Jose Mourinho’s Fierce Leadership: Angel Gomes Reveals Telling Story of "Bollocking"
In the world of football, few managers have left a lasting impact on their players like Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician has been known for his intense leadership style, and his latest reunion with a former protégé is a perfect example of this. When Fenerbahce takes on Lille in the Champions League, a familiar face will be on the opposite side of the pitch – Angel Gomes, the midfielder Mourinho handed his Premier League debut to back in 2017.
According to reports, Gomes is set to start for Lille alongside captain Benjamin Andre, which means Mourinho will get to reunite with the young midfielder. This will be a special moment for both parties, as Gomes has spoken highly of the manager’s influence on his career.
In an interview with SPORTbible, Gomes revealed a telling story about a "bollocking" he received from Mourinho during his time at Manchester United. The young midfielder was just 16 years old when he made his debut, and he recalled how Mourinho took him aside after a poor performance in an U21 game.
"I’ve never actually told this story before, but one time, he took me to a cup game with the first team, two days after I’d played with the U21s," Gomes said. "We were at the dinner table, and he’s come around speaking to everyone. He then looks at me and says, ‘I am f** with you!’ At the time, he was having a laugh with everyone, so I thought he was joking with me. I asked why, and he brought up my performance from the days before. He must have thought I’d played s."
Gomes added that the manager’s words of criticism were not just a joke, but a genuine attempt to get the best out of him. "He was saying, ‘You were doing this and doing that, but you should have done this and that…’ And this was in front of the whole squad as well. I’d had bollockings in my time, but not from the big boss. I just wasn’t expecting it. I was taken aback."
Despite the initial shock, Gomes has come to understand Mourinho’s methods and even praises the manager for pushing him to be his best. "It eventually clicked in my head as to the type of person he is," Gomes said. "Mourinho would always want the best, and I think, for me, he was trying to get across that it wasn’t going to be an easy ride. He wanted to bring me to that game to discipline me like a first-team player."
Mourinho’s reputation for being tough on his players has been well-documented, but it’s clear that his methods have had a lasting impact on those who have played under him. Gomes’ story is just one example of how Mourinho’s leadership style can be both intense and effective.
As we look forward to the Champions League match between Fenerbahce and Lille, it will be interesting to see how Mourinho’s reunion with Gomes plays out. Will the manager be able to get the best out of his former protégé once again?
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