Mourinho: Real won't peak until 2012

Mourinho: Real won't peak until 2012



New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has sent a potential warning to fans of the Spanish giants by claiming the teams he has coached do not reach their peak until his second season in charge.

Mourinho, speaking to Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Sunday, made the comments despite having won domestic championships with Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto during in his first season in charge with the respective clubs.

"The process of assimilation means it is only really in the second season that a team has acquired the right systems and a philosophy of play," said the 47-year-old, who led Inter to the UEFA Champions League triumph last season before signing a four-year deal with Real.
I have always said that my teams were at their peak from the second season. By chance, each of them won something from the first season.
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid coach

"I have always said that my teams were at their peak from the second season. By chance, each of them won something from the first season. I hope that will be the same at Real."

Mourinho, who is in Los Angeles with Real for a pre-season tournament, also admitted he has made mistakes in evaluating the quality of some players over the years.

"I have come across players who were better than I was expecting and for others it was quite the opposite," said Mourinho, without naming names.