Jose's 'good-luck' texts to Pards

Posted Thursday, August 23, 2012 by The Sun

Jose's 'good-luck' texts to Pards
PUT IT THERE, PAL ... Jose Mourinho and Alan Pardew during their days at Chelsea and Charlton

ALAN PARDEW knows Newcastle must be going places — because Jose Mourinho has been sending him ‘good-luck’ texts.
The Toon’s Europa League adventure starts tonight with the first leg of their qualifier with Atromitos in Greece.

It has been five years since Newcastle were mixing it on the Continent.

But last season’s amazing Premier League surge to fifth has given the Geordies fresh hope of returning to football’s top table — and even the Special One at Real Madrid has taken serious notice.

Boss Pards said: “When you look at the career paths of some managers, they find European football just comes to them quickly.

“For me it has been a longer process. I think I’m ready and looking forward to it.

“I had a text from Jose Mourinho on Tuesday, ‘Wishing you all the best’, and it’s things like that which make you realise things are good. We are getting noticed.

“I don’t usually get texts from him, perhaps the fact we are in Europe and did well last year is part of that.

“It’s nice for everyone that other managers are looking out at us. I think we are doing a good job.”
If Pards had predicted European football would be back on the menu when he was appointed 20 months ago, the men in white coats would quickly have whisked him away.

Pardew may be angry with a schedule which will see the Magpies return to England less than 24 hours before their lunchtime clash with Chelsea on Saturday.
But he admitted: “I’d have found it surprising had anyone said we’d be in Europe by now.

“I would have thought we would have to win one of the cups. We are very proud we have done it through the league.

“I got into Europe with West Ham through a cup final, we drew probably the best team in Palermo.

“This time around it doesn’t look quite so tough. We have still got to win it, though.”

Demba Ba, Shola Ameobi, Fabricio Coloccini and Chieck Tiote did not travel yesterday along with crocked young guns Sammy Ameobi and Haris Vuckic, both 20, — ruining plans to blood the best Toon youngsters.

Papiss Cisse is set to lead the line with keeper Steve Harper, 37, playing his first game for 12 months as Tim Krul is rested.

But Pardew warned: “Because of the injures we could see some playing three times a week. It’s not fair.

“Whatever result we get here we can’t jeopardise Chelsea. We have to make sure we have enough in the locker and prepare for the second leg when we do have time.”

Harper, in the last year of his current Toon deal, is delighted to have been given a chance.

He said: “Last year I had a few niggly injuries and maybe the fire had gone out a little bit.

“But on the first morning of pre-season, the gaffer said, ‘If you want it, it is still there for you’ and he re-lit the fire again.”