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Tag: Mourinho

  • FA Cup: Mourinho admits Tottenham lucky to edge out Southampton

    FA Cup: Mourinho admits Tottenham lucky to edge out Southampton

    Jose Mourinho admitted Tottenham got lucky after Son Heung-min’s late penalty secured a dramatic 3-2 win against Southampton in Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth-round replay.

    Mourinho’s side were 12 miMourinho’s side were 12 minutes away from being knocked out after squandering the first-half lead given to them by Jack Stephens’ own goal.

    Shane Long and Danny Ings scored as Southampton hit back to take the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

    But Lucas Moura equalised before Son won and converted the decisive penalty with just two minutes left.

    “I have to be honest and say I think the best team lost on the pitch but my team were the ones with more heart and went to their limit,” Mourinho said.

    “We suffered but we deserved to win because we were in our limits. Southampton were fresher than us but we played with our souls and heart and gave absolutely everything.”

    Tottenham, who last won the FA Cup in 1991, will host struggling Norwich in the fifth round in the first week of March.

    Aiming for the first trophy of his reign, Mourinho, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino earlier this season, will be relieved Tottenham avoided a surprise exit from a competition he has not won since 2007 with Chelsea.

    Taking credit for the win in classic Mourinho self-promoting style, he said: “I think I did very well because I had to manage a team with so many difficulties.

    “The priority is to survive. We have lots of difficulties. I’m not speaking just about Harry Kane, I’m speaking about injuries to Giovani lo Celso and Erik Lamela.

    “Today was a team completely unbalanced, really hard to organise it.”

    Tottenham are without a major trophy of any kind since the 2008 League Cup and Mourinho would dearly love to end that drought, but his team will have to improve significantly on this erratic display.

    Mourinho will also have to get Jan Vertonghen back onside after the defender’s dejected trudge off the pitch following his substitution.

    “I understand his sadness, it is normal. He is always respectful and always professional. It doesn’t make me happy to make a substitution. I did it for the team, Jan is happy for the team,” Mourinho said.

    Tottenham had won eight of their last nine home games against Southampton, including a 2-1 success in the Premier League earlier this season, and they were in front after 12 minutes.

  • Rashford ruins Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford

    Rashford ruins Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford

    Marcus Rashford ruined José Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford as Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Wednesday.
    Rashford scored in each half to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mourinho’s successor something to cheer.

    Dele Alli scored Spur’s only goal in the 39th minute to cancel Rashford’s first goal in the 6th minute. But on return, the gangling striker had the last say via a penalty just four minutes after resumption of play.

    With the victory, Solskjaer’s side leapfrogged Spurs, climbing to sixth in the Premier League table.

    Spurs went into the match ahead of United after their mini-revival under their new boss, who replaced the sacked Mauricio Pochettino at the London club last month.

    Struggling United had made their worst start to a season in 31 years but started brightly against the visitors, playing with energy and adventure and deserved their win.

    Smiling manager Solskjaer hailed United’s “best performance for a long time”.

    “I thought we dominated the game, could have, should have finished the game there and then (early). Some great saves by their ‘keeper,” he said.

    “We’re best when we’re on the front foot,” he added.

    “We’re best when we attack quickly, we’re best when we’re aggressive and I thought the boys followed the plan and executed their skills all night.”

    Mourinho threw on unsettled midfielder Christian Eriksen in search of an equaliser as the game remained in the balance but despite some late pressure against a nervy United, Spurs left Old Trafford empty-handed.

    Mourinho, sacked by United last December, won his first three matches in charge of Spurs, with his team scoring 10 goals in the process but he has problems to sort out at the back as he targets a Champions League spot.

    United are also eyeing the top four despite a big gap to close. They remain eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and just seven points above the relegation zone.

  • EPL: Tottenham in talks with Mourinho

    Tottenham have made contact with Jose Mourinho on the possibility of taking over the managerial position at White Hart Lane, according to Soccer Link.

    Mauricio Pochettino is under fire at the club, following a poor start to the season, despite investing heavily in the squad this summer.

    The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has been without a job since he was sacked at Old Trafford.

    The Portuguese has gone into punditry while rejecting several offers.

    Mourinho recently rejected the Lyon role and the Ligue 1 side’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, claimed it was because he had agreed to join an English club.

    Pochettino guided Spurs to their first Champions League final where they lost 0-2 to Liverpool in June. They also finished 4th in the Premier League table last season but have been a shadow of the same team this season losing 0-7 to Bayern Munich in a Champions League match.

  • Mourinho’s successor, Gunnar Solskjaer crowned EPL manager of the month

    Mourinho’s successor, Gunnar Solskjaer crowned EPL manager of the month

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been crowned Premier League manager of the month, becoming the first person in the Manchester United dugout to win the award since Sir Alex Ferguson.

    The 1999 treble hero has won nine of his first 10 matches in charge in all competitions, with United securing 10 of the 12 Premier League points available last month.

    That fine form saw him named January’s Barclays manager of the month ahead of Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and Burnley’s Sean Dyche.

    It is the first time that a United manager has won the award since Ferguson in October 2012 – his final season and one that ended with the Premier League crown.

    Solskjaer celebrated his prize with his entire coaching team and posed for a photo with them while holding the award.

  • Solskjaer enthusiastic of Old Trafford return after Mourinho’s exit

    Solskjaer enthusiastic of Old Trafford return after Mourinho’s exit

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t wait to lead Manchester United out at Old Trafford for the first time on Wednesday against relegation-threatened Huddersfield.

    Having been parachuted in as caretaker manager for the rest of the season, the former United strike got the post-Jose Mourinho era off to a dream start.

    United ran amok at Solskjaer’s former club Cardiff on Saturday, scoring five goals in a Premier League game for the first time since Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013 as they left the Welsh capital buoyed by a 5-1 win.

    “Of course, you try to keep your emotion in check because I’m there to do a job, I’ve got to be focused,” Solskjaer said. “It’s not easy, I don’t think it will be easy, but I’m looking forward to it and I think the boys are looking forward to playing at Old Trafford.

    “That’s the key, we should be looking forward to playing there.”

    Solskjaer is looking to become just the fifth manager in United’s history to start with back-to-back league wins.

    Sixth-placed United have managed to win just five of 12 matches at Old Trafford in all competitions so far in this disappointing campaign, with the pressure appearing to be too much for players at times.

  • Man Utd shares rise after Mourinho’s exit

    Man Utd shares rise after Mourinho’s exit

    Frankfurt-listed shares in Manchester United climbed in early deals after manager Jose Mourinho left the English Premier League football club on Tuesday.

    It was an indication that investors welcomed the move after the club’s dismal start to the season.

    The stock rose 1.4 percent by 1030 GMT after extending gains following the news.

    Manchester United’s primary listing in the U.S. had not yet started trading as at the time of this report.

    Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager on Tuesday following a 3-1 defeat by arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

    It was a result which left the club in sixth place in the standings, 19 points off the top.

    His departure marked the first time since his days as Uniao de Leiria coach in 2002 that Mourinho has left a club without winning a domestic league title.

    He has spent two years at Old Trafford, which was perceived to be his dream job.

     

  • EPL: Mourinho stunned by United’s slow starts

    EPL: Mourinho stunned by United’s slow starts

    Jose Mourinho is struggling to understand why Manchester United have developed a habit of starting games slowly after they hit back to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win against Bournemouth.

    Mourinho acknowledged United could have been three or four goals behind by half-time at Dean Court on Saturday.

    Instead, they went into the break on level terms after Anthony Martial’s 35th minute strike cancelled out an early opener from Bournemouth forward Callum Wilson.

    United improved after the restart, eventually claiming a third win in four league games through Marcus Rashford’s stoppage-time goal.

    The come-from-behind success left United manager Mourinho at a loss to explain his team’s poor start.

    “I would like to answer that but it is hard for me to answer,” he said.

    “When we make a defensive mistake, instead of forgetting and keeping playing, it is something that triggers instability.

    “In that situation, after almost going 1-0 down after a couple of minutes, that triggered instability in the team.

    “It looked like we don’t work tactically during the week, which obviously is the worst feeling for me as we work so much that I expect my team to be really good. And I feel really frustrated with that.

    “The good thing is that the team has this face of fantastic character and has heart that the game is never over and they go until the end.”

    Mourinho highlighted the contribution of his second-half substitute Ander Herrera as the key to United’s revival.

    “I think the (biggest) impact was Ander Herrera,” he said.

    “He was the one that changed the game by giving the team balance, high-pressure, intensity and organisation that the team didn’t have until then. He was fundamental for us.”

    United have kept just one clean sheet in 11 Premier League games this season.

    Mourinho puts that record down to his attempt to strike a balance between the defensive strengths demonstrated more frequently last season and develop his team as an attacking force.

    But while he admitted that task remains a work in progress, he believes United are showing the powers of recovery required to overcome setbacks and turn games around.

    “When the team is really defensive and you are more defensive-minded and you base your work on that, then the team doesn’t develop enough in other areas but manages to get some results based on that,” he said.

    “I am trying to find a balance where we develop the team and the talented players we have in the second and third phase of attack without losing the balance.

    “But it is fantastic to have this feeling that it doesn’t matter what the score is – it is not over. No matter how many minutes to the end of the game, we have the feeling that anything can happen.

    “Even when we miss chance after chance after chance like we did in the second half they kept going until the end. That is a fantastic quality for a team.”

    Romelu Lukaku missed the trip after picking up an injury in training on Friday and is now battling to be fit for United’s Champions League trip to face Juventus next week.

    “We will wait for Monday. He needs these two days to see. It was something in training, a muscle or tendon,” Mourinho added.

    Meanwhile, Wilson has scored four goals in his last four league games and has been touted as a contender for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

    Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe insists that is a matter for Southgate but praised his player’s contribution.

    “All I can say is Callum has been unbelievable to work with since he came to this football club,” Howe said.

    “He continues to score goals and again today he was a real, real threat.”

  • Chelsea assistant coach charged with improper conduct after melee

    Chelsea FC’s assistant coach Marco Ianni was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) in England on Monday.
    This was after his exuberant celebrations in front of the Manchester United bench sparked an altercation with visiting manager Jose Mourinho.
    Chelsea scored a late equaliser to hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw in the English Premier League on Saturday and Ianni celebrated the goal in front of United’s bench.
    His action led to an ugly melee.
    On Monday, the FA charged Ianni for his behaviour, saying in a statement that he had until 1700 GMT on Thursday to respond.
    The English football governing body also said it had “formally reminded Mourinho of his responsibilities”, although the Portuguese escaped a charge for his part in the row.
    “Both clubs have received similar official reminders in terms of the behaviour expected of their staff and players at all times whilst in the technical area,” the FA added.
    Manchester United dropped two places to 10th in the table, while Chelsea are third, behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
    Reuters/NAN

  • I think the club are firmly behind Mourinho – Moyes

    Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says he thinks Mourinho retains the full backing of the club, despite the poor start.
    Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, but was sacked 10 months into a six-year contract.
    “I think the club are firmly behind the manager,” said the former Everton and West Ham boss.
    “He’s been a winner, Jose, throughout his career. So I don’t see why that should suddenly change.”
    Moyes, 55, says United’s comeback win against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Saturday showed the fans are also behind the Portuguese.
    “It was a great result, any team that comes from 2-0 down,” added the Scot.
    “But the one thing that happens at Old Trafford is the crowd gets right behind you, and is always supportive of the manager and the players.”
     

  • Mourinho reveals why he changed Paul Pogba’s role

    Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has explained that he changed midfielder, Paul Pogba’s role in the second half against Newcastle United because he wanted a better distribution of the ball from the back.
    The Portuguese moved Pogba into a deeper position in the second half after taking off midfielder, Scott McTominay at half-time, with Nemanja Matic filling in at centre-back alongside, Chris Smalling.
    Mourinho’s tactical switch helped the Red Devils turn a 2-0 deficit, with midfielder, Juan Mata, forwards, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez getting on the scoresheet.
    “Pogba didn’t play centre-back,” Mourinho said after the match.
    “He was playing with Matic in front of [Chris] Smalling because we need some technical quality to bring the ball from the back and the way to have some technical quality to bring the ball from the back was to play Paul and Matic there.”
    Mourinho also commended Manchester United fans after chanting his name throughout the evening.
    “I’m amazed by that,” Mourinho added. “I’m amazed by that, I don’t want that, if I could tell them please don’t do it I would say that I think this is not about me is about the football club, the club they love, and about the club we represent with all the honour and dignity.”