveals special fondness for Newcastle, influenced by... | OneFootball

José Mourinho revealed he has a "special affection" for Newcastle. Bobby Robson, mentor of the Special One, instilled in him a passion for the St. James's Park club, recalling some words from the late coach before Benfica's visit to England.

"I always felt something special even before mister [Bobby] Robson passed away. After that, I felt the closeness, that even with the people we love, daily life makes us pass by the feeling of longing. There are places that make us open the door for those people to enter our thoughts," said José Mourinho, in the preview of the match.

"I worked with mister Robson for six years and not a day went by that he didn't show his passion for Newcastle, the city and the club, the pride with which he spoke... I never hid that Newcastle has always been a beloved club, obviously due to the influence of a legend of this club," he added.

Bobby Robson was a mentor to Mourinho, who does not forget the moments they shared: "One thing is the opportunities he gave me. He took me to Barcelona and that, for a young man, with the time I spent there, was an incredible experience. That door is huge and it was opened by him. Another thing was what I learned, both in football and as a person. The trust he placed in me. At that time, the assistant coach had a limited role, nowadays it is different. Assistants have more freedom. That was very important and I know I gave everything I had."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.