Jose: NoREAL interest in link with Madrid job
JOSE Mourinho insists he is not happy being linked with the Real Madrid manager’s role and that his future remains at United.
Pressure is mounting on the beleaguered Real coach Julen Lopetegui after the club lost 2-1 at home to Levante at the weekend.
The Champions League winners have won only five of their 12 matches under the former Spain coach and Madrid sports daily Marca has already called for Lopetegui to be sacked.
Mourinho is contracted to United until 2020, but the Reds have the option of an additional year. Speculation surrounding his own position has subsided in the wake of positive performances against Newcastle and Chelsea, but United host Juventus in the Champions League tonight and travel to Turin and City over the next month.
An Italian journalist asked Mourinho about whether he welcomed being linked with the Real post.
“No, I am happy here,” Mourinho said. “I am happy to see out my contract to the very last day of that contract and I would like to stay after my contract runs out as well. All I am thinking about at the moment is Manchester United.”
THE FA have not charged Jose Mourinho after the melee sparked by Chelsea coach Marco Ianni on Saturday.
Ianni, 36, has been charged with ‘improper conduct’ after he antagonistically celebrated Ross Barkley’s 96th-minute equaliser against United.
Mourinho has been ‘formally warned of his responsibilities’ and both the Reds and Chelsea have been cautioned about their future behaviour.
The FA said in a statement: “Jose Mourinho has been formally reminded of his responsibilities whilst both clubs have received similar official reminders in terms of the behaviour expected of their staff and players at all times whilst in the technical area.”
Madrid president Florentino Perez maintains a warm relationship with Mourinho and was prepared to reappoint him in 2016 had Zinedine Zidane failed to clinch a Champions League final victory against Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Mourinho says a ‘complicated surgery’ has prevented Antonio Valencia from featuring in United’s last two matches.
The Reds skipper, 33, has not played since the goalless draw with Valencia three weeks ago and was widely criticised for ‘liking’ an Instagram post calling for Mourinho’s removal the following morning.
Valencia, who was also dropped from the squad at West Ham last month, apologised and said it was a mistake.
The Ecuadorian did not travel to London for the 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea on Saturday but was involved in United’s open training session ahead of the Champions League group stage game with Juventus at Old Trafford tonight. Ashley Young has started at right-back and skippered United in their past two games and could keep his place, although Valencia is available.
“The reason was he was 10 days without training with a problem,” Mourinho said of Valencia.
“Not an injury but a problem that he had a very complicated surgery on his mouth. And 10 days without training needed a little bit of time to recover some level after that.”