MAN UTD v STOKE CITY
BRUNO MARTINS INDI believes Jose Mourinho has inherited a solid legacy from Louis van Gaal – and he reckons the Dutchman’s time in charge at Old Trafford was a success.
Stoke City’s big centre-back has come out in defence of his compatriot ahead of a showdown which the Potters hope will kick-start their season this afternoon.
Indi, 24, does have a vested interest. Van Gaal gave him a platform to shine at the World Cup two years ago. The Porto stopper, signed by Mark Hughes on a season’s loan late last month, ended up in a semi- final as Van Gaal’s Holland punched above their weight.
And Indi says that Mourinho will benefit from Van Gaal’s foresight in blooding some of the club’s kids.
He said: “Van Gaal won the FA Cup. That’s success, isn’t it? Of course, a club like Manchester United needs success. But winning the FA Cup was just that.
“The other most important thing in football is to give opportunities to young players – the next generation – and he did that too.
“He did it with me. I was 22years-old at the World Cup and to play seven games showed a lot of faith in me and I am grateful for that. He also did MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has backed Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave Wayne Rooney as England’s skipper.
Mourinho (right) says the country’s interim boss has his full support after Sam Allardyce’s temporary replacement chose to leave the Three Lions’ all-time leading scorer with the armband. He has faced questions of his own after omitting Rooney from his last two starting line-ups
Grateful
the same with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, for example. As a manager, the only other thing you can do is create a legacy. Van Gaal did that, too.”
Indi also said that it was too soon for the club to give up on young Dutch winger Memphis Depay. He added: “I know his potential. And he will get there through having a positive mindset and energy.
“He’s a good player – if you aren’t you don’t get as far as Manchester United.”
Indi arrived i n north Staffordshire via Porto. He thrived under Julen Lopetegui – appointed this summer as Spain’s coach – but failed to figure under either Rui Barros or existing coach Nuno Espirito Santo. Everton had a £5million – and will doubtless have to face up to more if he persists with that policy.
But Southgate’s actions have been accepted by the Portuguese, who said: “Gareth doesn’t just have 100 per cent respect from me – if I can give it to him, he has 200 per cent. Any decision he takes with my players I respect.”
Asked about Rooney’s Old Trafford role, Mourinho said: “He is the captain here, no matter what. It doesn’t matter if he is on or off the pitch.” deal lined up for him, which fell through, and Liverpool were long-time e admirers, but Potters’ chief f Mark Hughes was the one to take the plunge.
Indi said: “There’s been a lot of talk, but I have made my own decision ecision to come to Stoke. ke.
“I’m looking forward to Old Trafford.d. But I have played in big stadiums before.”e.” * Bruno Martins Indi di was supporting Stoke oke City 7s, which sees the club present 1,000 Year 2 local schoolchildren withh a replica shirt and two match tickets every season. JOSE MOURINHO believes the FA are right to adopt a zero tolerance approach to stamp out corruption in football.
But the Manchester United boss has criticised the “flawed process” they used to oust Sam Allardyce as England boss.
And Mourinho (left) doesn’t understand how Wembley chiefs came to take the ruthless decision to bring Allardyce’s England reign to an end, after a newspaper investigation. Mourinho said: “I feel sorry for Sam, but anyone in our job has big responsibilities.
“If anyone makes mistakes he has to pay for them – and they have made Sam pay.
“What I don’t like – and, to be honest, I hate and don’t accept it – are the rumours.
“You cannot make fun with rumours. This is too serious to listen to rumours.”