Mourinho: Fred will have to wait for defensive solidity
you have some of them that play even less than what Fred is playing.
“When the team is defensively stronger, the horizons for Fred change completely.”
Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes later released a statement to say his client was staying at United and that the club were happy with him.
It followed reports yesterday morning that the club were looking to bring in Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to succeed the Portuguese.
Mendes said: “There have been more rumours of Jose Mourinho leaving Manchester United. It’s totally untrue.
“Jose is very happy at 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.”
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri is focused on building the confidence of the “very, very important” Jean Michael Seri in his attempts to inspire Fulham to safety.
Seri, the club’s marquee summer signing, finally impressed throughout Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester when in a holding midfield role alongside Calum Chambers.
It was an inability to get the best out of Seri that contributed to the sacking of former manager Slavisa Jokanovic, but Ranieri even dropped the influential Tom Cairney and would have been encouraged by Fulham’s display. Seri’s abilities could again be crucial against a team struggling for balance today and Ranieri said of the classy 27-year-old: “It’s important he continues to play, because I believe he can improve more.
“For me he’s a very, very important central midfielder. He’s a key player, because a lot of the play goes through him, and the other midfielders.
“This is very, very important, because he always shows for the ball, plays with the ball, and is important for his team-mates.
“I give him a lot of confidence, and him to his team-mates. It’s very important to have the confidence of the manager. He is very important.”