Mour reasons to stay

Fire is back, and United manager wants to see his contract through

MANCHESTER: The fire is back inside Jose Mourinho (pic).

Two weeks ago, the Manchester United manager was swearing in front of a television camera. Two days ago, he was involved in a touchline fracas at the end of a Premier League game. And on Monday, he was expressing a desire for a long stay at England’s biggest club.

“I’m happy to see my contract out to the very last day of that contract,” Mourinho said on Monday, “and I would like to stay after my contract ends.”

That Mourinho felt emboldened to talk about a long-term future at United is a sign he believes his position at Old Trafford is more secure after fevered speculation in recent weeks.

Since the night at the start of this month when headlines emerged in a major British newspaper that Mourinho was about to be fired, United have come from two goals down to beat Newcastle 3-2 and then was only denied a win at Chelsea on Saturday after conceding a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Mourinho is still under pressure but the crisis appears to have abated – for now.

And some of his charisma and confidence is returning.

In Monday’s news conference ahead of a Champions League match against Juventus, Mourinho didn’t like the questions he was getting so he decided to answer his own.

“I don’t like this press conference,” he said, after rebuffing – or only giving short answers to – ques- tions about Real Madrid’s current crisis, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez. “I think the press conference is going in other directions. So if it’s going in other directions, I also want to go in another direction.”

He proceeded to return to Saturday’s melee at Stamford Bridge, which saw Mourinho react to the taunts of one of Chelsea’s backroom staff, Marco Ianni, after Chelsea’s late goal that secured a 2-2 draw.

Mourinho leapt from his seat in the dugout and attempted to con- front Ianni, only to be held back by security staff and members of his own coaching team.

On Monday, the English Football Association said Mourinho had been “formally reminded of his responsibilities” in relation to Saturday’s incident.

Ianni was charged with improper conduct.

“I don’t think he deserves more than what he got,” Mourinho said, referring to Ianni.

“He apologised to me, I accept his apologies. I think he deserves a second chance, I don’t think he deserves to be sacked.”

”Everybody makes mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes, so I hope they let the kid go on.”

Mourinho does not face further FA action relating to the incident but is preparing to answer a separate charge of using abusive, insulting or improper language following United’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, relating to remarks he allegedly made in Portuguese.

He has until today to respond and Mourinho could face a touchline ban if the charge is upheld. — Agencies