Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘My last Premier League title was 18 months ago, not 18 years’
JOSE MOURINHO suggested he isn’t given enough respect in English football as he couldn’t resist a dig at longtime rival Arsene Wenger.
As the Manchester United manager prepared to face one of his great modern rivals when Arsenal visit Old Trafford in the Premier League today, Mourinho claims Wenger is afforded a respect that he himself doesn’t get.
The Frenchman has never beaten the Portuguese in the league but the United boss said: “I think Mr Wenger is given great respect and I don’t think I am.
“My last Premier League title was 18 months ago, not 18 years. But I don’t think I get that respect.
“It’s not because of this that I do or don’t sleep well at night. I just follow my way,” he added.
Mourinho’s team have been inconsistent so far this season, and the former Chelsea manager heads into this game under some pressure.
But he said: “I want to win my ninth league title and my fourth in England.
“I am at the club where I want to be, it’s as simple as that.
“When I was sacked at Chelsea last season I had lots of offers. I could have been working one week after. I could have been working at some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“But I waited. I want to be champion at every club I work at. I want to do that at Manchester United. I want to win here. I didn’t sign a one- year contract, I signed for three.”
Meanwhile, club captain Wayne Rooney is fit and ready to play against the Gunners, according to Mourinho.
The United captain returned to his club from international duty mired in controversy this week after suffering a knee injury, and then being photographed drunk at wedding until the early hours of last Saturday morning.
But Mourinho said yesterday that the 31- year- old has trained as normal since his return and is available to play.
“He has trained like everybody else. He wants to play like everybody else, what happened with the national team happens with the national team,” he said.
“What happens there
Idon’t interfere with. I don’t like to comment.
“Sometimes they come back stronger than they were before if something good has happened. Other times they come back injured or frustrated. In this case, we know it didn’t go well.
“The national team is another chapter and it’s closed now until March,” Mourinho added.
Rooney’s knee injury was caused by slipping over an energy drink bottle as he emerged from the shower following England’s 3- 0 victory over Scotland last Friday.
The United striker was forced to miss Tuesday’s friendly with Spain as a result and has been heavily criticised for his misdemeanours last Saturday evening in the team hotel.
Pep Guardiola became the latest high- profile Premier League manager to defend Rooney yesterday.
“I was an international player and sometimes I drank. I was lucky there were no pictures. We are people and are old enough to take responsibility. But it’s private life,” the Manchester City boss said. – Daily Mail, Reuters