‘Get used to winning’ Jose wants a Matic reunion
got out of the group, we set out to get our players used to winning tournaments. It’s about learning the craft of tournament football because it’s completely different. “If someone said to me on Wednesday if we’ve lost, ‘Well done for getting to the semi-final’, I won’t like that. Winning tournaments young is massive. The Germans, the Spanish, if you look at their track record, if you delve into their history, they have won these tournaments.
“The age groups, from 16 to 21, the teams winning those go on to win the senior tournaments, that’s a fact.”
Boothroyd, who will make a late check on the fitness of Nathaniel Chalobah and Nathan Redmond, believes he is proving people wrong in Poland. He said England’s sexy football is sticking two fingers up at critics who once branded him ‘Aidy Hoofroyd’ for his long-ball tactics at clubs like Watford and Northampton.
“I hope people are seeing me differently. If I am proving people wrong and changing opinions, that’s nice. But I’ve had to do this for a long time,” he said.
“But in an environment with budgets, you get the best players you can for the money you have and turn them into a team. That’s what good coaching is.” JOSE MOURINHO is closing in on making Nemanja Matic his second signing of the summer.
The Manchester United manager wants Chelsea midfielder Matic to be his new anchor man after landing defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica.
Chelsea’s decision to buy Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco means the Serbia star is available for about £40million. Chelsea will pay £36.7m for Bakayoko but the player has yet to agree personal terms.
Manager Antonio Conte would prefer Matic to stay as cover and competition, with his team back in the Champions League next season but the player does not want to play second fiddle to Bakayoko or Player of the Year N’Golo Kante. Matic is keen on a reunion with Mourinho, who bought him for £21m from Benfica during his second spell at Stamford Bridge. He played a key part in the 2014-15 Premier League triumph as well as last season’s title victory under Conte.
Mourinho was in Portugal last night following the death of his 79-year-old father, former national team goalkeeper Jose Manuel Mourinho Felix.