JOSE GOES RAMBLING
QUESTION MINUTES FOR THE ANSWER ...AND NOT ALL OF IT MADE COMPLETE SENSE!
JOSE MOURINHO launched into an extraordinary defence of his work at Manchester United yesterday — and vowed he won’t walk away from the challenge.
In answering just one question about United’s Champions League defeat against Sevilla, a defiant Mourinho gave an impassioned response lasting more than 12 minutes as he quoted statistics from a notebook in scenes reminiscent of Rafael Benitez’s infamous ‘fact’ rant in 2009.
Sportsmail can reveal that Mourinho met executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and managing director Richard Arnold at United’s Carrington training complex on Thursday morning.
Yesterday, the Portuguese coach insisted he has the full backing of his employers and vowed not to change his style in the face of renewed criticism of United’s performances.
‘I’m not going to disappear or cry because I heard a few boos,’ said Mourinho. ‘The next match, I will be the first to go out. I am not afraid of my responsibilities.
‘When I was 20, I was nobody in football. Now, at 55, I am what I am. I did what I did because of work and because of talent and mentality.
‘I could be in another country with the league in my pocket. But I am here and I am going to be here — and no way am I going to change my mentality.
‘The good thing, and the amazing feeling, for me is that I am exactly on the same page as the owners, as Mr Woodward and Mr Arnold. We agree on everything. So life is good.’
Mourinho had opened his press conference for tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton at Old Trafford in genial mood. ‘I’m alive, I’m here,’ he smiled.
However, when questioned about the mood of fans after losing 2-1 at home to Sevilla on Tuesday, the 55-year-old’s voice rose with emotion as he defended himself and claimed the job he took on is a lot tougher than most understand.
He declared: ‘What a manager inherits is something like the last time Manchester United won the Champions League — which didn’t happen a lot of times — was in 2008.
‘Many of the fans I speak to know what football heritage is and what the process was when I arrived.
‘In seven years with four different managers, once not qualifying for Europe, twice out in the group phase, and the best was the quarter-final.
‘If you want to go to the Premier League, the last (title) victory was 2012-13. In the four consecutive seasons, Manchester United finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. This is football heritage.’
Mourinho also believes he is the victim of jealousy among his critics. He said: ‘I understand that for many years it was really hard for the people who don’t like me: “Here he is again, here he wins again”.
‘For ten months I win nothing. The last title that I won was ten months ago (the Europa League). I beat Liverpool, Chelsea, I lose against Sevilla, so now is their moment to be happy.’
Mourinho warned United will struggle to make up ground on Manchester City if their rivals, — 16 points clear at the top — splash out again this summer.
‘If the clubs in a better situation than us stop investing and we invest, we are side to side,’ he said. ‘If they keep investing the same or more than us, it’s difficult.
‘In the last seven years City were champions twice — three times because they will be again in a few more weeks — and they were second twice. That’s heritage.
‘Do you know what is also heritage? (Nicolas) Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, (David) Silva, (Raheem) Sterling, (Sergio) Aguero, they are investments from the past. Not from the last two years.
‘When I leave, the next United manager will find here (Romelu) Lukaku, (Nemanja) Matic, of course (David) de Gea from many years ago.
‘They will find players with a different mentality, quality, background and know-how.’
Mourinho refused to criticise his underperforming stars in public but believes the players must step up to avoid losing to teams like Sevilla in future.
He added: ‘The players have to learn how to cope with that level of expectation. They have to survive and when they survive they become stronger.’
Marcos Rojo has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at United with the option for another year.