‘So glad I snubbed Mourinho’
AITOR KARANKA reckons rejecting an “amazing’’ offer to be Jose Mourinho’s assistant at Chelsea three years ago was the best decision he ever made.
Karanka was delighted to decline Mourinho’s invitation to further an association that the pair forged at Real Madrid – because it made him realise he was ready to be his own boss at last.
That meant joining Middlesbrough, and Karanka – who celebrated the third anniversary of his Riverside arrival a week ago – recalled: “When we left Real Madrid, Jose told me to go with him.
“Jose always wants an assistant and I told him, ‘thank you’, because he had never offered an assistant the chance to go with him and, for me, it was amazing.
“We spoke, but I said, ‘For me, the time to be a coach has arrived’.
“I have no regrets. My chance arrived three or four months later – and it was the right chance.
“Jose said he was really pleased because he thought I was ready. It was a normal conversation between friends and we speak often.
“After three years working with Jose and learning from him, my time had arrived.”
Karanka stressed: “It’s been a big personal challenge here. I knew how tough it was in England. I had to face coaches like Steve McClaren, Mick McCarthy, Ian Holloway, experienced coaches.”
But after holding Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to draws in their own backyards, Karanka will surely be relishing the challenge today of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea.
Former Barcelona and Manchester United keeper Victor Valdes – hand-picked by Karanka to join Boro after their promotion to the top-flight last season – was the hero of the 1-1 at City.
Valdes, 34, had made a shaky start on Riverside but Karanka insisted: “One or two months ago, I said I trusted him. I trust him the same now. I knew what a big character I was bringing here, so it’s no surprise.’’