Jose Mourinho agrees with Arsene Wenger that the Ballon d’Or should be scrapped as there is too much emphasis on the individual in football.
The Chelsea manager is a staunch believer in the power of the collective rather than individual performances.
“I think Wenger said something that is interesting; he is against the Ballon d’Or, and I think he’s right, because in this moment football is losing a little bit the concept of the team to focus more on the individual,” said Mourinho.
“We are always looking at the individual performance, the individual stat, the player that runs more. Because you run 11km in a game and I run nine you did a better job than I did? Maybe not! Maybe my 9km were more important than your 11.
Mourinho also says football must be kept in perspective, even if there are times when he uses powers of manipulation for the good of his team.
He added: “I am passionate about football, of course. But for us professionals, if it means everything, we are in trouble.
“How can you compare a football player, a football manager with a scientist, a doctor? You cannot compare. I agree that sometimes I can have something of Machiavelli in some of my comments, but no more than that. Not at all.”
Mourinho, though, thinks he is benefiting from experience.
He said: “I think I have a problem, which is I’m getting better at everything related to my job since I started. I feel better and better.
“But there is one point where I cannot change: when I face the media, I am never a hypocrite.”
