Jose Mourinho has revealed why he never developed the same connection with Tottenham Hotspur that he enjoyed at Chelsea, blaming the absence of supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic for the difference.

According to a report by Football London on Saturday, 24 October 2026, the Portuguese manager said the lack of interaction with Tottenham fans during his time in North London prevented him from building a strong relationship with the club.

Mourinho, who managed both London rivals, enjoyed considerable success at Chelsea, winning the Premier League during two separate spells at Stamford Bridge.

However, his tenure at Tottenham was less successful, lasting less than two years after he replaced Mauricio Pochettino in November 2019.

The 63-year-old took charge when Tottenham were struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table. The team improved to eighth before the campaign was interrupted by the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho explained how the circumstances affected his relationship with the club and its supporters.

"I have a very special relationship with all my former clubs, except for one," the former Tottenham manager said. "My time at Tottenham coincided with the Covid period. There was no human connection.

"The stadium was almost always empty. We played two or three matches with fans, then without fans, with no interaction. I didn’t have that connection with Tottenham."

Mourinho's departure from Tottenham in April 2021 came just days before the club were scheduled to face Manchester City in the League Cup final. He was dismissed before the opportunity to lead the team in the Wembley showdown.

Following his exit, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager spent time at Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica before returning to Real Madrid in the summer of 2026. He had previously managed the Spanish giants between 2010 and 2013.

Despite his difficult spell in North London, Mourinho maintained that he had developed lasting relationships with several of his former clubs.

"With Inter, Roma, Chelsea, Manchester [United], Benfica, I always felt at home. Even when I left without wanting to leave," he said. "It hurt me leaving Roma. But there isn’t, and never will be, a word from me against Roma or its people.