Alright, so picture this: I’m all hyped up about this new gig, managing Fenerbahce, right? It’s a big deal, Champions League and all that. We’re up against Lille, and things are, well, they’re intense.
So, we started training like crazy. I mean, every day, I’m on the field, pushing these guys. We’re working on tactics, fitness, everything. I’m yelling, they’re running, it’s all coming together. We’ve got this plan, and everyone knows their role. I’m feeling good, you know? Like we can actually pull this off.
Match day arrives, and the stadium is buzzing. You can feel the energy, the tension. It’s electric. The first half is a rollercoaster, back and forth. We’re holding our own, but it’s tight. I’m on the sidelines, kicking every ball, living every moment. My assistant coach, bless his heart, tries to calm me down, but I’m in the zone, man. I can’t help it. This is what I live for.
- The second half, oh boy, the second half. It was a damn nail-biter.
- We conceded a late goal. A late goal!
- I saw it happen, and it was like slow motion.
- Our defense just, I don’t know, they just weren’t tight enough.
- And boom, they score.
The final whistle blows, and that’s it. We’re out. Just like that. All that work, all that preparation, and we’re out. The disappointment is heavy, man. It’s like a punch to the gut. I walk over to the ref, and I want to say something. I really do. I want to let him have it, tell him what I really think about some of those calls. The players are crushed, the fans are silent, and I’m just standing there, fuming. My mind is racing, a million thoughts, a million things I want to say, could say, about the game, about the ref, about everything.
So, I’m walking to the press conference, and all these reporters are waiting, cameras flashing, you know the drill. I sit down, and the first question hits me: “What do you think went wrong tonight, Jose?”
And I just pause. I look at them, and those famous words come to my mind, “If I speak, I am in big trouble.” It’s like a reflex, you know? I’ve been here before. And in that moment, I just say it, plain and simple.
“If I speak, I am in big trouble.”
The room goes quiet. They’re all waiting for more, but I just leave it at that. Because honestly, what else can I say? It’s not going to change the result. It’s not going to bring us back into the competition. All it’s going to do is get me fined, suspended, whatever.
But you know what? Even though we lost, even though I’m frustrated, I still believe in this team. We’ve got a long season ahead, and this is just one setback. We’ll learn from it, we’ll come back stronger. That’s what we do. That is my job and we will do better next time.
So yeah, that’s my story. That’s what happened. It’s not always about winning. Sometimes it’s about how you handle defeat, how you bounce back. And trust me, we will bounce back. Just wait and see.
