Mourinho's Emotional Reunion: 'Arbeloa is Like My Child' Ahead of UCL Clash
In an emotional pre-match press conference that transcended typical football rivalry, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho described his upcoming opponent, Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa, as 'like a child' to him ahead of their crucial Champions League encounter.The veteran Portuguese manager, renowned for his tactical acumen and psychological warfare, struck an unusually tender tone when addressing recent comments that were interpreted as criticism of inexperienced coaches leading major European clubs. Mourinho had expressed surprise at such appointments, remarks that some viewed as targeting both Arbeloa at Real Madrid and Cristian Chivu at Inter Milan.'There is one problem – both Chivu and Arbeloa are my children, they are not just ex-players of mine, but they are special,' Mourinho clarified during Tuesday's press conference. 'Speaking about Alvaro, I would say that he is one of the players – from a human point of view, from a personal point of view, and personal empathy – he is one of my favourites of them all.'The 63-year-old coach, who managed Arbeloa during his tumultuous tenure at Real Madrid from 2010-2013, emphasized the personal bond that transcends professional competition. Despite acknowledging that Arbeloa 'is not the best player who has played for Real Madrid,' Mourinho praised him as 'certainly one of the best men who has played for me at Real Madrid.'Mourinho's relationship with his former players has often been characterized by loyalty and mentorship, traits that appear to persist even when they meet as opposing coaches. The Portuguese tactician revealed he hasn't spoken to the 43-year-old Arbeloa since he replaced Xabi Alonso, but insisted no conversation was necessary.'My telephone number is very complicated, because there's only the club's number, and after that, only my family has it,' Mourinho explained with characteristic detail. 'People lose my contact, and I lose theirs too, and with Alvaro, it's not necessary to have a call to say 'good luck', he knows it.'The emotional subtext adds intrigue to what is already a high-stakes match. Real Madrid needs only a victory to secure their place in the Champions League Round of 16, while Benfica must win and hope other results favor them to reach the playoff round.Mourinho's restraint in analyzing Arbeloa's coaching abilities reflects both respect and honesty. 'I cannot analyse him as a coach because I do not know him,' he admitted. 'I've only seen results, not followed with my own eyes the trajectory of the youngsters at Madrid.'This Champions League clash represents more than a tactical battle—it's a meeting between mentor and protégé, with both understanding that professional duty must override personal affection for 90 minutes.Source: Al Jazeera
