JOSE MOURINHO INSISTS he will not “run away or disappear” from his responsibilities after launching an impassioned defence of his Manchester United tenure.
The Portuguese has faced severe criticism over his tactics in the wake of United’s dismal Champions League last-16 exit to Sevilla on Tuesday.
Mourinho was particularly panned for the defensive mindset the Red Devils set up with in the 2-1 defeat, as Wissam Ben Yedder’s double put the tie beyond United, and his comments that it is not a new situation for the club attracted further scrutiny.
But, armed with a collection of notes that he referred to, Mourinho delivered an emotional 12-minute diatribe fighting back against his critics in his latest media conference, pointing to United’s recent history and that of Manchester City to explain his team’s recent struggles.
“I say to the fans that the fans are the fans and have the right to their opinions and reactions. But there is something that I used to call football heritage,” he said.
“And what a manager inherits is something like the last time that Manchester United were in the Champions League final, which didn’t happen a lot of times, was in 2011. Since 2011, 2012, out in the group phase, the group was almost the same group we had this season, Benfica, Basel and Galati from Romania. Out in the group phase.
“In seven years with four different managers, once not qualify for Europe, twice out in the group phase and the best was the quarter-final, this is football heritage. And, if you want to go to the Premier League, the last victory was 12-13 and in the four consecutive seasons United finish seventh, fourth, fifth and sixth. So, in the last four years, the best was fourth.
“This is football heritage. It means that when you start the process you are here, you are there or you are there, it is heritage.
“Those stats are real. I give you a couple more: In the last seven years the worst position of Manchester City in the Premier League was fourth, in the last seven years Manchester City was champions twice and, if you want to say three times, they were second twice. That’s heritage.
“Do you know what is also heritage? It is that Otamendi, Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, they are investments from the past, not from the last two years. Do you know how many United players left the club last season? See where they play, how they play, if they play. That’s football heritage and, one day, when I leave, the next Manchester United manager will find here Lukaku, Matic, of course De Gea from many years ago, they will find players with a different mentality, a different quality, a different background, with a different status, with a different know-how.
“And, for some reason, you go to the Champions League quarter-final like today and there are four clubs that are always there, always there. Barcelona is always there in the past seven, eight years, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich and then, of course, appear now and again, another club like my Inter, like some other clubs like Monaco last season.”
Mourinho went on: “Life is good, I have an amazing job to do.
“Yesterday I met a new person working in the club – different area to me, nothing direct with me - a person that came from another club. I asked, ‘Why did you decide to come?’
“He told me ‘Because I did a fantastic job in another club and I know that I have a huge job to do so I have a challenge’.
“I said well done, my decision was based on something similar. I could be in another league where the title is in the pocket, practically won before a ball is kicked.
“But I’m not there, I’m going to be here. No way are you going to change my mentality. For me, I don’t know if you know the expression, there is a quote I like; ‘In every wall is a door, every wall is a door’.
“I’m not going to run away, disappear, cry, because I heard a few boos. I won’t disappear from the tunnel running immediately, the next match I’ll be first to go out.
“I respect the fans, I’m not afraid of anything. When I was 20 years old, I was nobody in football, I was someone’s son.
“And now, at 55, I am what I am, I did what I did because of work, because of my talent and my mentality, so they can be together. I understand that for many, many, many years it was really hard for people that don’t like me to say, ‘Here he is again, he wins again’.
“So, for those months I win nothing, 10 months nothing. Last title I won was 10 months ago. I beat Liverpool, Chelsea, lose to Sevilla – it’s their moment to be happy.
“I also learn that in my religious formation to be happy with the others’ happiness even if the others are your enemies.”
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Lost the plot
Just seen the interview. A man obsessed with himself!! He says he won’t change. If that’s the case it will be a long time before United challenge at the highest level again..
@Jay Murphy: No major fan of his, but they’re second and challenging much higher than under the last two managers. He can’t go any higher other than win the bloody thing.
@Noel Ryan:a
You are right. I still think he has progressed the club in terms of believing they can compete again for titles.
against him though is the style of play (and whether we like it or not man utd fans/ex players etc do not want utd playing mourinho’s way.), his narcissism, the money he spent for the poor return (playing wise) and most damaging is that certain players will not give all for him at a certain stage. This is the most complex problem and was seen with hazard, pogba, ramos etc.
Maybe players have gone passed the stage where if the manager bullies people (eva carniero, shaw etc) they will still work for him??
Just watched the press conference now. Have to say that’s the greatest load of bollo(ks I’ve heard in a long time. He’s definitely lost the plot. He has to go at end of season, he’s toxic to the club.
@Sloop John G: id say he’s hoping the psg job comes up .as much as I dislike united, him at any club is just toxic .maybe go for ancelloti or if even zidane if they don’t win the champions league
@Brian Murphy: hope you’re right Brian. He’s very well regarded by Woodward at United though so the only way it could happen would be, if he’s offered PSG, he might try and engineer getting sacked so that they have to pay off his contract. Sounds a bit extreme I know but I wouldn’t put anything passed him at this stage.
@Brian Murphy: I want Napoli’s manager.
@FPL Thommo: they’ll pay big money for him but the way he has napoli playing is good to watch plus id stay he won’t stick around if they don’t win title and the big clubs come calling for half the team
@Brian Murphy: his style of play is exactly why I want him. High pressing attacking football. Pep and klopp style.
@FPL Thommo: try tinder he might be on there
United fans welcome to the start of the meltdown, as a chelsea fan of 30 years who loved mou and still greatly appreciate what he did for my club, especially first time around i can tell you this is it, this is the beginning of the end for mou at United.
Jose’s facts rant
Perhaps the greatest manager ever to grace european football …
@Joe O’riordan: Is that you Jose?
Total meltdown. Imagine what the players heard from him. I hope he stays, it’s comedy gold. MourinhoMustStay
It’s all going to end in years, he’s lost it.
Hehehehe im sort of happy you beat us (long term wise)
@Ollie Watson: 1 one uno un ceann amhain trophies in ten years for liverpool and you talk long term . Heh heh heh
@Joe O’riordan: u support Chelsea since 2008?
Horrible man. Horrible Club.
It’s all very well saying Jose Out, But who do you replace him with? Beg Fergie to come back? Where do United turn after Mourinho?
@Stipe Miocic: basically anyone they don’t need to be a big name
If you’re explaining, you’re loosing..
@Harry Corry: *losing
What I love most about these articles and reports is it only states what he and others have said , it never ever states the questions or circumstances that bring about the response. But hey if we heard that the question was “Jose what does this loss mean ?” Or “ how does it effect the club ?” But then sure it won’t be as exciting then would it
@thatsnotme: He came with prepared notes, he wanted to make a statement, whatever question he was asked was irrelevant!
My inter ha ha ha and utd fans are teying to convince themselves there happy with this clown
@Gavin Doyle: think you have to much caffeine in your diet pal
The complete interview Every word of Jose Mourinho’s amazing Manchester United press conference
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-jose-mourinho-transcript-14420929#ICID=ios_FUNewsApp_AppShare_Click_Other
Not as terrible now is it !
@It’s Only On Loan: the lads have called you out and you’ve chosen to ignore them . It’s a sign of guilt
He’s finally lost it
He is some clown. It’s all about him.
Love to see him booted out of old trafford
Fellini for mata the other nite. What was he thinking
Get him out
Kinda speaking the truth a bit- like Rick Pitino former Celtics coach yelling at the press “Larry Bird (retired) isn’t walking through that door”