Eto’o brands Mourinho ‘fool’ and ‘puppet’
Chelsea striker takes umbrage over manager doubting his age.
“Contrary to what a puppet says about my age, I am still physically fit. At 33, I feel real good. I have proven that I can do better than youths," says Eto'o. PHOTO: AFP
JOHANNESBURG:
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has had another dig at his manager, Jose Mourinho, calling him a ‘puppet’ in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) website interview late Tuesday.
Mourinho suggested in a private conversation last March that the 33-year-old Cameroonian might be older than he claimed.
Record four-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o branded the Portuguese manager a ‘fool’ during a visit to the Ivory Coast last week.
And in the CAF interview, the star who will captain Cameroon at the World Cup in Brazil during June, criticised his boss again.
Asked about the nature of his relationship with Mourinho, Eto’o, who is out of contract next month, replied, “Contrary to what a puppet says about my age, I am still physically fit. At 33, I feel real good. I have proven that I can do better than youths.
“I am not going to the US or to the Middle East. I will continue at the top level. I will continue to play the Champions League.
“My romance with this competition is far from over. I will not tell you where, but I will be at the top level.
“I am 33 and I have two World Cups to play. Before me there are other players who went on until the age of 41. So I can continue.”
Cameroon legend Roger Milla was 42 when he scored during a 6-1 loss to Russia at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Mourinho told a Swiss businessman before Eto’o turned 33 last March: “The problem with Chelsea is we lack a striker. I have one (Eto’o), but he is 32, maybe 33. Who knows?”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has had another dig at his manager, Jose Mourinho, calling him a ‘puppet’ in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) website interview late Tuesday.
Mourinho suggested in a private conversation last March that the 33-year-old Cameroonian might be older than he claimed.
Record four-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o branded the Portuguese manager a ‘fool’ during a visit to the Ivory Coast last week.
And in the CAF interview, the star who will captain Cameroon at the World Cup in Brazil during June, criticised his boss again.
Asked about the nature of his relationship with Mourinho, Eto’o, who is out of contract next month, replied, “Contrary to what a puppet says about my age, I am still physically fit. At 33, I feel real good. I have proven that I can do better than youths.
“I am not going to the US or to the Middle East. I will continue at the top level. I will continue to play the Champions League.
“My romance with this competition is far from over. I will not tell you where, but I will be at the top level.
“I am 33 and I have two World Cups to play. Before me there are other players who went on until the age of 41. So I can continue.”
Cameroon legend Roger Milla was 42 when he scored during a 6-1 loss to Russia at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Mourinho told a Swiss businessman before Eto’o turned 33 last March: “The problem with Chelsea is we lack a striker. I have one (Eto’o), but he is 32, maybe 33. Who knows?”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.