--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it…" description: "\"It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi Alonso.\" — Rafael Benitez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png" --- # It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's… ![“It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi Alonso.” quote by Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png) > “It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi Alonso.” [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speculative comment linking a past decision to a football manager's strategy. **In simple terms:** He wonders if a past decision was similar to a manager's move. Key Takeaway Consider past choices in light of current strategies. Themes football strategy reflection Mood analytical contemplative Type thought‑provoking reflective When to use this quote - team management - career planning - personal decisions - analysis Key Concepts decision analysis historical analogy Questions to Reflect On - What past decisions influence your present? - How do you learn from others' strategies? A Different Perspective Speculation may lack evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alonso-611288/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Chelsea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chelsea/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managers/) [Maybe Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-mourinho-2272074/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-maybe-2272077/) [Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourinho/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Seasons Ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons-ago-2272076/) [Soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Xabi Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xabi-alonso-2272075/) ## Related quotes > [We know that Xabi Alonso has done a lot for Real Madrid, but this is Real and when a good player leaves, another good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/we-know-that-xabi-alonso-has-done-a-lot-for-real-madrid-but-this-is/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was always bemused by our enthusiasm for tackling, because he saw it as the last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/liverpool-midfielder-xabi-alonso-was-always-bemused-by-our-enthusiasm/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When I used to play against Bayern, Xabi Alonso always used to give me a really hard time. He was so experienced... he made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/when-i-used-to-play-against-bayern-xabi-alonso-always-used-to-give-me/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [There are not many number fives but the best are Busquets, Tiago, Gabi... I also learn a lot from Xabi Alonso. He is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/there-are-not-many-number-fives-but-the-best-are-busquets-tiago-gabi/) [Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/) > [Xabi Alonso is a very, very intelligent and experienced player with an enormous personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gotze/xabi-alonso-is-a-very-very-intelligent-and-experienced-player-with-an/) [Mario Gotze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gotze/) > [If you can't get someone out of your mind...maybe they are supposed to be there..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-t-get-someone-out-of-your-mind-maybe-they-are-supposed-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can't get someone off your mind maybe they're supposed to be there. remember the mind can rocognize what the heart is trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rymtz-ryme/if-you-can-t-get-someone-off-your-mind-maybe-they-re-supposed-to-be/) [Rymtz Ryme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rymtz-ryme/) > [Think with heart and act with mind..or maybe the counterpart from it..thats emotion? assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/think-with-heart-and-act-with-mind-or-maybe-the-counterpart-from-it/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [ And if I ever DO see \[Kenny G\] anywhere, at any function - he WILL get a piece of my mind, and maybe a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/and-if-i-ever-do-see-kenny-g-anywhere-at-any-function-he-will-get-a/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [“Looking back, looking back and trying to figure what made you that way, several things stand out in your mind. There may have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/looking-back-looking-back-and-trying-to-figure-what-made-you-that-way/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [I dont know when I lost my mind, maybe when I made you mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/i-dont-know-when-i-lost-my-mind-maybe-when-i-made-you-mine/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavi/in-the-last-15-to-20-years-the-best-central-midfielder-that-i-have-2/) [Xavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavi/) > [Barcelona players are passing the ball at least 25 times to reach the goal, while Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso is doing this all in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/barcelona-players-are-passing-the-ball-at-least-25-times-to-reach-the/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [As a kid, I used to go and wait at the gates of Melwood or look through the cracks in the wall just see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-alexander-arnold/as-a-kid-i-used-to-go-and-wait-at-the-gates-of-melwood-or-look/) [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-alexander-arnold/) > [“But Alonso kept smiling that smile and nothing made any sense with that smile looking you in the face. 'Jim, don't tell me that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-yurick/but-alonso-kept-smiling-that-smile-and-nothing-made-any-sense-with/) [Sol Yurick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-yurick/) ## More by Rafael Benitez > [If you spend £200million, £300m every year, obviously, even if you make mistakes, you have a good team, but without spending so much money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/if-you-spend-200million-300m-every-year-obviously-even-if-you-make/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [It is always difficult, but when you have been a manager for a while with different teams, sometimes you were only playing once a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-is-always-difficult-but-when-you-have-been-a-manager-for-a-while/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [I've worked with so many teams, so many dressing rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/i-ve-worked-with-so-many-teams-so-many-dressing-rooms/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [When you have a run of games where you keep winning and winning, you know it must end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/when-you-have-a-run-of-games-where-you-keep-winning-and-winning-you/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [You must wait until the end, and at the end of the season you can say it was a good or a bad season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/you-must-wait-until-the-end-and-at-the-end-of-the-season-you-can-say/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [You cannot win every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/you-cannot-win-every-year/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [When you're a young manager and trying to build something, you work very, very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/when-you-re-a-young-manager-and-trying-to-build-something-you-work/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [As a manager, you are important sometimes, and you make mistakes, but the most important people are your staff and your players. Never call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/as-a-manager-you-are-important-sometimes-and-you-make-mistakes-but/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [When I was at Valencia my wife said that we would win the league. She was right and to mark the occasion she asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/when-i-was-at-valencia-my-wife-said-that-we-would-win-the-league-she/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [You have to be positive and turn things in your favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/you-have-to-be-positive-and-turn-things-in-your-favour/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [It is very important that you can express yourself, especially at half-time in a changing room, which is the crucial time for a manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-is-very-important-that-you-can-express-yourself-especially-at-half/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [As a manager, I have to keep calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/as-a-manager-i-have-to-keep-calm/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [What features in a midfielder am I after? Players who have the mindset to win every game - then we can start to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/what-features-in-a-midfielder-am-i-after-players-who-have-the-mindset/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [In Spain, the game is more technical; in England, it's more physical, while in Italy, it's more tactical. Each country is a challenge, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/in-spain-the-game-is-more-technical-in-england-it-s-more-physical/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [If the owner wants to support the team, that's okay. If the owner can be on the pitch and score a couple of goals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/if-the-owner-wants-to-support-the-team-that-s-okay-if-the-owner-can/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) [Explore all 119 Rafael Benitez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) ## More Chairman quotes > [I've enjoyed my time at every club I have worked at, I've been lucky, but I won't jump in and finish up working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-at-every-club-i-have-worked-at-i-ve-been-lucky/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) [Ebbe Skovdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebbe-skovdahl/) > [In the past there were too many portraits of Chairman Mao in China. They were hung everywhere. That was not proper and it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-the-past-there-were-too-many-portraits-of-chairman-mao-in-china/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [I have decided to quit as I.P.L. Chairman. It is a decision which I was pondering over for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-shukla/i-have-decided-to-quit-as-i-p-l-chairman-it-is-a-decision-which-i-was/) [Rajeev Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-shukla/) > [I was the chairman of the Budget Committee and the lead architect the last time it happened in Washington, and when we did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-budget-committee-and-the-lead-architect-the/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Chairman Mao not only introduced Pinyin in China, but also simplified half the Chinese characters, believing that fewer strokes would enable more people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/chairman-mao-not-only-introduced-pinyin-in-china-but-also-simplified/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I was the chairman of the House Budget Committee and one of the chief architects the last time we balanced a budget, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-house-budget-committee-and-one-of-the-chief/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [You hear entertainers all the time, saying, 'If I couldn't get paid for this, I'd do it for free.' When's the last time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/you-hear-entertainers-all-the-time-saying-if-i-couldn-t-get-paid-for/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [By the time I became chairman and there was more of a feeling of urgency, there was a willingness to accept more forceful measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-volcker/by-the-time-i-became-chairman-and-there-was-more-of-a-feeling-of/) [Paul A. Volcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-volcker/) > [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/) [Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/) > [I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, that the working men are the basis of all governments, for the plain reason that they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-agree-with-you-mr-chairman-that-the-working-men-are-the-basis-of/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I think Chairman Davis has said he would always prefer that baseball strengthens its own policies and not leave it to Congress to legislate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-white/i-think-chairman-davis-has-said-he-would-always-prefer-that-baseball/) [Robert J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-white/) [Browse all 423 Chairman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to Xabi Alonso.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rafael Benitez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it-has-mourinho-s-because-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chairman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it-has-mourinho-s-because-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/rafael-benitez-3934_chairman_it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it_1830676.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It had not crossed my mind, but maybe it has Mourinho's because that is what Chelsea did two seasons ago to…” — Rafael Benitez", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rafael Benitez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It had not crossed my mind,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it-has-mourinho-s-because-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/it-had-not-crossed-my-mind-but-maybe-it-has-mourinho-s-because-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```