MOURINHO COMES OUT FIGHTING

Under-fire United boss says he is still ‘one of the greatest managers in the world’ despite his team’s poor start

JOSE Mourinho claimed he is still one of the world’s greatest managers as he took to referencing philosophers and labelled last year’s second place as one of his greatest achievements.

The Manchester United manager takes his team to Burnley today under increasing pressure after straight Premier League defeats by Brighton and Tottenham.

But fresh from reminding everyone how many league titles he has won after Monday night’s Spurs defeat, Mourinho was in self-promotion mood again on Friday lunchtime when asked what it felt like to manage one of the world’s great football clubs.

“I am the manager of one of the greatest clubs in the world but I am also one of the greatest managers in the world,” said Mourinho.

Subsequently asked if he would still be considered one of the modern greats without winning a league title at Old Trafford, Mourinho remained on the front foot.

“Of course,” the Portuguese answered, before turning the question around. “Did you read any philosopher or in your information you never spent time reading Hegel? Just as an example Hegel says the truth is in the whole, is always in the whole…

“Do you ask that question to the manager that finished third in the Premier League (Mauricio Pochettino) or fourth (Jurgen Klopp),” he added.

“I tell you what I think, how they feel. And I answer you the question. That’s easy. I had last season great success (in finishing second). I had great success last season but that’s what you probably don’t want to admit.

“I analyse my performance myself and for me it is more important what I think than what you think. I repeat that two seasons ago we had a fantastic season by winning the Europa League. We are the last team in England to win a European cup. I have won eight league titles.

“I am the only manager in the world that won in Italy, Spain and England and but even after winning eight titles, not small titles or small countries, my second position last season is one of my greatest achievements in football, I think.”

Tottenham fans serenaded Mourinho with a rendition of ‘You’re not special anymore’ on Monday, a nod to the moniker he gave himself when he first arrived in English football at Cheslea.

Asked about this he said: “They didn’t have that song when we beat them at Wembley a couple of months ago before a cup final they had a big dream to go to, a title they had a big dream to win, because they didn’t win and they don’t win many. Of course they were not singing that.

“That day at Wembley it was the Manchester United fans who were singing about the special one.”

Mourinho went to applaud the United fans after the Spurs game and when he explained that here he appeared to have another dig at rival managers such as Klopp.

He added: “I know the majority of the stadiums are used to the winning manager jumping around and to go to the crowd and to show his face and put his face in front of the camera. With me that is not happening.

“When I win I am the first one to leave but after an important defeat at home, that’s the way I am.

“I had to go to the pitch and see the reaction and the reaction went to a way that I felt really humbled and the team felt really supported and this week was not a difficult week at all.

“People here are positive and convinced we deserve much more than what we got last Monday.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola say his old rival Mourinho deserves respect despite United’s troubled start.

Guardiola was involved in a series of spats with Mourinho when he was in charge of Barcelona.

But, asked about Mourinho’s problems, Guardiola said: “The history, the way Jose did in all the places he was — it’s hat’s off. There is no doubts about his quality.

“You need players, good clubs that sustain you and support you, patience. Our position is results. Every manager what he believes, what he likes, tries to get results in his own style and the way he trains. We are judged on the results we get.

“Only the players know exactly how you are as a manager because they know you and see you every day. They have more information than the rest of the world — the fans, the media, everybody.”