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Tag: Jose Mourinho

  • If you feel pressure, stay at home, Mourinho tells Man Utd players

    If you feel pressure, stay at home, Mourinho tells Man Utd players

    Jose Mourinho told Manchester United’s underachieving players to “stay at home” if they cannot handle the pressure to perform at Old Trafford.

    Young Boys are the visitors on Tuesday evening as the Red Devils look to reach the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare – a feat they will achieve should they win and Valencia fail to beat Juventus.

    Progress would be a welcome shot in the arm after Saturday’s goalless draw with struggling Crystal Palace, which left them 14 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and with a mere three wins from nine home matches in all competitions.

    However, Mourinho knocked back suggestions his players find it easier to play away and laughed off a suggestion that playing at Old Trafford brought added pressure ahead of facing the Swiss champions.

    “If you feel pressure, stay at home – and when I say home, I don’t say stadium home, I say home home and watch on TV,” Mourinho said.

    “If you feel pressure to play matches at home where the people come to support… come on.

    “I never felt pressure to play at home.”

    Mourinho expects a response from his side in Tuesday’s Group H encounter, having questioned some of his players’ “heart”, desire and intensity after the 0-0 draw with Palace.

    The United manager stopped short of using such cutting soundbites on the eve of the Young Boys encounter but shed a light on the issues he faces.

    “It’s frustrating because what I want is the team to start strong, is the team to go strong on the opponent, not to be waiting, not to be reactive but proactive,” Mourinho said, having also said his side are “not very good on second balls”.

    “That’s exactly what I want and probably you or the fans, they think ‘oh, Jose told them to start slow’, ‘Jose told them to play nice and easy and wait to see what happens’ or ‘to be losing for then to react’.

    “It is exactly the opposite thing. I want the team to start strong, I want the team to have a go immediately and it is a bit frustrating.”

    Frustrating would also aptly describe Victor Lindelof’s injury setback.

    Recently crowned Sweden’s player of the year, the improving 24-year-old has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

    But Lindelof’s resurgence after a slow start to life at United has been derailed by a muscle issue, meaning Mourinho’s remaining centre-back options are Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones.

    Marcos Rojo – yet to play a minute this term – is also absent for the United manager, who has made his frustration clear at the club’s failure to reinforce the defence over the summer.

    “Lindelof does the scan (Tuesday) but, by the experience of the medical department and the feelings of the player, he has a muscular problem and a muscular problem takes time,” added Mourinho, who said Lindelof would be out for “quite a while”.

    “I would say if we have him for the Christmas period – where we need, if possible, every player to be available for that difficult period until the Newcastle match on January 2 – if we can have Victor available for that period, it will be good.”

  • Man Utd players reportedly angry with Mourinho

    Manchester United players are reportedly angry with Jose Mourinho, after their draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, following his comment about them “lacking heart”.

    The Portuguese turned on his squad after their lacklustre display against Palace, accusing some of them of not caring enough about results.

    He said some of his players would happily “party” after the result and said he might have to pick himself in future as he truly cares about the club’s fortunes.

    However, the Daily Mail is reporting that the comments did not go down well with Mourinho’s squad as some of the first-team members are angry that he has criticized them publicly again.

    The comments follow Mourinho’s controversial interview with Univision in which he questioned the maturity of Luke Shaw, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

  • Ryan Giggs backs Mourinho, says nothing will change if he’s sacked

    Ryan Giggs backs Mourinho, says nothing will change if he’s sacked

    Ryan Giggs has backed Jose Mourinho to turn Manchester United’s season around and says sacking him will not change anything.

    Mourinho’s challenge to his players to be in the top four by 2019 may already be over after drawing at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, according to Giggs.

    The former United captain believes the club “needed to win every game” to achieve that, but has urged the club’s hierarchy to keep Mourinho in charge in order to bring back stability.

    “I don’t see why changing the manager at this stage will change anything,” Giggs told Sky Sports News.

    “Everyone knows what a successful manager he’s been over the years. I believe that bit of stability we’ve not had over the years – we need to stick with him.

    “But results also need to change. I think we’ve got the manager, the players to do that.”

    Giggs described Manchester United’s season so far as “inconsistent and frustrating”.

    He says the form of United’s rivals means “each game you don’t win, the task of reaching the top four is getting tougher”.

    Mourinho questioned his players’ heart after the goalless draw with Palace, while Giggs believes the team are suffering from a crisis of confidence.

    He the club to take a “baby steps” approach to turning their form around.

    “Manchester City and Liverpool, the teams up there, they are consistent,” he added. “When you’re not the gap is obviously going to be big.

    “When your nearest rivals are that far ahead of you it’s hard to take. It’s still 13 games into the season, time to claw it back.

    “But the only way of doing that is going on a run of seven or eight games unbeaten – small steps to build that confidence back up.”

     

     

  • United can be in top four by end of year – Mourinho

    Manchester United can break into the Premier League’s top four by the end of December, says manager Jose Mourinho.

    United are currently eighth, seven points off the Champions League qualification spots.

    “I know it’s a big gap,” said Mourinho, ahead of Saturday’s clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

    “But I also know until the end of December we have eight Premier League matches to play, and with eight matches we are speaking about 24 points.”

    The 55-year-old, who has a near full-strength squad to choose from against Palace, added: “I believe we are going to be there.”

    United fell to a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City in their last match before the international break and Mourinho has confirmed Anthony Martial – his side’s top scorer so far this season – is fit after he picked up an injury in that match.

    “Anthony stayed with us, he didn’t go to the national team, the national team was aware of his problems and with permission he stayed, he worked really hard on that,” Mourinho said, referring to the French forward’s muscle problems.

    “He was in a pre-injury situation, he worked really hard, he’s ready for tomorrow, he plays for tomorrow. Is he ready to play three in a row in the same week? I don’t know, but the most important match is the next.”

    Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is also fit after missing international duty with Belgium, while Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba are also available to face Palace after shaking off minor injuries.

    United then host Arsenal in the league on 5 December before a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on 16 December.

  • Man Utd must grow up or face more defeats – Mourinho

    Man Utd must grow up or face more defeats – Mourinho

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said his team will lose more matches if they do not ‘grow up’ and ‘start well’.

    United rallied from 1-0 down to beat Juventus 2-1 on Wednesday – the fourth time they have come from behind to avoid defeat this season.

    Mourinho’s seventh-placed side face Premier League leaders Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

    “If we keep conceding goals before the opponent, there will arrive the day where we cannot come back,” he said.

    United were 2-0 down to Newcastle in their Premier League match on 6 October but won 3-2. Two weeks later they conceded the first goal against Chelsea but fought back to draw 2-2.

    Against Bournemouth last weekend, Marcus Rashford’s 92nd-minute goal gave them a 2-1 win after conceding in the 11th minute.

    In Turin on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus ahead but an 85th-minute free-kick from Juan Mata and an Alex Sandro own goal four minutes later saw United complete a famous Champions League comeback.

    “We are not a team that gives up,” said Mourinho. “We are a team that always finds a way to fight back.

    “We have to make sure that we grow up, not just in our approach, because I think it is clear that the team is growing up, but we also have to grow up in our compactness and to start matches well.”

    United could be bolstered by the return of Romelu Lukaku for Sunday’s derby, with the Belgium striker missing the Bournemouth and Juventus games because of injury.

    “Lukaku is training with the team this morning,” said Mourinho. “If the answer is positive and we have, of course, one more session tomorrow, but if the answer is positive then he is ready.”

    United finished second in the league last season – 19 points behind City. This season They are seventh, nine adrift of Pep Guardiola’s side.

    The last meeting between the sides in April saw United come from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 and delay City clinching the title.

    Mourinho was cautious when asked if his side will go toe-to-toe against City’s attack-minded team.

    “We are going to try. I cannot say that we are going to be successful in our motivations and desires,” said the Portuguese.

    “But we played two difficult matches away against two very good teams, Chelsea and Juventus, and we managed to get good results.

    “Even if the good results were not in our pockets, the performances were there. The positive attitude was there, so we are going to try.

    “I don’t think it [the Manchester derby] is special because of what happened last season. It’s special because it is a Manchester derby and it means what it means.”

  • Mourinho wants Martial to stay at Man Utd

    Mourinho wants Martial to stay at Man Utd

    Jose Mourinho hopes Anthony Martial will stay at Manchester United and has challenged the forward to go from a “top talent” to a “top player”.

    Martial, whose deal expires at the end of the season, has rejected an extension offer, but that talks will continue. The club have an option to extend by a further year, Sky Sports reports,

    It is understood Mourinho was willing to let the Frenchman go in the summer, however, it appears Martial’s recent performances – scoring four in his last three league games – have changed his manager’s mind.

    Asked how confident he is of Martial staying, Mourinho said: “I don’t belong to the discussions of contracts.

    “I don’t even know their contracts in the sense of numbers and I’m really happy with that – to not have to participate in these types of discussions.

    “Obviously I hope we will agree. He is a talented player – everybody has known that since he was at Monaco. Another thing is a talented player with consistency and understanding what a football match is in the globality.

    “When you reach that level or are almost reaching that level is when you become a top player. One thing is a top talent, another thing is a top player.

    “When he is now much closer to becoming a top player, obviously I would like him to stay. I know the club very much wants him to stay so hopefully he is going to stay.”

     

  • Mourinho escapes FA charge over abusive language use

    Mourinho escapes FA charge over abusive language use

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has escaped punishment after a Football Association charge of using foul language following his side’s win over Newcastle United was found to have not been proven.
    The Portuguese coach was reported to have directed an insult in his native language towards a camera.
    The equipment was live tracking him down the touchline after his side’s 3-2 comeback win in the English Premier League at Old Trafford earlier this month.
    “A charge against Jose Mourinho for allegedly using language which was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper has been found not proven.
    “This followed an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today,” the FA said in a statement on Wednesday.
    “Written reasons for the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission will be published in due course. This decision is subject to appeal.”
    Since their victory over Newcastle United, Manchester United have picked up four points from two games to move up to eighth in the league standings.
    Reuters/NAN

  • Jose Mourinho unsure about de Gea's future at Old Trafford

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is “not confident” goalkeeper David de Gea will sign a new contract – but says he is “not worried” by the situation.

    In August, United were positive over the chance of De Gea renewing his deal.
    He is committed to Old Trafford until the summer, with the club having an option to extend to 2020.
    “If the club want to be better than it is and not worse, obviously it would be very important to keep David,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
    De Gea, 27, was named in May as the club’s player of the year for an unprecedented fourth time.
    Juventus have reportedly targeted the Spain international as another low-cost high-quality addition after picking up Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, Barcelona full-back Dani Alves, Bayern Munich midfielder Sami Khedira and Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente on free transfers in recent years.
    De Gea, who joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011 in an £18.9m deal, is one of several players nearing the end of their deals with the Premier League club.
    France forward Anthony Martial, Spanish midfielder Juan Mata and Ecuador wing-back Antonio Valencia are also out of contract at the end of the season.
    Mourinho was keen to sign at least one central defender and a winger in the summer, but could not convince the board that his targets would strengthen the squad.

  • Jose Mourinho wants to see out Man Utd contract

    Jose Mourinho says he is “happy” at Manchester United and wants to “see out” his contract at the club after being linked with a return to Real Madrid.

    Reports claim the La Liga giants want the Portuguese manager back to replace under-pressure boss Julen Lopetegui.
    But the 55-year-old, whose Old Trafford contract runs until 2020, said: “I am happy here.
    “All I am thinking about at the moment is Manchester United.”
    Mourinho’s own job was under question earlier this month when a newspaper said he was to be sacked regardless of the result against Newcastle.
    But United came from 2-0 down to beat the Magpies 3-2, courtesy of Alexis Sanchez’s last-minute header at Old Trafford.
    Despite only being appointed in the summer, Lopetegui’s job at the Bernabeu is already becoming increasingly precarious with the club on a run of four defeats in five games.
    Before United’s Champions League game against Juventus on Tuesday, Mourinho was asked if he could make a return to Real, where he won the Spanish title and Copa del Rey between 2010 and 2013.
    Mourinho added: “I am happy to see out my contract to the very last day of that contract and I would like to stay after my contract runs out as well.”

  • Man Utd manager Mourinho charged over abusive comments

    Man Utd manager Mourinho charged over abusive comments

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged over comments he made in Portuguese to a television camera after his side’s win over Newcastle.

    It is claimed Mourinho used “abusive, insulting or improper language” after the 3-2 comeback victory at Old Trafford on 6 October.
    The Football Association used a lip reader and the 55-year-old’s remarks were interpreted as offensive.
    Mourinho had been under pressure amid reports he would be sacked.
    His side had been 2-0 down to winless Newcastle at half-time of the Premier League game, but they scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to turn the match around.
    After the game, Mourinho said he could “cope with the manhunt” against him.
    A 90th-minute winner from Alexis Sanchez ended a run of four games without a win, United have recorded their worst league start for 29 years and are eighth in the table.
    Mourinho has until Friday to respond to the charge.
    BBC