Mourinho mantra is style substance
New lease of life for Mata LINGARD IN NO HURRY
JOSE MOURINHO has claimed it won’t be enough for him to just restore Manchester United’s DNA this season. The new United boss has upped the entertainment and excitement level following the Louis van Gaal era, even though a damaging run of draws has seen his stars fall way off the pace set by the Premier League leaders. But Mourinho confessed it won’t be enough simply to make United attractive to watch again – because he wants much more. “I am here to build the future and build the future with a certain DNA, with a certain style,” he said. “It is one of the items, but there are others and some other items are also related to football results, objectives and targets. So I would not be just happy with that. “I demand a lot from myself, I demand a lot from the people that work with me, I demand a lot from the players and I like the clubs to demand a lot from myself, too. “So I cannot say that I would be happy just with restoring United’s DNA. I want more than that.” Mourinho believes United are occupying a false position in the league with their displays against West Ham, Arsenal, Burnley and Stoke deserving more than just draws. “We lost eight points at home that we did not deserve to lose,” he said. “With those wins we would be just behind the leaders so, yes, I think it is false. I have never had a team with so much ball possession. I have never had a team with so much control of a game by having the ball.
Unlucky
“I have never had a team that creates so many chances. If we manage to have all of those with some more pragmatism in front of the goal and in a defensive process then we will be very, very good.
“But the reality of football is the result after 90 minutes and it doesn’t matter if you were unlucky, doesn’t matter if the referee gave a wrong decision against us, doesn’t matter if the keeper made a mistake. What matters is the result and where we are in the table.”
Despite serving two recent touchline bans, hating hotel life in Manchester, l ooking miserable and seeing his stars take just 20 points from their opening 13 games, Mourinho (right) insists he’s loving the challenge.
“I have had to change so many things this time – it is difficult but good fun and I am very happy to do this so I am ready,” he added. JESSE LINGARD is in a contract stand-off with Manchester United. Despite being offered a doubleyour-money five-year deal, boosting his £30,000-a-week agreement to £60,000, he has left the contract unsigned. It is believed Lingard, 24 later this month, is in no hurry to put pen to paper – although there is also no suggestion he wants to leave Old Trafford. But Lingard (right) and his advisors know the average wage for the United squad is considerably higher than the money he is being offered. And with England starar Harry Kane – the same age as Lingard – signing a £100,000 deal at Tottenham it has caused a rethink. Talks are continuing, with United keen to tie down Lingard. He scored the FA Cup Final injury-time winner against Crystal Palace in May to win United their first trophy in three years and has recently broken through into the England squad where he is highly regarded.