According to the former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is now set to impress the whole football world. Following his departure from the Premier League last month, the Portuguese coach recently visited the country and had a first-hand experience of the World Cup preparation.
The ‘Special One’ had a guided personal tour with Nasser Al Khater, the Chief of Tournament Readiness & Experience Group. And, that tour seems pretty impressive for the coach as he now openly stated to media that the upcoming FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar will be a grand event like never before.
While talking about the World Cup, Jose Mourinho told sc.qa “I’m very impressed. Knowing the country, I cannot say I am very surprised because I was expecting something amazing. But there were some question marks that a football manager can have before he understands all of the dynamic – and that is what makes me really amazed by the level of organization.”
He said “I believe that many of us in Europe, players, coaches, clubs – we had some question marks – but when you arrive here you don’t have question marks anymore,” and then added “The facilities are amazing. They have thought about every detail. The number of training places for all the teams, the beauty and security of all the stadiums, the short distances between every stadium, no traveling – the teams can stay for a month in the same training ground without moving.”
Jose Mourinho said “The weather won’t be so hard…so I think it’s going to be a fantastic event. I just hope that the football itself can give this amazing organization what you deserve,” and added “I’m so positively surprised. I expect that [in 2022] I’m going to be a club coach, and then I will probably be not so happy that in the middle of the season my players are traveling to the World Cup, but I have to admit the event has everything to be amazing.”
The Portuguese coach then said “Even in pre-season for us in Europe, which is a small period, we don’t like to travel – we like to have a base. But because of commercial reasons, we are always traveling. We always try to reduce the traveling time, and find the right facility,” and further added “I think this is going to be the first time that everyone chooses their location, their hotel, their training ground – and that will be your home until you are knocked out, or you go home with the cup. That is unreal, even at club level. It is fantastic.”