JOSE GETS REAL ON TITLE BID
United boss: I understand pressure of finishing first at Old Trafford: My time at Madrid prepared me for it
JOSE MOURINHO claims his experience at Real Madrid is helping him as he battles to lead Manchester United back to the top.
United are set to go a fifth season without the title – their longest run since Sir Alex Ferguson ended their 26-year drought in 1993 – and boss Mourinho admits trying to restore their fortunes is a big job.
He says he understands the huge expectations at United to win the title and Champions League and pointed to his time with Real as proof that he can turn huge clubs around.
Real had gone two years without a trophy when he took over in 2010 and he led them to the Copa del Rey in his first season and then their first La Liga since 2008 in the following campaign.
“When I went to Real Madrid, they were in a difficult moment, no league title or cup, not even a Champions League quarter- final for many years,” said the Portuguese. “It was hard.
“But it was good for my development as a manager.
“We go to clubs with a huge history, where people look to the history and not to the moment, and expectations are high. “The job is difficult, but I have had that experience before at other clubs, so it’s nothing new.
“I signed a three-year contract here because that was the length of time myself and the board decided on. “I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy job, but I experienced it before.”
Mourinho is not happy at seeing Manchester City disappear out of view in the title race and took a veiled swipe at Pep Guardiola (above) by claiming he never celebrates wildly himself.
Mourinho took offence to City’s jubilant reaction to beating United at Old Trafford last Sunday and stormed into their dressing room, sparking the tunnel bust-up being investigated by the FA. Guardiola told his players to celebrate and Mourinho says he does not “like a circus” when his team wins.
“I like balance,” he said. “I don’t like a circus when you win and you’re happy. I don’t like a sad place when you lose and you’re not happy.
“I like an emotional balance and that’s what I found here. I don’t celebrate goals in a very enthusiastic way.
“If you score a goal in the last minute that gives you the victory, then, yes, you lose your balance and you don’t control your emotion.
“You react in an emotional way. But it’s quite difficult for myself in this moment to celebrate a goal in a superenthusiastic way. I control my emotions. I’m not acting to the cameras or the fans.”
United travel to face West Brom tomorrow and Mourinho is sad Tony Pulis is no longer in charge.
“They got so many points with Tony in the big matches,” he said.
“Tony assembled a very good squad with lots of experienced, physical players, adapted to the Premier League with know-how.”