TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mourinho

  • Mourinho outlines Man Utd transfer plans as he targets ‘two or three’ Players

    Jose Mourinho has hinted that Manchester United will attempt to sign two midfield players in the summer, as they look to replace Michael Carrick.

    Carrick, 36, has played just once this season, after being struck down by a heart scare following United’s 4-1 win over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup.

    Mourinho believes Carrick is a “phenomenal player”, but has outlined his intentions to potentially refresh his midfield with two new additions – one to replace the former England international, and one to further bolster his squad.

    “I think, next season, we are going to get two or three more players,” Mourinho told United’s official website. “We are going to lose also two or three. If you can try to anticipate, you can more or less see that it’s normal that this is going to happen. It’s not going to happen – a dramatic change and a dramatic improvement – but in time, step by step, with some balance, we have to do it.

    “If, next summer, we are going to sign a midfield player, it’s to replace Michael Carrick and Michael is a phenomenal player that, this season, he couldn’t give us anything at all.

    “He’s in the end of his career so if, next summer, we buy a midfield player, it’s not to improve our squad – it’s to replace Michael Carrick. So, to improve our squad in the midfield, we would need to buy two.”

    United spent over £140 million in the summer to sign the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, but Mourinho insists that he has yet to truly strengthen, merely replacing those who were unable to contribute.

    “I have the backing of the club and the first backing of the club I had was a three-year contract where everybody knows the job was not easy,” he added. “And we all know that we invest a lot, so when you invest as much as we did, it wouldn’t be very fair for me to say the club didn’t support, the club didn’t want to help. It would be very unfair, which is not me.

    “The club invested a lot of money. The problem is not the money we invest, the problem is the money the others invest and it is the problem that others with better squads, with better stability, with more options, they keep investing and that’s the only problem because, for example, we bought a striker in the summer – a very good striker [Romelu Lukaku] – but that good striker was to replace Zlatan [Ibrahimovic].

    “It was not to be him and Zlatan in the best of their form from day one. We signed [Victor] Lindelof. We didn’t have Marcos Rojo [at the start of the season]. We had problems, so when we are signing players in the last two years, it’s to replace people.”

    Sporting News

  • ‘Childish’ errors & ‘joke chances’ annoy Mourinho after draw at Leicester

    Jose Mourinho criticised Manchester United’s “childish” errors as his team fell further behind leaders Manchester City after conceding a 94th-minute equaliser from Harry Maguire at 10-man Leicester.

    The Portuguese felt his side missed “joke chances” as they fell 13 points behind City – the biggest points gap between first and second place at Christmas in English top-flight history.

    It was the second time in a week that United have conceded a goal in injury time, losing 2-1 to Championship side Bristol City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

    United had looked set to take all three points after Juan Mata’s double had seen them recover from Jamie Vardy’s opener, while Foxes substitute Daniel Amartey was sent off for the home side 16 minutes and nine seconds after coming for two bookings in four minutes.

    Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard were particularly guilty of missing golden opportunities in the second half to put the game beyond Leicester.

    Maguire caught the United defence out as they failed to deal with Marc Albrighton’s deep cross into the box, the England defender running past the injured Chris Smaling to side-foot the ball past David de Gea from close range.

    “We were punished by our mistakes, “Mourinho told Sky Sports. “Childish loss of possession, so easy. Childish in their box and childish in our box.

    “Half an hour after our second it is a game to finish four, five, six-one. We didn’t win because we missed incredible chances, joke chances,”

    BBC Sports

  • Bristol City’s ‘lucky win over Man Utd beautiful for football’-Mourinho

    Bristol City’s ‘lucky win over Man Utd beautiful for football’-Mourinho

    Bristol City were “lucky” to beat Manchester United but the result was a “beautiful day for football”, said Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho.

    Korey Smith scored an injury-time winner as the Championship side beat the Carabao Cup holders 2-1.

    The Robins will face unbeaten Premier League leaders Manchester City in the two-legged semi-finals.

    “A team from the lower division won. A big day for them,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

    The Robins reached the last four of the competition for the first time since 1988-89 with a well-deserved victory at Ashton Gate, going ahead in the second half through Joe Bryan’s thunderbolt into the top corner.

    United had already hit the crossbar and post – and Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised with a deflected free-kick.

    But Smith’s cool strike sparked jubilant scenes as United became City’s fourth top-flight scalp in this year’s competition, after Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace.

    Mourinho said: “They were a bit lucky but they fought a lot to be lucky. Everyone was waiting for our goal so they were lucky. We hit the post twice.

    “But they played brilliantly, they fought like it was the game of their lives which probably it was. A beautiful day for football.”

    United players blow their chance

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba
    Paul Pogba was returning to the Manchester United side after serving a three-game suspension

    Mourinho, who has won the competition four times, made 10 changes to his starting line-up after beating West Brom on Sunday, but still included Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

    The former Chelsea boss suggested some of those who were named in the initial 11 had blown their chance to impress.

    “The reality is that the players that were on the pitch were the ones that were not in the last match,” said Mourinho.

    “They are the ones that are not going to be in the next match. I think they lost a good opportunity also to play semi-finals and also to have two more matches to play.

    “But I don’t want to blame the players at all because I think they were professional – it wasn’t a case of ‘we don’t care about the game’ or ‘we don’t have responsibility’ or ‘we don’t have pride’.

    “I think they showed they had that after the 1-0 [the first goal] and they had that until they scored the second goal in the last few seconds and we had no chance to react.”

  • Life at Chelsea was tougher under Antonio Conte than Jose Mourinho-John Terry

    John Terry reckons life was tougher at Chelsea under Antonio Conte than his predecessor Jose Mourinho. The Blues legend played under both managers during his long career at Stamford Bridge and won Premier League titles with both bosses.

    Terry only spent one year with the Italian before bringing the curtain down on his time in west London and heading to the Championship with Aston Villa.

    But that was long enough for Conte to make a big impression on the centre-back and he told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football that work became harder after Mourinho left.

    Terry said: “Yes [Conte’s training is harder than Mourinho’s was.

    “Tougher than most, physically tougher, more demanding, a bit more running, which is normal for Italian coaches.

    “Tactically a little bit more, but I think you can see, when you’re a player, working 45 minutes to an hour every day on your tactics and you see that benefit at the weekend, you don’t mind doing it.

    “He’s got a real good balance and he makes it enjoyable week in, week out.”

    Terry became one of Mourinho’s untouchables during his first stint at Chelsea, leading the club to their first Premier League triumph, and the bond between the two will always be special.

    Terry added: “He was the best manager, and the best coach as well. He did everything.

    “He was the first one to come and revolutionise it at Chelsea. He would be the first in, 8am, he’d be the one setting the cones out, and you’d come in as players and he’d be out there, if it was pouring with rain, getting his session organised.

    “Mentally and psychologically, he had us from day one. We bought in to whatever he was going to deliver that day and he was the same when he came back. Having his presence there was enough.

    “He had his eyes on everyone and when he speaks no one messes about or plays with a ball. You listen to him, he was the boss.

    “I would give everything for him. I would leave that pitch in a coffin for him and every player felt the same.”

    However, Terry is convinced the former Juventus chief’s future lies in the Premier League as part of a long-term building project following a title win in his debut campaign.

    Terry added: “I think they see him as a long-term manager. having worked with him, the way he dealt with me and other players, I think he’s first class

    “I think they stick with him long-term. We’re only having this discussion because City have raised the bar.”

  • I will no longer celebrate most Man Utd goals-Mourinho

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has vowed to no longer celebrate most occasions when his team hits the back of the net, as he continued a war of words that broke out in last week’s defeat to Manchester City.

    The Special One was not amused at what he considered excessive celebrations from Pep Guardiola in the Manchester derby, sparking a fresh rift between the old rivals.

    And when Romelu Lukaku netted on Sunday against West Brom, Mourinho barely raised an eyebrow — a phenomenon he puts down to “maturity”.

    “I didn’t celebrate too. Nobody was happier than me. Fifteen years ago I look at myself celebrating goals. With maturity you go into levels that you control your emotions better,” he explained at a press conference.

    “You get more experienced, you get more balanced. You don’t go crazy when you win. You don’t get depressed when you lose. You are much more stable with experience. Some other managers, they are different, and they don’t change.

    “I change. If I score a goal in the last minute you will see me run, for sure, for sure. But a goal in minute 20-something, 1-0 with a lot to play… Let’s play.”

    Mourinho also declined to comment on a video released by members of the City squad mocking his reputation of “parking the bus”.

    “I didn’t see it, I didn’t watch. I am not interested in doing that. You are the ones to make your evaluations, your comments. For me, nothing,” he added.

    “I think Lukaku didn’t celebrate for two reasons. His love for West Bromwich Albion. He was a happy kid here, they help him to feel loved, they made him feel at home. It was here he exploded in the Premier League. So for sure that.

    “And probably the second thing is he looks at me and I don’t celebrate too. And he probably says: ‘If he doesn’t celebrate why should I celebrate?’”

    United remain 11 points behind their Manchester rivals, who have won their last 16 Premier League games to romp clear at the summit.

    Goal.com

  • Manchester United hit with double injury blow

    Jose Mourinho has suffered a double injury set-back with Eric Bailly requiring ankle surgery that will rule the defender out for up to three months and Marouane Fellaini sidelined until next month with a knee injury that has already kept the midfielder out for three weeks.

    Bailly has missed United’s past eight matches and Mourinho revealed the decision had now been taken for the Ivory Coast centre-back to undergo an operation on his ankle, although he is confident the defender will play again this season.

    “Eric is going for surgery – the decision is made. I don’t say [he’s out] for the season but it it’s for the next two or three months,” said the United manager, who is also without defender Marcos Rojo (head) for Sunday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.

    “But now we have [Phil] Jones back and we have [Chris] Smalling, even [Daley] Blind, so it’s a position we have good cover in but of course we’ll miss the player.”

    Fellaini has missed United’s past five matches after aggravating a knee problem originally sustained on international duty with Belgium in early October and the club have decided the midfielder requires a longer period of rehabilitation in order to make a full recovery.

    The 30-year-old suffered third degree medial collateral ligament damage that forced his substitution for Belgium against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Oct. 7 but he suffered complications upon his return against Chelsea a month later.

    He played through the pain barrier to feature against Newcastle, Basel and Brighton but the situation has only worsened and he will now miss the entire festive programme in a blow to Mourinho.

  • Jose Mourinho may allow Henrikh Mkhitaryan to leave Man Utd

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says “every player has his price”, which may pave the way for the January departure of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

    The Armenian playmaker has not started a game since the defeat at Chelsea on 5 November and has not been in the matchday squad for the last four games.

    Mkhitaryan became Mourinho’s third signing when he joined from Borussia Dortmund for a £30m fee 18 months ago.

    But BBC Sport understands there has been a “breakdown of trust”.

    Speaking before Sunday’s trip to West Brom, Mourinho said: “If a player is not happy and brings with the request a number we consider good for us, I would never say no.

    “That is my approach as a manager. Every player has a price.”He subsequently released Bastian Schweinsteiger from his contract so he could take up a lucrative offer with Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.

    Defender Luke Shaw is another potential January departure, although the indications have been that the former Southampton player intends to remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.

    Marouane Fellaini’s contract expires at the end of the season and, so far, United’s efforts to persuade the Belgian to sign an extension have failed.

    However, Mourinho likes the midfielder and selling him is not thought to be an option, particularly as Fellaini knows he can maximise his earnings in the summer if he left for free.

    Last January, Mourinho allowed Memphis Depay to join Lyon and Morgan Schneiderlin to move to Everton.

  • Jose Mourinho: Man Utd boss asked to clarify comments about Man City

    Jose Mourinho: Man Utd boss asked to clarify comments about Man City

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been asked to clarify the comments he made before Sunday’s derby defeat by Manchester City.

    The Football Association has requested observations from the Portuguese regarding his pre-match news conference on the Friday before the game.

    Mourinho suggested City players go to ground easily, saying: “A little bit of wind and they fall.”

    He has until 18:00 GMT on Monday to respond to the FA.

    Mourinho, 54, also said he did not think he would be allowed to make to make a political statement on the touchline like Guardiola, who has recently worn a yellow ribbon – a symbol of protest against the imprisonment of pro-independence politicians in the Spanish region of Catalonia.

    United went on to lose the game 2-1 at Old Trafford, which sent City 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

    Mourinho had milk thrown at him outside the Old Trafford dressing rooms after objecting to City’s post-match celebrations and said the incident was “a question of diversity in behaviour, diversity in education”.

  • If the title is over, I’ll go on holiday tomorrow’-Mourinho

    Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said he would be “on holiday in Brazil or Los Angeles” if he thought the Premier League title race was over, as his side edged past Bournemouth.

    United bounced back from their defeat by rivals Manchester City with a victory, but failed to make any inroads on unbeaten league leaders City, who thrashed Swansea 4-0 to maintain their 11-point advantage.

    Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored the winner in the first half, heading in to the top corner from Juan Mata’s cross towards the six-yard box.

    Mourinho said: “The City game was a big one, and a defeat does not help in your recovery – victories help, defeats don’t.

    “Bournemouth were difficult opponents and difficult conditions. If we had scored the second it would have been a calm night for us.

    “I am pleased with the three points. They had one more day’s rest than us, they were fresher than us, and mentally fresher because a big match takes more from our players.

    “[The title race] is only over in May. If it is over now I go on holiday to Brazil or Los Angeles.”

    United could have netted a second but substitute Marcus Rashford’s thumping drive came back off the crossbar.

    Visitors Bournemouth caused plenty of problems for United but were unable to find a way past David de Gea, whose best save of the contest came from Ryan Fraser’s cross-shot.

    BBC sports

  • Manchester derby: Jose Mourinho has water & milk thrown at him in tunnel row

    Manchester derby: Jose Mourinho has water & milk thrown at him in tunnel row

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had water and milk thrown at him in a row following Manchester City’s derby win at Old Trafford.

    United were upset at what they viewed as an excessive City reaction to Sunday’s 2-1 win, which sent them 11 points clear at the top of the table.

    City’s players celebrated with their fans after the final whistle and coaching staff tried to persuade manager Pep Guardiola to join them, but he refused.

    After the players headed down the tunnel, it is understood Mourinho made his feelings known in the corridor from which both dressing rooms are accessed as he made his way back out to do post-match interviews.

    The City camp reacted, with Brazil goalkeeper Ederson and Mourinho exchanging words angrily in Portuguese – but Mourinho carried out his post-match media engagements as normal and made no mention of it.

    In October 2004, then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was hit by pizza thrown by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas after a bad tempered encounter between the sides at Old Trafford.

    In the build-up to Sunday’s Premier League game, City were irritated when United denied them permission to use cameras to gather footage for their £10m behind-the-scenes documentary.