José Mourinho has spoken on camera about his falling-out with former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro for the first time since the pair settled their legal dispute in 2016, doing so in a three-part Netflix documentary series titled MOURINHO. The series airs on Tuesday and contains no apology from the now-63-year-old.
The confrontation that triggered the dispute occurred during a Premier League match against Swansea City at the start of the 2015-16 season. Referee Michael Oliver signalled for Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn to enter the field to treat Eden Hazard, who had gone down appearing injured. With Thibaut Courtois already dismissed, Chelsea were briefly left with nine players once Hazard stepped off for attention. Carneiro subsequently alleged that Mourinho had sexually discriminated against her and directed a Portuguese-language slur at her during his enraged reaction on the touchline. Footage in the documentary shows the Portuguese coach shouting a string of expletives at Carneiro and Fearn while they worked on Hazard.
"I'm not a doctor, but my eyes know when a player is injured, and they know when a player is not injured," Mourinho said in the docu-series. "I knew that he was not injured, but the doctors went to the pitch, and in that moment we were left with nine players."
On the specific allegation of discriminatory language, he maintained that he views a female doctor no differently from a male doctor, adding that he draws on his usual vocabulary whenever he is displeased.
John Terry, captain across both of Mourinho's spells at Stamford Bridge, described the standing expectation among players and staff regarding medical interventions. Terry said in the documentary that Mourinho made clear the medical team were not to come on unless a situation was truly serious, and that everybody — players and medical staff alike — understood and accepted that. Terry acknowledged it became a significant moment and that the manager faced considerable criticism as a result.
Carneiro brought claims of discrimination and constructive dismissal against both the club and Mourinho at tribunal. Chelsea reached a settlement with her on the second day of proceedings, issuing an unreserved apology to her and her family for the distress caused. Mourinho did not say sorry, and left the tribunal grinning. The settlement terms were kept private, though the hearing revealed Chelsea had previously put forward an offer of £1.2 million. Carneiro, now 52, responded to Mourinho's documentary comments with a pointed post on X, describing a forthcoming announcement of her own — to be revealed in Autumn — as a "Special One" and appending a winky face emoji.
Hazard, who spent two years playing under Mourinho, reflected briefly on the episode in the film, describing it as nothing out of the ordinary in itself but noting that with José everything tends to be magnified.
The series also uncovers a significant piece of managerial history. Mourinho disclosed that he gave his word to Manchester United to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, before reversing course and returning to Chelsea. Ferguson, interviewed for the documentary, recalled believing the matter was settled before an emotional late-night phone call upended the arrangement. Ferguson said he was disappointed but acknowledged the reasoning Mourinho gave him.
United turned to David Moyes instead, a spell that lasted only 10 months. Mourinho did arrive at Old Trafford in 2016, claiming the Europa League and League Cup in his first season before being dismissed in December 2018. He is now back at Real Madrid for a second time, 13 years on from his first departure.
Reporting: Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Star, The Independent.