Nigeria Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has shared insights into his experience working under renowned coach José Mourinho during their time together at Turkish giants Fenerbahçe.
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The versatile defender recalled his first encounter with the legendary manager, revealing that Mourinho wasted no time in laying down his expectations.
Speaking in an interview with Oma Sports, Osayi-Samuel said the Portuguese tactician was direct and uncompromising from day one.
“I remember my first day — I came late to training because I had a national team game. The first thing he said to me was, ‘You are a good player, but you need to run more,’” Osayi-Samuel recalled.
“That just shows the type of guy he is. He can be ruthless when things go wrong.”
Osayi-Samuel explained that Mourinho’s high standards extended beyond words, with training routines often reflecting the team’s performances.
According to him, poor displays could result in prolonged periods on the training ground, while strong performances were rewarded with extended time off.
“There were times we had to stay on the training ground for three or four days because we didn’t play well. But if we played well, he’d give us four or five days off,” the Nigerian international added.
The Fenerbahçe star noted that Mourinho demands consistency and adaptability from his players, stressing that everyone is expected to perform at a high level regardless of circumstances.
Beyond the intense training sessions, Osayi-Samuel also highlighted the personal side of working with the former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss.
He revealed that Mourinho often spent hours before matches sharing stories from his illustrious coaching career.
“He had stories for days. We would stay in his room the day before a game and just speak for hours. He would tell us stories of players, and he had a story for every single player. He has a rich history of the game,” he said.
Despite describing Mourinho as tough, Osayi-Samuel acknowledged that the coach is fair and knows how to reward good performances while firmly addressing mistakes.
“He’s a great guy, and I’m honoured to work with him,” he concluded.
Osayi-Samuel later moved on from Fenerbahçe, while Mourinho was dismissed as head coach of the Turkish club. The Portuguese manager has since been appointed head coach of Benfica, where his team currently sits third in the Liga Portugal standings.
