Football News

Mourinho picks dream XI from his career – Ozil and Ronaldo included but there’s no room for Inter treble winners

By Mohamed Moallim

Published: 19:05, 30 March 2020

Jose Mourinho has selected his ‘dream XI’ of players he’s coached, but there’s only room for one Inter Milan treble winner.

The much-travelled Portuguese manager spent just two seasons leading the Nerazzurri in which time he lifted back-to-back league titles as well as the 2010 Champions League as part of a historic treble.

Mourinho’s ‘dream XI’: Five key things to know…

  • Mourinho has named his dream XI consisting of players he’s coached.
  • Eight of the 11 names he’s picked have played under him at Chelsea.
  • Javier Zanetti is the sole representative from his Inter Milan treble-winning team.
  • Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo, who he coached at Real Madrid, make the cut.
  • There’s no room for any Man Utd or Spurs players.

His skipper and club legend Javier Zanetti features in a 4-3-1-2 formation — revealed in Spanish outlet Marca — but there’s no place for Wesley Sneijder, who he has described as his perfect number 10 in the past.

Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o are also missing in a line-up that is dominated by those who played under him at Chelsea. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who he’s coached at two different clubs, and Deco are two other notable omissions.

Petr Cech, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho (whom he brought to Stamford Bridge after working together at Porto), Willam Gallas, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba nevertheless make the cut.

Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo are Real Madrid’s sole representatives, with the latter sitting alongside Drogba, but there’s no place for any Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur players.

Inter’s success in Madrid saw Mourinho lift his most recent European Cup but he’s now failed to win any of his eight Champions League knockout games since 2014 after RB Leipzig dumped Spurs from this season’s competition at the round-of-16 stage.