| Arsenal Football Club were the Champions of the | | | | the confidence is still there". |
| Premier league in English soccer in 2004. In 2005 they | | | | He was asked about the Carling Cup final (one of the |
| did not do as well and were only in third place. | | | | two main knockout competitions in England) and |
| The manager of Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. He is the | | | | pointed out that his team had reached the final by a |
| French coach who brought Arsenal to the top of | | | | harder road than their rivals in the final - Liverpool. |
| English football. He found out the hard way how quick | | | | However, he said: "When you arrive in the final you |
| people are to write you off even if you recently | | | | have to forget how you got there and concentrate on |
| achieved a huge success. He commented: | | | | the final." |
| "People are always quick to put you in your coffin." | | | | Jose knows how to focus on what is important. A |
| Arsene admitted that Arsenal had little chance of | | | | reporter asked him how long it would be before his |
| retaining their title as Champions but they were still third | | | | injured Dutch star Arjun Robbin could play again. Jose |
| in the league and as such would be able to take part in | | | | replied in typical fashion. |
| the European Champion's league next year. | | | | "I want to be fair with you. I have no idea and to be |
| Arsenal, in fact, reached the quarterfinals of the first | | | | fair I don't want to have. I'm just interested in the |
| great soccer competition in the world -the FA Cup. | | | | players I have and the doubtful ones that might come |
| They were in form. | | | | and give you a hand. Robbin is not in either of these |
| Arsene Wenger and Arsenal football club had not | | | | groups and I just prefer to forget!" |
| given up. They knew that they had not reached the | | | | Jose knows how to concentrate on what he can do |
| pinnacle of English football but there were several | | | | and not on what he can't! He doesn't want to waste |
| other smaller mountains they were still busy climbing. | | | | time on sentimental talk about how Arjun is doing! |
| They were not yet ready to climb into their coffins. | | | | He claimed to have a relaxed attitude to the nemesis |
| Too many people, at the first sign of criticism or the | | | | of soccer coaches - the threat of the sack: |
| first hint of failure, meekly get into their own coffin and | | | | "My life is easy. When I am not happy with my club - |
| die before their time. This can happen at any age. | | | | Goodbye! When my club is not happy with me - |
| The great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas told people not | | | | Goodbye" |
| to die meekly but to "rage, rage against the dying of | | | | Jose's confidence is astonishing. In fact he does not |
| the light!" | | | | need to worry about the sack. A hundred clubs would |
| Quite a few people retire from life when they retire | | | | ask him to be their coach if he was sacked. However |
| from their job. They potter about and waste their | | | | I think he could still say 'Goodbye' without hesitation |
| valuable time because they accept the verdict of | | | | even if this was not the case. |
| society that the elderly have little left to offer the | | | | Mourinho is a man of decision and not one to wait |
| community. | | | | around for things to happen. He is the type to make |
| Retirement is a chance to try learning some new skills; | | | | things happen his way or he'll head for the highway. |
| a chance to grow in character and knowledge. An | | | | Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is another great |
| hour's study a day can help us achieve new skills and | | | | soccer manager who never gives up. In 2005, he was |
| new knowledge. Let's not give up the ghost too soon! | | | | trying to catch up with Chelsea. He looked for any |
| Let's not get into the coffin before our time. | | | | signs of hope: "Chelsea are not playing as well as they |
| Soccer managers live on the edge of life. They are | | | | were four or five weeks ago. They don't have the |
| always on the knife edge of success or failure. They | | | | form to fall back on." |
| are sacked when their teams fail to perform. | | | | United were ready to pounce if Chelsea slipped up. Sir |
| I enjoy listening to them especially after their teams | | | | Alex is a ferocious competitor. |
| have lost! Their comments usually have a motivational | | | | All three of these managers are great leaders and |
| tip or two in them. | | | | motivators. They maintain their confidence and |
| Jose Mourinho won the European soccer champions | | | | motivation and put a brave face on things when |
| league with Porto in 2004 and then moved to Chelsea | | | | games go wrong. They never give up and they are |
| in West London where his team won game after | | | | decisive proud men who know their value. |
| game. | | | | They teach us not to get into the coffin before our |
| Eventually, he had two poor results and was soon | | | | time; to climb smaller mountains if we fail to climb the |
| asked if the honeymoon with Chelsea was over. He | | | | tallest; to focus on what we can do something about; |
| looked glum after two unaccustomed losses but | | | | to concentrate on what we have available and not on |
| denied that he was worried. He had retained his | | | | what we haven't; to move on if we are not happy; to |
| confidence and motivation: | | | | compete ferociously even when we are behind - we |
| "Our mood has changed but not our confidence or | | | | can never know when our competitor might slip up! |
| motivation. When you lose you don't smile so much but | | | | |