I do not deserve 'coach of the year': Mourinho

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Monday he thinks it is fair he isn't being chosen as FIFA world coach of the year because he has not won a major championship in 2011. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola or Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the other two finalists, "deserve it more", said the Portuguese, who won the honour last year. "This year I think I won't win it and I think that's fair," he told a news conference. "In 2010 I deserved it with the treble but not this year," he said, recalling when he led Inter Milan to victory in the Champions League, Serie A title and Italian Cup. "I think you have to win the Champions or one of the big championships and I only won the Cup," Mourinho said, referring to Real Madrid's victory in domestic King's Cup competition. "Guardiola or Ferguson deserve it more," he said. Mourinho said he regretted not being able to go to the awards ceremony in Zurich, blaming his absence on Real Madrid's away game with Malaga in the King's Cup on Tuesday. "To be among the three finalists is an honour and I would have liked to be with the other two finalists and to congratulate this year's winner, who I think will be Guardiola," he said. In the Ballon d'Or, which is also to be handed out Monday, Mourinho said both Barcelona's superstar Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo had more Ballon d'Ors ahead of them in their careers. "Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will stay with the number of Ballons d'Or they already have," Mourinho said. "Both play in great teams, they are a long way from 30 and they are going to win more trophies." Messi is hot favourite to take the award this year over the other two finalists: Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Xavi. The Argentine won the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or -- a combination of the France Football Ballon d'Or prize and FIFA's World Player of the Year award -- last year, having picked up both awards in 2009. Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 2008.

Source: AFP