Jose Mourinho revealed what would be his all-time Starting XI. In an interview with an English newspaper, the Portuguese boss chose his squad out of the bunch of players he's coached in his career. Among those top performers he coached, there are some big names that were not considered by "The Special One" in his eighteen men squad, such as Iker Casillas or Zlatan Ibrahimovic. To understand why he chose these players, these quote from an interview might give a good idea.
"For me, football is collective. The individual is welcome if you want to make our group better. But you have to work for us, not we have to work for you. When the top player arrives, the team is already there. It’s not him who comes to discover the team, like Columbus discovering America. No, no, you are coming now to help us be better. And as a manager you have to give this message every day," Mourinho explained.
These are the names Mourinho chose in his all-time "dream team"
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
The Czech shot-stopper was been a key figure for Mourinho's success in the Premier League, and has always praised him for his commitment to the team, even if he is not playing. Mourinho gave Cech his first opportunity as Chelsea's Number 1 goalkeeper, and he delivered 21 clean sheets in his first season as a starter.
Right Back: Javier Zanetti
The Argentinian won the treble while under Mou's regime with Inter Milan, and he certainly earned praises from his coach. "I know players who are old at 22, and guys who are young at 37. Zanetti was already 37 when I was at Inter, but when the other players came in after a day off from training, he would run all the way from his home to burn off more energy," Mourinho stated about Zanetti.
Center Back: John Terry
Terry's career under Mourinho has flourished, even after being questioned for his age during the current season. After the center back signed his contract extension with the Blues, Mourinho confirmed why he gave Terry the chance to pen a one-year deal with the club again: "This new contract is not to say 'thank you very much'; it is because John continues to perform. He is a top defender. I am happy that he completely deserves this new contract after a season where he has already played 40 matches," the Portuguese said.
Center Back: Ricardo Carvalho
Perhaps one of the biggest question marks in Mou's choices, Carvalho followed him almost wherever Mourinho went. Carvalho's skills may not have been the greatest ever, but he was a trusty defender, who gave others like Terry or Ramos the chance to shine. He played for Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid thanks to Mourinho's recommendations.
Left Back: William Gallas
Mou's choice of William Gallas suits his preference for players who can switch positions. Gallas, used to play as a center back and a right back, played for Mou on the other side of the pitch, winning two Premier League titles under the Portuguese. His relationship with the Blues may have ended abruptly, but Mou kept him as one of the most outstanding players under his belt.
Defensive Midfielder: Claude Makelele
One of Mourinho's "Undroppables", he became one of the best defensive midfielders in the game under the Portuguese coach. Considering he was not in his younger years when he played for Mou's side, the former Real Madrid midfielder made an impact on his coach's mind, making him very hard to replace.
Central Midfielder: Frank Lampard
One of the players Mourinho developed to become one of the best in the world. Lampard's career flourished under Mourinho's guidance, even making him a front-runner for the Ballon D'Or. The current Manchester City player praised Mourinho's people skills, even when he was let go by the Blues during summer's transfer window: "What he does is he gets the best out of players and gets this togetherness that I'd never known until he came to the club and I haven't seen it again since then," Lampard stated.
Right Midfielder: Eden Hazard
One of his most talented students, Hazard is having one of his best professional seasons under Mourinho, and is on the verge of winning another Premier League title for the Blues. He possesses the skill to switch from the right wing to the left in no time, giving his coach one of the best attacking sides in all of Europe. The Belgian's career in the Premier League has been given a major boost guided by Mourinho, making him one of the soon-to-be superstars all around the world.
Left Midfileder: Mesut Ozil
The relationship between the German player and Mourinho goes back to 2010, when Mourinho decided to sign him to play for Real Madrid. Mou compared him to Figo and Zidane during his first season with Los Blancos, and Özil paid him back with three trophies while playing for Real Madrid. "Özil is unique. There's no copy of him, not even a bad one. He is the best Number 10 in the world," he added.
Striker: Didier Drogba
Drogba was first spotted by Mourinho during his time with Olympique Marseille, and while he could not sign him for Porto, he made it his priority to sign him when he arrived to Stamford Bridge. Drogba is one of Chelsea's legends thanks to the Portuguese coach, and he surely left an impression on Mou by showing his goalscoring skills. "I think we can already say he has the best-value signing for Chelsea in relation to what he has done for the club over so many years," the coach said about Drogba.
Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo
After all that's been said and done, Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo have the outmost respect for each other. Ronaldo's form under Mourinho gave Los Blancos 168 goals in 164 matches, and a record-breaking La Liga title, earning 100 points for the first time in the Spanish top-flight. "If Messi is the best in the planet, then Cristiano is the best player in the universe," the manager stated.
If any of those players failed to "perform", Mourinho added Brazilian shot-stopper Julio Cesar, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, left back Ashley Cole, his compatriot Deco, Dutch midfielders Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, and finally capped his squad with Samuel Eto'o.
