Jose isn’t leaving
‘He’s fully committed’
JOSE MOURINHO’S agent Jorge Mendes insists his client is “fully committed” to Manchester United and has no intention of leaving
Old Trafford any time soon.
Given his side’s Premier League struggles, Mourinho’s future and happiness has rarely been far from the spotlight in recent months.
Mourinho, below, is the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next top-flight manager to leave and woke up to a report yesterday that Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been targeted to replace him next summer.
That story may be behind agent Mendes’ surprise – and rare – statement clarifying his client’s status on the eve of today’s Premier League clash with Fulham.
“There have been more rumours of Jose Mourinho leaving Manchester United,” Mendes said. “It’s totally untrue. Jose is very happy at
JOSE MOURINHO says Manchester United can have no excuses today when they take on the Premier League’s bottom club Fulham.
United are looking for their first win in the Premier League since November 3 after a disappointing run of one defeat and three draws.
That return of three points from 12 has left United in eighth in the table, 18 points behind leaders Manchester City and eight points adrift of the top four.
After today, United go to Valencia in the Champions League in midweek having already made the last 16, before a huge trip to title contenders Liverpool a week tomorrow.
With United already way off the pace in the race for a top-four spot, they can ill-afford to drop any more points, which is why Mourinho says there can be no margin for error this afternoon.
“Fulham are in the same situation as us but probably the way they are coming to play or try to play will not demand as much from them as it will demand from us,” said Mourinho.
“But no excuses. I sat here a few weeks ago speaking about the December month and no defeats, that’s a reality.
“Good fights, good spirit, but just one victory, against Young Boys, and three draws. We need points but Fulham are in the same, position, they points.
“I want to be positive and think that we’re going to win but, if we don’t, give credit to the people that deserve credit.
“The game is not going to be 11 against zero, it’s going to be 11 against 11, good players in the other side.
“The position, the points, sometimes they don’t say much about the real potential of the team, or one of the two most important managers in the history of the Premier League, in my opinion, so Fulham have the need the club and the club is very happy with him. He has a long-term contract with Manchester United and is fully committed to the club in building a solid winning project.”
Mendes’ comment comes at an interesting time, especially given Mourinho’s agent did not publicly respond to the report that he would be sacked irrespective of the outcome of October’s clash with Newcastle.
Senior sources at the club strongly denied the story at the time and it is understood the manager still retains the backing of the United hierachy. He has a contract with United until 2020, with an option for a further year, after signing a new and improved deal in January. It is reported the contract includes a clause that means it is cheaper to sack Mourinho if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Predecessors David Moyes and Louis van Gaal paid for failing to reach European football’s top table.
After three draws in a four-match winless league run, Mourinho’s side need a boost against Fulham.
That run – broken up only by a late 1-0 win against Young Boys in the Champions League – leaves United in eighth spot in the top flight, with an eight-point gap to the top four.