United are ‘evolving’ into contenders
JOSE MOURINHO insisted last night that his Manchester United team have already gone a long way towards wiping out the frustrations of the last three seasons.
After taking maximum points from their opening two fixtures, the Portuguese gaffer believes he’s dispelling the negativity that pervaded when David Moyes and Louis van Gaal were in charge.
In addition to the obvious message sent out by the wins against Bournemouth and Southampton, Mourinho stresses the importance of providing evidence that the playing style has changed.
“I think anyone can say we are not playing superbly, and I agree,” he says.
“But I also think that anyone would say there are differences in relation to the past two or three years.
“The team is playing differently and is improving. I think the fans are happy with the signs of this evolution.
“So we are fine for this moment of the season.
“You are going to lose points, but the later the better.
“If you start losing points at the beginning of the season, then you have to chase. So it is better not to lose points early.
“But in this moment of our process, it is even more important to show evolution in our game.
“And I think we are doing that.”
Mourinho has declared that his target this season is to win the Premier League and he’s castigated rival managers for not publicly stating that ambition.
His self-belief is matched by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose record of helping clubs win the league in 12 of the last 13 seasons suggests he knows what he’s talking about.
“I believe that we can win the title,” says the Swede after scoring three times in United’s first two wins. “I have this vision.
“But we need to work hard for it and we will do everything to bother all the other teams that want to win.
“The United supporters are amazing and I feel in every game that they are the 12th player on the field.
“I’ve played in many countries and for many big teams, but the supporters here are something else.
“We should use that. If we do this together we are going to be very successful.
“I’m focussing on trying to help my team win and after two games we have two wins. Who scores is less important.
“I’m happy that I’ve scored three goals, but it is only the beginning.
“The season is long and slowly we will all get better and better.”