Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese manager of Benfica, has stated that the Iranian national team deserves to take part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup finals.
The former Inter Milan and Roma boss made these remarks during a lengthy interview with Italian newspaper *Sport Week*, in which he discussed various aspects of his life and career.
“My predictions in football? One thing I predicted that actually happened was Zaniolo scoring the winning goal in the Europa Conference League final between my Roma and Feyenoord,” Mourinho said.
During the same conversation, Mourinho admitted that if he could turn back time, he would still make the same decision to leave Inter Milan for Real Madrid.
When asked which player “embodies the concept of elegance,” Mourinho replied: “The first name that comes to mind is Zinedine Zidane. Marco Materazzi might be angry with me for saying this, but watching Zizou play was pure beauty.”
Regarding his favorite city as a coach, the “Special One” responded: “The most important thing is to be with the people I love, even if it’s in the Sahara Desert. But for me, Rome is the most beautiful city in the world.”
The Benfica boss also spoke about the upcoming World Cup edition, saying: “Portugal can achieve anything. They have an incredible generation. They won the UEFA Nations League a year ago, and we won Euro 2016. This generation is technically superior to that team. Of course, there is Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil and Argentina, but Portugal is capable of winning this World Cup.”
In a related context, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed Iran’s participation in the tournament, despite ongoing doubts about their actual presence due to tensions in the Middle East.
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Paolo Zampolli, had repeatedly called for Italy to replace Iran if the latter failed to attend the World Cup, which is scheduled to be held next June.
Mourinho concluded his remarks by saying: “Politics is one thing, sports is another. The Iranian players who qualified for the World Cup deserve to compete in the tournament.”
