Mourinho defends United approach, hails spirit after derby draw
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho defended his team’s approach in Thursday’s 0-0 derby draw with Manchester City, hailing its spirit as it held on with 10 men.
United had only 31 percent possession and created few chances as they battled for a share of the spoils that left it a point behind fourth-placed City in the Premier League, Reuters reported.
But Mourinho, who also questioned Sergio Aguero’s reaction in the incident which saw United midfielder Marouane Fellaini sent off in the 84th minute, was in no mood for apology.
“They had more ball, they had more chances but I have to defend the players and the spirit of my players and say they were amazing the way they fight,” he said, after his team extended their unbeaten run to 24 games.
United could have grabbed the lead just before halftime when midfielder Ander Herrera missed a glorious chance, heading wide from close range when left unmarked, and Mourinho felt they would have deserved the advantage.
“In the first half we controlled easily the game, we controlled easily the defensive side of the game and we were always dangerous on the counter-attack and we had two good chances to score,” he said.
“Marcus (Rashford) gave their defenders lots of problems, they stopped him sometimes with lots of fouls, so for me the spirit was amazing and the first half was really good.
“In the second half, I think they were stronger than us. Despite the fact that we were very strong defensively, we didn’t create enough problems in attack and we allowed them to be more offensive and play more in our half,” he added.
But the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager said he was hampered in his ability to positively influence the outcome of the match by having few options from the bench due to injuries.
“In the crucial period of the game I had no players to change in midfield, I had no midfielders on the bench, then we lose Marouane and for 15 minutes we play with ten and fight for the point, which the boys did brilliantly,” he said.
Guardiola said he had no problem with United’s tactics.
“In my career I have come across many different styles. I am going to be respectful of my opponents’ style. We did absolutely everything to win and tonight it wasn’t enough.
“We tried to have the ball and attack like we have tried to do all season. Today it was much harder against a team who hadn’t lost in 23 (games) - it was not easy but we tried. It’s one point and the fight keeps going.”
Mourinho could not resist a jibe at Argentine striker Aguero over the dismissal of Fellaini for a relatively light headbutt.
“I saw Aguero in the tunnel, no broken nose, no broken head, his face as nice as always. If he doesn’t go to the floor, it’s not a red card,” said the Portuguese.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed a number of his dream transfer targets, describing Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos as a “genius”, as goal.com reported.
The Reds boss is almost certainly going to strengthen his squad in the summer transfer window, with a number of players already linked with a switch to Anfield.
Questioned on who he would sign for the club should money not be an issue, Klopp responded with admiration for a number of European players.
“Busquets is only 28, right?” Klopp said to Marca. “What a player! And it seems that he’s been playing 16 years in that position.
“Toni Kroos is an exceptional player, a genius. He’s so subtle with the ball.”
Quizzed on his favorite Spanish players, the Liverpool boss replied: “In my time in Germany, I admired Thiago Alcantara, for example.
“And what about David Silva? There are others - Pedro is playing well. But yeah, it‘s a coincidence that I have not signed many Spaniards.
“Dortmund had no money to buy them. Gonzalo Castro was, but only half Spanish. A fantastic player, by the way.”
Liverpool currently sits third in the Premier League table while two Manchester giants challenging them for a top four finish to secure a place in next year’s UEFA Champions League. Barcelona legend and former World Cup and European champion with Spain spoke to CNN about his future plans.
A product of the feted La Masia youth system, Xavi Hernández went on to embody the footballing ideals of Spain and Barcelona for almost two decades, prompting Pep Guardiola to call him “the best Catalan player in history” and Andres Iniesta to “run out of eulogies” in trying to describe his former teammate.
Not content with winning eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, two European Championships and his country’s first ever World Cup, the 37-year-old Xavi is now plotting his next move.
“I’m not just in Qatar to play football,” Xavi tells CNN, having called time on his Barcelona career in 2015 to begin a new chapter at Al-sadd SC. “I want to be a coach.”
Since moving to the tiny Gulf state, Xavi has combined playing duties at Qatar’s most successful club with an ambassadorial role within the 2022 World Cup committee, while steadily accumulating his coaching badges
He intends to play for one more season, before hanging up his boots when the Qatar Stars League culminates next spring.
“My objective is to work and help Qatar in the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” the Spaniard enthuses, telling CNN he would seriously consider managing the host nation during the tournament.
“I want to go far. Of course, it’s an option. It’s an option which I would like.
“It’s an objective to help them have a good World Cup in 2022, and then in my mind I have it to come back to Barcelona.
“One of my dreams in the future is to coach FC Barcelona.”
“I’m here to help them become more competitive and to do the best we can,” he said about his objectives in Qatar. “I think Qatar has very good footballers and could have a good World Cup.”
When the oil-rich nation’s controversial bid in 2010 won the right to host arguably the world’s biggest sports tournament, it wasn’t financial resources that worried Qatari officials, but the country’s lack of playing talent.
With the team currently languishing bottom of its Asian qualifying group ahead of Russia 2018, the 2022 World Cup will likely be Qatar’s first major tournament.
To that end, Xavi has been working with the nation’s young players at the “Aspire Academy,” a renowned sports institute bankrolled by the royal family.
“They love football!” Xavi exclaims. “They love football a lot, a lot, a lot. Football’s just one of their passions. They love sport in general. Qatar is investing a lot in sport.”