ENFIELD (UK): Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas would welcome his mentor Jose Mourinho back to the Premier League next season, saying his return would be spectacular.
Villas-Boas worked under Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan before deciding to forge a name for himself by taking on the coaching job at Portuguese club Academica.
Mourinho, who parted company with Chelsea in 2007 having won two league titles, dropped heavy hints this week that he wants to return for a second stint at Stamford Bridge having failed to land the Champions League for Real Madrid this season.
“It’s hard to make a reading of the situation,” Villas-Boas, whose side face Southampton on Saturday then Chelsea next Wednesday as they battle for a top-four finish, told reporters.
“Obviously his desire to come back to England is extremely strong. Whether he has a club lined up or not, I’m not sure. It’s very unlike-ly when someone makes it that public that every-thing is set up already.
“But he would be a great addition to the Premier League. Jose has a wonder-ful history in this league and it would be spectacular to have him back,” Villas-Boas said on Thursday.
Villas-Boas’s career path has been similar to Mourinho’s having won the Portuguese league with Porto before moving to England for a brief spell in charge of Chelsea.
While Mourinho said this week after Real Madrid’s Champions League exit to Borussia Dortmund that he was “loved” in England, Villas-Boas thought it had not always been the case.
“I remember when we left (Chelsea) he was not that loved by some of you (media),” joked the Portuguese. “But Jose was loved at all the clubs where he has won titles and there is maximum respect for everything he has achieved.
“Whether he’s reached the level of Real Madrid’s expectations, maybe not, but he won La Liga against the dream Barcelona team.”
‘Spurs won’t sell Bale’
Meanwhile, as Gareth Bale sweeps all the awards so the speculation about his future intensifies but Tottenham Hotspur will not be selling their most prized asset, according Villas-Boas.
Welshman Bale was named Footballer of the Year by England’s football writers on Thursday after picking up the PFA Young Player and Player of the Year last weekend and he is regularly linked with Europe’s top clubs.
Spurs’ determination to keep a player who has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season will be severely tested if they fail in their bid for Champions League qualification, but Villas-Boas says he has received assurances that the winger’s future is not dependent on a top-four finish.
“The information I have from the club that was mista-kenly written about last week is that the player will remain here irrespective of Champi-ons League qualification being achieved or not,” Villas-Boas told reporters at Spurs’ training ground.
“Whatever the price tag the player has doesn’t matter to us because he is our player,” added Villas-Boas. (Reuters)