Jose Mourinho labels coaches who don't play counter-attacking football as stupid

quote:

---

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at critics of his team's style, calling coaches that focus on keeping possession rather than utilising counter-attacking football 'stupid'.

Mourinho led Chelsea to the Barclays Premier League title but the champions were labelled 'boring' after grinding out results with a less expansive style in the latter stages of the season.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger were among those to draw criticism to Chelsea's lack of possession and attacking intent in games against their sides.

But Mourinho has hit back as he plans next season's title defence, even with two months to go until the Premier League kicks off again on August 8.

'There is no new generation (of managers),' Mourinho said. 'What it is, is people who got some idea, some philosophy, and want to create something like, "we build very well from the back, we have a very good ball possession, we don't play counter-attack".

'But if you don't play counter-attack then it's because you are stupid. Counter-attack is a fantastic item of football, an ammunition that you have, and when you find your opponent unbalanced you have a fantastic moment to score a goal.

'So I think people are creating (illusions) and it has influenced public opinion. But football will never change. Football is to win.'

---