Sidney Sladen
Arsenal superstar Mesut Ozil has opened up about his relationship with the Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho during their time together at Real Madrid. Ozil has revealed that the pair had a love-hate relationship with his former manager and that Mourinho yelled at the player calling him a ‘coward’.
In an extract from his new book, The Magic of the Game, which is being serialised in German newspaper Bild, Arsenal’s record signing (£42.5m) reveals the story of a dressing room row between the two.
The argument eventually led to the Portuguese coach questioning his commitment and labelling him a coward.
Recalling the incident, which followed an abysmal Real Madrid performance, Ozil wrote:
“Jose Mourinho, our coach, curses, and curses. And curses. And curses. Especially with me.”
“You think two beautiful passes are enough,’ cries Mourinho. ‘You’re too fine for going into fights. You think you’re so good that fifty percent is enough.’ “He pauses. Stare at me with his dark brown eyes. I stare back. Like two boxers at the stare down before the first round of a fight. He shows no emotion. Just waits for a response from me. How much I hate him right now. I love Mourinho.”
Ozil further wrote – “Mourinho then continued: ‘Oh, are you giving up now? You’re such a coward. “What do you want? To creep under the beautiful, warm shower? Shampoo your hair? To be alone? Or do you want to prove to your fellow players, the fans out there, and me, what you can do.’”
The pair left Real Madrid back in 2013 where they had worked together for 3 years, winning the La Liga, Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa during their time.
However, Ozil admitted that his old manager’s words were right and that helped him to improve. After the pair had left Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, Mourinho said about the player:
“Ozil is unique. There is no copy of him – not even a bad one. He is the best number 10 in the world.”
Oh boy isn’t he right! Like he usually is!
Jose Mourinho is known for his strict behaviour with the players when it comes to extracting the best of them and it has worked for him in his career so far. He has succeeded at every club he’s managed at, and it is no wonder that Mesut Ozil has admitted that the Portuguese was right.
The pair has since mended their relationship and it is not a surprise as it is normal for the manager to have a go at the player when things go wrong. It is good to see that they have both moved on from the incident and maybe a reunion is possible in the future?
