Mourinho : ‘Sacrifice’ is the strongest word

The Man Utd manager was chosen by Heineken to be the face of ‘The Prep Talk’, their latest Champions League campaign, and found himself echoing real-life team talks

Jose Mourinho says that “sacrifice” is always one of the most important words in his team talks.

The Manchester United boss is one of the most successful coaches in world football and renowned for his man-management skills – making him the obvious choice to deliver ‘The Prep Talk’ in Heineken’s latest Champions League campaign, which is directed by Guy Ritchie.

“I found some similarities with the real [team] talk,” the Portuguese explains in an exclusive interview with Goal. “I remembered because I had to do it while acting, but I had to repeat the word ‘sacrifice’ a few times because I have to do this with my players.

“You are tired but you need to deliver; you are in trouble during a game but you must be able to get over it.

“So, sacrifice was the strongest word of the Heineken prep-talk but it’s a word I’ve had to use many times.”

Mourinho also revealed that he enjoyed working with Ritchie, who has previously directed such box office hits as ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ and ‘Snatch’.

“I think he prepared me really well, he did an amazing job and I learned a lot,” the two-time Champions League winner enthused.

“Without him I couldn’t do what I did because there was a big difference between what I could do when I arrived and what I did for the final project.

“The feeling was the same feeling I have when I make players better than they are. I tried to do the best possible and I was really committed.”