José Mourinho on Tottenham sacking him before the 2021 Carabao Cup Final:
🗣️ “I've lost matches. I've lost titles. I've been criticized by the media. I've been sacked before. But what Tottenham did in 2021 was one of the most unbelievable decisions I've ever seen in football.
For years they complained about trophies. For years they talked about ambition. For years they talked about changing history. Then a cup final arrived. The biggest opportunity the club had seen in a very long time. And they decided to remove the one man who built his career winning finals.
Imagine climbing a mountain for months. Reaching the final few steps. Seeing the summit right in front of you. And then deciding to jump off. That's exactly what Tottenham did.
People asked me if I was angry. No. I was shocked. Because even my biggest critics know one thing: when a final arrives, José Mourinho becomes very dangerous.
The funny part is that they acted like I was the problem. Like removing me would suddenly change everything. But trophies are not won with press releases. They're not won in boardrooms. They're won on the pitch.
What happened next told its own story. The trophy drought continued. The waiting continued. The excuses continued. And every year that passes makes that decision look even worse.
Some sackings are understandable. Some are harsh. But sacking a serial winner days before a final when your club is desperate for silverware? That wasn't brave. That was football madness.”