JOSE: I’m here to save United
Jose tells fans: Forget dark days of Moyes and LVG, I will deliver
JOSE MOURINHO began his new life as Manchester United manager yesterday promising to restore the club to their former glories. The 53-year-old was officially confirmed as the successor to sacked Louis van Gaal and immediately said he wants to wipe the last three years from the Old Trafford history books. ‘We can look at our club now in two perspectives,’ he said. ‘One perspective is the past three years, and another perspective is the club’s history. I prefer to forget the last three years. ‘I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now, and I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win. I think what the players need to listen to is I want to win. ‘There is a mystique and a romance about United which no other club can match.’
JOSE MOURINHO has told Manchester United to forget three years of hurt and trust him to bring back the glory days to Old Trafford. United officially announced Mourinho’s appointment yesterday on a three-year contract worth £45miilion, with the option to stay on until at least 2020, as he replaced the sacked Louis van Gaal.
The 53-year-old Portuguese coach immediately promised to erase the memory of Van Gaal, his old mentor at Barcelona, and David Moyes, who both struggled to follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Van Gaal won the FA Cup in his last game in charge, but United have fallen dramatically since Ferguson’s retirement, failing to qualify for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons.
‘We can look at our club now in two perspectives,’ said Mourinho. ‘One perspective is the past three years, and another perspective is the club’s history. I prefer to forget the last three years.
‘I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now, and I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win. I think what the players need to listen to is: “I want to win”.
‘And more than that, I need the supporters and the players to feel that I think we can really (win), it’s not just to say.
‘I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don’t have.
‘I will give absolutely everything to try to go in the direction we all want.’
A two-time Champions League winner with FC Porto and Inter Milan, Mourinho takes over a team in the Europa League next season after Van Gaal’s side finished fifth.
The former Real Madrid coach was sacked by Chelsea in December, but believes he is joining United at an ideal point in his career.
‘I feel great,’ he added. ‘I think I’m in the right moment of my career because Manchester United is one of these clubs you need to be prepared for because it’s a giant club.
‘Giant clubs must be for the best managers. I think I am ready for it so I could say I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m honoured, I’m everything. But the reality is that what I love is to work and I cannot wait for July 7 to go on the pitch.’
Mourinho came to prominence in England when he sprinted down the touchline at Old Trafford after Porto scored a decisive late goal against United in 2004.
‘I play so many times at Old Trafford and (there) was empathy, no problems,’ he said. ‘I was pushed by that feeling to say things sometimes that my clubs were not happy with. When I won at Old Trafford with Real Madrid, I said that the best team lost and not many people were happy at Real Madrid.’
Mourinho released a statement yesterday morning to confirm his appointment, saying: ‘To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game.
‘It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match.
‘I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it has hosted some important memories for me in my career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans.
‘I’m looking forward to being their manager and enjoying their magnificent support in the coming years.’
United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: ‘Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today.
‘ He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.’
Mourinho is set to bring trusted assistants Rui Faria and Silvino Louro to Old Trafford, but it is unclear whether Ryan Giggs will stay at the club to serve under a third manager in three years.
Giggs is due to return from a holiday in Dubai early next week and is expected to hold talks with Mourinho and Woodward over the offer of a new role overseeing the coordination between the firstteam and youth academy.
The 42-year-old wants to know if he will have a significant part to play, having felt isolated under Moyes and Van Gaal.
He was also unhappy that Woodward did not keep him in the picture over developments leading to Mourinho’s appointment.
Giggs is considering ending his 29-year career at United to pursue a managerial job in the Premier League or Championship. It’s understood he will make a final decision next week.
But former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti yesterday urged Mourinho to find a role for Giggs.
‘In my personal experience it’s good when I find an assistant who is from the club,’ said Ancelotti.
‘It was (Ray) Wilkins at Chelsea, (Claude) Makelele in France (at Paris Saint- Germain), it was (Zinedine) Zidane at Madrid. I think it is important to have a figure who knows the club.’