Jose Mourinho, one of the top managers in the world, has given an invaluable lesson on how British football differs from other countries to American coach Ted Lasso.
Lasso is the newly-appointed manager of AFC Richmond having previously only coached American football at college level in the United States.
The U.S. coach's appointment came as a shock to many, but Lasso is eager to learn from some of the best minds in football and contacted Tottenham boss Mourinho at half-time during the Champions League final to find out the secrets of his success.
"I just sat down to watch this Cup of Champions finale and I realised I don’t know jack squat about this game," Lasso admitted from his new digs in London.
After listing out his trophy cabinet of "eight league titles, two Champions Leagues, Europa League, UEFA Cup, four League Cups in England, FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Super Cup, Copa del Rey," Mourinho attempted to explain the intricacies of football in the major leagues across Europe where he has coached.
The former Inter, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager highlighted how the Premier League looks to strength and speed while La Liga is focused more on skill and style, although Lasso may have been asking how the European game of football differed from the oval-balled game they call "football" back in his home country.
"There are similarities and there are differences," Mourinho attempted to explain to a visibily confused Lasso during a call between the two Premier League managers.
"British football is all about pace and power.
"Italy is defense-focused. They are the masters of the catenaccio system. Whereas in Spain, they favour tiki-taka."
Unfamiliar with the term, Lasso then told Mourinho he had eaten "chicken tik-itaka" on his flight from the U.S. to England before enquiring about the half-time entertainment during the Champions League final.
However, rather than explain that the Champions League is not like the Super Bowl shows Lasso is used to in his native country, two-time winner Mourinho went back to watching the second half of Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich.
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