THE LUCKY ONES
Mourinho jibe at Liverpool before Anf ield crunch
JOSE MOURINHO has christened unbeaten Liverpool ‘the lucky ones’ with Manchester United visiting Anfield as big underdogs today.
United are 16 points behind their fiercest rivals and rated an unlikely 5/1 to leave Merseyside with three points. However, Mourinho couldn’t resist a dig at Jurgen Klopp’s side, claiming they have enjoyed good fortune i n three recent victories.
‘I think they are, of course, very confident about themselves,’ said Mourinho. ‘They are top of the league, they have this feeling of the lucky ones where everything goes in your direction.
‘They know how they beat Everton, they know that the opening goal in their last league match was offside against Bournemouth and they know against Napoli they could be out of the Champions League in the last seconds.
‘They have this feeling — that I also had when my teams were top of the league — when it looks like everything goes in your direction.’
DESPITE Paul Pogba’s trials and tribulations, the Liverpool dressing room will be happier if he’s not on the Manchester United teamsheet at Anfield this afternoon.
On a good day, Pogba has all the attributes — he’s strong, skilful, quick, technically very good. He can run in behind or play the ball around you. No disrespect to Nemanja Matic or Marouane Fellaini but no United midfielder can hurt you like Pogba. However badly he is playing, Jurgen Klopp’s players won’t be pleased to see him.
I got an insight into Pogba by watching France’s World Cup semi-final against Belgium. I saw Didier Deschamps talking to him on the touchline and Pogba was outstanding in the second half. He showed defensive discipline, often dropped deep to become the third centre back and out jumped Fellaini. It showed me that Pogba has the ability to be anything he wants given the right manager, system and team-mates.
His relationship with Jose Mourinho has been one of the storylines of the season. I have no inside knowledge of that but if I was Manchester United, I wouldn’t sell him.
He is unique in what he can offer and has years ahead of him. It makes no financial sense to pack him off to Juventus in January.
Why has Pogba struggled? Probably a mixture of things. His role in the team, Mourinho’s style of management and, of course, players have to help themselves as well. But just because Pogba wants to play attacking, creative football, it doesn’t mean he can’t do other things if handled right. I’ve seen it.
I don’t believe for a second he goes on to the pitch thinking he’s not going to try. I see subconscious lethargy. It comes when players aren’t happy, the shoulders drop and you can get frustrated if team-mates aren’t on the same wavelength.
An away game at Anfield is a good fixture for any y bigmatch player like him. im.
It’ll be interesting g to see if today’ s game highlights the apparent shift in power between the two rivals. United finished ahead of Liverpool in 20 of the 21 Premier League seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson but Liverpool are currently 16 points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s team.
It’s too early for Liverpool fans to crow. Finishing higher than United only counts if you win trophies. And at this moment United under Mourinho have won more trophies than Liverpool under Klopp. Liverpool’s players and fans adore their manager. You’d be hard-pushed to say the same about United. But players want silverware. Believe me, you remember that above finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions Cha League. Klo Klopp will know that and has good reason n not t o underestimate United. He couldn’t beat them l ast season and more recently M Mourinho has f found a way to get re results at Chelsea and Juventus. United are a also fresher, resting players play for their midweek game in Europe. If both teams play at their best, Liverpool will win. Mourinho doesn’t mix up his tactics enough but he’ll be happy to take the sting out of the game and has matchwinners such as Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku at the end.