Dacourt holds Jose grudge

Dacourt: Delighted to be out of Inter

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Olivier Dacourt harbours ill-feelings towards Jose Mourinho for the manner in which he has been treated by the Portuguese coach.

French midfielder Dacourt is currently on loan at Fulham from Mourinho's current charges Inter Milan.

The pair had enjoyed a pleasant relationship at the start of the 2008/09 campaign, but the situation has deteriorated rapidly since then.

Dacourt found himself surplus to requirements following an early-season injury, with Mourinho unwilling to throw him back into the first-team fold.

Having grown frustrated at a lack of action, he made it clear that he wished to take on a new challenge away from Giuseppe Meazza.

Dacourt insists Mourinho had been aware of his desire to move on since the summer, but had given him only a week in which to engineer a switch before the pre-season transfer window slammed shut.

Fun factor

The former Everton and Leeds man admits he was delighted to end up back in the Premier League during the winter window, and admits he would find it difficult to head back to Inter after everything that has occurred.

"When you are 34-years-old and you are just back from a long-term injury (knee ligament damage) it is difficult enough to find a new club, never mind only a week before the end of the window.

"What is more, I was then prepared to fight for my place. I wanted to prove him wrong. So I stayed. It was the most difficult decision of my career.

"I do now bear Mourinho a grudge. That is logical. Everyone at the club had an opportunity, but never me. You cannot answer why that is.

"Roy Hodgson then asked me to come and help his team. I wanted to rediscover the fun I had lost.

"I have always said I would come back to the Premier League. I love England. They have the best football in the world."