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"Even Tony Pulis took a step back" | Damien Delaney shares a Mourinho dressing room anecdote

Raf Diallo
Raf Diallo

09:32 26 Nov 2019


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Damien Delaney is a self-confessed Jose Mourinho fan.

The former Ireland and Crystal Palace defender also shared an anecdote from the time when the new Tottenham manager was still in charge of Chelsea and gave the opposition players a stirring post-match team-talk to lift their spirits.

"When I was at Crystal Palace, we were struggling in our first year," he recalled towards the end of Tuesday's Off The Ball Newsround.

"We went to Chelsea and we lost 1-0 narrowly and I remember Tony Pulis was speaking and next thing the doors flung open in Stamford Bridge.

"Jose just walked into the middle of the room and took a team-talk for us at the end of it.

"I Love You Guys So Much"

"And even Tony Pulis took a step back and went to the back of the room. And I just think that he has that.

"He said, 'You guys honestly, if you play like that every week, I love you guys so much. You guys are so good!" He made us feel really good about ourselves.

"I know it sounds really petty, but we were struggling and the manager was trying to put a positive spin on it. But we've heard that week in week out and Jose comes in with the trenchcoat and shakes everyone's hands and the ol' slap on the face. You genuinely leave Stamford Bridge thinking, 'We might be a good team.'"

And it wasn't the last time Mourinho did that either as Damien detailed on the Newsround.

"Even in victory and defeat, he was very, very gracious," he added.

You can watch the full Newsround with Damien Delaney below via our YouTube channel:


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Chelsea Crystal Palace Damien Delaney Jose Mourinho Off The Ball Premier League Tony Pulis

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