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benfica boss jose mourinho expecting big things from newcastle After suggesting that last season’s Carabao Cup win was only the beginning.
The 62-year-old Portuguese has great affection for the Magpies, who host his team Champions League On Tuesday, due to work with late Sir bobby robson Sporting in Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.
Asked how pleased the former Newcastle boss would have been with March’s League Cup final victory liverpoolWhich ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy, with an emotional Mourinho saying: “Sir Bobby is a legend here and in England if you are a legend, there are many reasons to be a legend.
“He loved this club, he gave everything to this club. Of course he would be very happy with that win in the cup. I was very happy with that win.
“I know that’s not the goal. I know Newcastle and all the Geordies want a reward that’s bigger than the League Cup, but the League Cup is the start.
“Playing in the Champions League is another very important step and I think the club is going in the right direction. With new owners, with new money, many clubs make a lot of wrong decisions, there are a lot of ups and downs.
“With Newcastle since they got the new ownership, they have had Eddie (Howe), stability – they change sporting directors for obvious reasons, but football is like that – lots of stability.
“I’ve never seen a player that Newcastle have got that doesn’t fit the model. They do things really well and that’s why they are where they are.”
Mourinho’s career began with his role as Robson’s interpreter at Sporting, but flourished under a man he considered his mentor as he followed him to Porto and Barça, but ultimately not to St. James’s when Robson took over the leadership in 1999.
He said, “They trusted me a lot and I consider it very important for my career. I tried to give it back with everything they gave me.”
“I don’t know if I ever did, but I tried to give her everything I had. That’s enough for me.”
Serial winner Mourinho, who revealed he had never come close to Newcastle’s management despite being linked with the job on several occasions, said he felt Robson’s presence when he arrived at St James’s, a stadium where he has tasted victory only three times in 12 previous visits.
He said: “When I came here, I felt close to him. When I came here, I exchanged a few words with him and it is a great feeling.
“I worked with Sir Bobby for two, four, six years and there was not a single day when he did not show his passion, pride and passion for Newcastle, the city, the region and the football club.
“Even when I was manager of other English clubs, I never hid how dear Newcastle was to me because of the influence of a great man on this club.”
Benfica are in vain after their opening two fixtures in the competition and have been told to expect a tough test on Tyneside, although their manager is adamant they should enjoy it.
He said, “I told him it’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Even as an opponent, it’s beautiful.”