In classic José Mourinho fashion, the legendary Portuguese manager has stirred the football world once again with a playful jab at Arsenal’s star striker, Viktor Gyökeres. Speaking during a light-hearted segment on a football talk show in Lisbon, Mourinho jokingly claimed that the Swedish forward might not be the right fit for Mikel Arteta’s front line — adding that he’d personally pick Eberechi Eze ahead of him any day.
“Gyökeres is a strong player, yes… but sometimes, he looks like he’s running with a backpack full of bricks,” Mourinho quipped, drawing laughter from the studio panel. “He’s too slow, too uncalculated to be Arsenal’s No. 9. If it were me, I’d rather have Eze — he’s unpredictable, he creates chaos, and he plays with joy.”
The comment quickly went viral across social media, with fans split between amusement and outrage. Arsenal supporters defended their striker, reminding critics that Arteta’s tactical system often demands Gyökeres to play deeper and link up rather than chase every ball over the top.
But Mourinho didn’t stop there.
“Look, I respect Arteta’s ideas,” he continued, smiling mischievously. “But when I think of a No.9, I think of someone who smells goals. Gyökeres? He smells tactics. Maybe too much tactics!”
Despite the humorous tone, some pundits believe Mourinho’s words carry a hint of truth. Gyökeres’ adaptation to the Premier League has been slow, with only a few goals to his name so far — a stark contrast to his free-scoring days at Sporting CP. Meanwhile, Eze has been dazzling at Crystal Palace, combining flair, creativity, and clinical finishing — all the qualities Mourinho often praises in his attacking players.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, known for maintaining calm amid noise, reportedly brushed off the remarks when asked by reporters after training.
“José likes to entertain — and we like to focus,” Arteta said with a grin. “Viktor knows his role, and he’s doing it very well for the team.”
As for Gyökeres himself, sources close to the player say he “laughed it off” and even told teammates that he might challenge Mourinho to a sprint session next time they meet.
Love him or hate him, Mourinho’s wit once again proves that even when he’s joking — the football world listens.