Rodgers insists centurion Vardy has guaranteed legendary status
JOSE Mourinho has hit back at Arsenal’s apparent ridicule of Tottenham’s defeat at Sheffield United on social media by saying the Gunners do not have any success of their own to enjoy.
Arsenal poked fun at their north London rivals on Facebook when they posted highlights of their FA Cup win at Bramall Lane last weekend, with the caption: “It’s not easy beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.”
Mourinho believes the post says more about Arsenal than it does his club, suggesting the struggles of others would not be the source of joy for them if they were near the top of the league.
“I think if they were top of the league or fighting for top four in a really good moment they wouldn’t enjoy the problems of others,” he said ahead of his side’s game with Everton tonight.
“You only enjoy the problems of others when you are also in trouble.
“In the end, it says more about them, they don’t have much to celebrate, they have to get every opportunity to do it. They are in a very similar situation to us in the table.
“I don’t like to connect the club with some post or tweet. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am right, but the person that did it probably did by themselves. I don’t believe it was (Mikel) Arteta that posted, I don’t believe it was (Granit) Xhaka or another captain that did it.
“It was probably some guy that was at home for three months working from home. No problem at home, but we will be waiting for them.”
The two clubs are locked in a battle for the Europa League, though Arsenal have gone ahead in the race after three successive Premier League wins.
Who finishes above who could well be decided by Sunday’s first ever north London derby at Tottenham’s new stadium.
Mourinho says that finishing ahead of the Gunners would be nice, but should not be Spurs’ main aim.
“To be the champion of north London means nothing for me because I think you have to be much bigger than that and have much more ambitions than that,” he added.
“But I always look to the rivals of my clubs with different eyes. As you know, I have been in so many big clubs with so many special rivals so I don’t hide that Arsenal in this moment is a very special rival.
“Yes I would like to finish in a better position in the table than them.
“But again, I want my team to be bigger than that, I want my club to feel bigger than that.
“I understand that for the fans it is a special rivalry and what is special for the fans is special for me and I want it to be special for the players.”
Mourinho also revealed that he will have no problems ditching the elbow-bump in order to hug Everton counterpart Carlo Ancelotti.
Ahead of the duo’s first ever meeting in the Premier League, the Spurs chief said he “loves” the Italian who, like Mourinho, has managed at Chelsea and Real Madrid in an illustrious career, and believes Everton are lucky to have him.
“I think everyone in football admires Carlo as a coach and as a person,” he said. “If you don’t know him as a person, at least you know him as a coach.
“It’s not because I like him so much as a person that I’m going to say the obvious, which is: he’s one of the top managers in the world of the last two decades and of course now.
“I think it’s a privilege for the Premier League to have Carlo back, it’s a privilege for Everton to have Carlo as manager, or head coach, whatever way you want to call him.
“I think he’s a fantastic guy. I think I’m going to break the rules. Now is one-metre distance. I’m going to break the rules and I’m going to hug him because I like Carlo very much.”
JAMIE Vardy’s decision to remain at Leicester has cemented his legacy at the club, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
The striker turned down the chance to join Arsenal in the summer of 2016 just weeks after spearheading the Foxes Premier League title success.
On Saturday, he scored his 100th Premier League goal — and also his 101st as Leicester comfortably overcame Crystal Palace 3-0 at the King Power Stadium — 206 games after becoming the first £1million signing from a non-league club when he joined the club in 2012.
Of the 29 players to become Premier League centurions, only Ian Wright (28 years 286 days) made his debut in the competition at an older age than Vardy (27 years 232 days).
The striker staying put illustrates that the grass is not always greener and the so-called big move is not always the necessary route to success.
Rodgers said: “I think as things stand he’s a legend here now for the rest of his time at the club, it’s just what he adds to that status over the rest of his career.
“It’s hard to knock players if they do want to move on because their careers are so short but he’s obviously felt really comfortable.
“He’s found a real home here, he is adored by the supporters and they absolutely love him and he has gone on and hit this milestone and I’m sure he’ll continue to create an incredible legacy here. I’m lucky to have him.
“It’s all individual choice, players will move on and clubs will lose players but his is an example that if you decide to stay you can continue to develop.”