• Premier League

'Godfather' Mourinho: Terry not untouchable

ESPN staff
July 20, 2013
Jose Mourinho says no Chelsea player is safe © PA Photos
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has warned skipper John Terry that "he is not untouchable", as he evaluates his options ahead of the new Premier League season.

Terry will still wear the captain's armband for the upcoming campaign that gets underway next month, yet Mourinho has hinted the veteran defender will need to prove he is worthy of a place in his team if he is to be selected consistently.

"John is not safe and he knows he's not safe. The only thing he knows is safe is our friendship," Mourinho told reporters following Chelsea's tour in Kuala Lumpur.

"Professionally, no one is safe. We spoke about it and he understands. As we say in Portugal, 'friends are friends, but business is business'.

"This is kind of a business. I can't protect him or favour him in front of someone else, and he knows that. It's the work a player does now that makes them untouchable. They have to become untouchable."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has vowed to become the new managerial father figure of the Premier League, after repeating his desire to fill the void left by the now retired Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I'm just going to be the Godfather," added Mourinho. "The big change in the Premier League in relation to us managers is that our boss isn't there any more.

"[Sir Alex] was the guy everyone respected, admired and looked up to as the Dad of every manager in the Premier League, but he's gone and for me that's the change.

"Now I'm one of the guys with more time in football, the only one who's won the Champions League, all the English competitions. So I've more responsibility on my shoulders in terms of being one of the more experienced guys.

"I have to be an example for everybody in many aspects. Not just in the expectation of winning because that is always there.

"In terms of everything; conduct, support, being there for everyone if for some reason they need me. In UEFA, I felt my respect and responsibility was getting stronger so in the Premier League I have to answer in a positive way."

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