Mourinho: Wenger, Guardiola and others are afraid

Jose Mourinho has hit out at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and other title rivals for being ‘afraid’ to outline their title ambitions for the new season.

The new Manchester United manager was speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of his first Premier League game in charge, as he said the Red Devils will be title contenders but accused his rivals of failing to project their ambitions going into the new season.

“We feel that we are candidates to win the title,” said Mourinho.

“We know that not one or two or three more than that have the same ambitions.

“We cannot speak differently. We want to fight for the title.

“If at the end of the season we are not champions because someone is better than us then great, that’s football.

“But at Man United Football Club you cannot (speak) differently, we have to fight for the title.

“Many more think the same way as us but they are afraid to say it. They prefer to play a defensive game in words.

“They prefer to say or to hide or to play defensively with the words, that’s not our way. I don’t think that’s Man United. I think Man United has to say we want to win the title.

“We have all the respect for the others and maybe we don’t win, maybe we arrive end of season and happy to finish top four.

“It depends on how season goes. But in this moment when I speak to you I speak to my players too, and I cannot speak differently.”

It is believed the former Chelsea boss was targeting old rivals Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger with his words, which wouldn’t come as a surprise given his usual controversial statements.

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Mourinho will improve me – Pogba

Manchester United’s £89m new signing Paul Pogba is already looking forward to working with the Reds head coach Jose Mourinho who believes the France international could be “the heart of the club” for the next decade.

Pogba returned to Old Trafford after four years away for a world-record £89m transfer from Juventus, having left United for the Ol Lady of Turin for £1.5m in 2012.

Pogba who has signed a five-year deal with the Jose Mourinho led side in an interview after completing the move revealed that conversations with national team colleague Raphael Varane and Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata – who was on loan at Juventus last season – left him in no doubt Mourinho is the right man to help his career flourish.

“First of all, I spoke with a lot of players when he was at Madrid. I spoke with (Alvaro) Morata, (Raphael) Varane – and they all told me that he is a coach for me, he will make me improve a lot, because he makes you work harder.

“I feel this. I spoke with him a few times and he gave me energy and positivity. So I was thinking: ‘why not?’ I’m sure he can make me improve and make me a better player and a better person.”

Before his departure in 2012, Pogba who helped the club’s U18 side to FA Youth Cup glory in 2011 made seven senior appearances during his first spell at United.

Mancehster United will pay the Italian champions 105m euros for Pogba, plus five million euros (£4.5m) in performance-related bonuses, and other costs, including five million euros if Pogba signs a new contract.

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Three facts from Man United’s win against Leicester City

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit

UNITED’S REBUILD NO WHERE NEAR COMPLETE

Stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, Jose Mourinho cut a frustrated figured on the sidelines in the sun at Wembley. He has every right to be.

After a calamitous preseason tour to China — their friendly against Manchester City was canceled due to a poor pitch — ate into his precious preparation time ahead of his debut season in charge of United, his team looked off the pace for large periods of the Community Shield against Leicester. Even when Jesse Lingard scored a superb solo goal following his slaloming 40-yard run it came against the run of play.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic labored up front but his first touch let him down on numerous occasions and he looked rusty, despite his game-winner late on. Wayne Rooney tried to get involved but again looked off the pace. Marouane Fellaini‘s horrendous error to let in Jamie Vardyfor his goal summed up his game, while Michael Carrick alongside him was over run.

Even when Paul Pogba’s arrival is announced in the coming day, that won’t solve United’s issues in midfield. He will run and maraud forward but there’s no enforcer, no destroyer to break things up. Mourinho always has one of those and right now it is the one gaping hole United need to address. Fast.

Behind Mourinho’s smile at the final whistle there was an a shrug of the shoulders as he embraced Claudio Ranieri. That told you all you needed to know.

Yes, United won, but there’s still plenty of work to do on the long road to recovery. Over half of the United players on the pitch realize they are walking on a tightrope and must improve or face the same fate as Bastian Schweinsteiger and others who have been cast aside by 

ERIC BAILLY IS A BEAST IN DEFENCE

Much has been made about the imminent arrival of Pogba and United’s capture of the enigmatic Zlatan this summer but Eric Bailly‘s signing has flown under the radar. It won’t for much longer.

Arriving from Villarreal for short of $40 million, 22-year-old Bailly has been a force during United’s preseason and he continued that impressive form on Sunday. Several times he stepped in to snuff out chances before they developed and his pace and power allowed him to face Vardy and come out on top. He made a superb sliding tackle midway through the first half as Vardy raced clear and his calmness on the ball to try connect passes was applauded by Mourinho on more than one occasion, even if a couple of his other efforts when into touch. He’s in the team to tackle, head and defend and he does that with ease.

Bailly was booked by referee Craig Pawson in the second half for a shoulder barge on Vardy but it was harsh. With Antonio Valencia looking solid at right back and Luke Shaweasing himself back in at left back, United’s biggest question defensively is who they now play alongside Bailly. For now it is Daley Blind but neither he or Chris Smalling seem like long-term solutions. The young Ivorian defender certainly does.

SAME OLD LEICESTER

Leicester were very, very unlucky on Sunday. Shinji Okazaki went close and hit the bar in the first half, plus Ahmed Musa headed just over late on as they pushed United hard.

Ranieri will be pleased with how his team performed but something has been cropping up in preseason which didn’t impact them last season: defensive errors. Against Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in preseason games Leicester conceded four goals on both occasions. Making the step up to the UEFA Champions League this season, Ranieri’s men are picking up valuable lessons and must now figure out how to learn from them.

On Zlatan’s game-winning goal Valencia was given too much time to make his move, surge down the right and clip the ball to the back post where Ibrahimovich was waiting. Captain Wes Morgan hardly ever seemed to be beaten in the air last season. Zlatan bossed him. On Lingard’s opener a huge gaping hole opened up in the area of midfield N'Golo Kante patrolled expertly last season. Replacing him will perhaps by Leicester’s biggest worry this season.

Little mistakes were creeping in but overall it was the same old Leicester we saw battle to the title last season. Vardy was a pest. Musa and Demarai Gray injected even more pace in the second half to great effect and the Foxes never gave up.

We won’t see anything different from Leicester this season as they pressed high, worked tirelessly and played in the same formation with virtually the same personnel as last season, Kante aside. The problem for Ranieri is that teams have now had two months over the summer to decipher just how they could stop Leicester.

The biggest issue for Leicester is not that other teams have figured them out. It is perhaps that they already seem more likely to beat themselves than they did at any point throughout their incredible, mystical campaign in 2015-16.

a ruthless and hungry Mourinho.

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Mata did not complain when I substituted him - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has claimed Juan Mata was “fine” with his decision to substitute him in the dying moments of Manchester United’s Community Shield victory against Leicester City – just 29 minutes after bringing in the Spain midfielder from the bench.

There were concerns that Mourinho’s substitution of Mata was a sign he has no future at the club, but the Portuguese was quick to quell such rumours, as he gave reasons for his decision to take off the Spaniard.

“Mata is fine, he understands what I did,” Mourinho said. “I couldn’t take Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] or [Marouane] Fellaini off because Leicester’s ‘Rory Delap’ throw-ins would win it.

“The rules allow six changes, I had made five and I wanted to stop the game.

“I need to take off the smallest player because we were expecting a lot of long balls. He is the smallest one.

“But I think he played very well. He gave me exactly what I needed.  We want to win and everyone is happy in the end.”

Mata was sold to Manchester United by Mourinho in January of 2014, when he was still manager at Chelsea, and there were fears he would sideline the former Valencia midfielder once again following his appointment, and the substitution at Wembley tended to give credence to that, but Mourinho has shut down the rumours.

Meanwhile, Manchester United will begin their Premier League campaign away to Bournemouth next Sunday, and Mourinho claims the trip to Dean Court will be the beginning of his ‘impossible’ dream as manager.

“My ambition is a stupid ambition,” Mourinho said. “It is impossible, but I want to win every game.

“That will start at Bournemouth next week and then the next game and the next if we win.

“But our desire to do well and work and improve (is our biggest strength). In this moment, we are not a super team, but we are a team with a super desire.”

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Mourinho says he can cope with United pressure

Jose Mourinho has insisted that the pressure of managing Manchester United doesn’t get to him.

The Portuguese leads United for his official assignment on Sunday when they face Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.

But that won’t be the biggest test of Mourinho’s Old Trafford career however, as he will expected to return the club to the pinnacle of European football and the former Chelsea boss is unfazed by the challenge.

“It is not new in my career. Everywhere I’ve been I’ve had to cope with that situation. It doesn’t matter where I am, everyone expects big things. It’s nothing new for me, I like to create that expectation. I like the players to feel it.

“Sometimes during my career I’ve created some unrealistic targets but by creating these you push the team to unexpected levels. To win the Champions League with Porto or Inter is unexpected and a very risky objective target. To win championships in the first season is a little bit of the same but I like that.

“People analyse it as arrogant and so on, that’s not a problem for me. The reality is I always feel for players, managers, clubs that this kind of establishment of very difficult targets can only help us.”

United have already made three signings this summer – Eric Bailly, HenrikhMkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have all joined – with Paul Pogba expected to join before the start of the new Premier League season next week.

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Jose Mourinho hits on 'unethical' Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp over Pogba comments

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp for criticising the £100m valuation of his transfer target Paul Pogba.

The Red Devils are expected to announce the arrival of the Juventus midfielder before the start of the Premier League season next weekend.

It is believed that United are willing to pay a world-record fee of around £100m, which would make Pogba the most expensive footballer in history, eclipsing the £85m figure that Real Madrid paid to Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale in 2013.

Wenger, who has had numerous tussles with Mourinho in the past, recently described the hefty sum as"completely crazy", while Klopp claimed that "the day this is football, I'm not in a job anymore".

In today's press conference, Mourinho hinted that Pogba's arrival is imminent, and he also described Wenger and Klopp's comments as 'unethical'.

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"I only speak about us," said Mourinho. "I heard already two of my colleagues from other clubs speaking about us. I do not like that. It is not ethical. There are things that when I do are not ethical and when others do it everything is normal, nobody says that. I do not speak about the others. They can do what they want. Our market was good.

"We made decisions, decide to bring four players not 10, that are Manchester United level. Four that we think can really improve the squad and not just be one more. This is the profile of our market.

"A young defender that needs time to be a top one but who has top potential. A creative player that we know the quality, a super striker, and we are going to get a very good midfielder. We try for balance. I am happy with my squad. I am happy with the effort of the club. The others it is their problem."

Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are the three signings that United have completed so far this summer.

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The fall and rise of Jose Mourinho

For some, he is an arrogant and insolent man, while for others, he is an amiable man. However you choose to see him, one thing that can hardly be disputed is that he’s a maverick and highly controversial.

When Jose Mourinho was unveiled a second time as a Chelsea manager, he labeled himself as the ‘happy One’ and his return was supposed to be the beginning of a Chelsea legacy. That phase of happiness lasted less than 1000 days as the dream of emulating his hero, Alex Ferguson was burst by a player rebellion.

Jose, the supposed master of pulling a team of players together in pursuit of a common goal had supposedly lost the dressing room and it is much easier to sack one man than 18.

Everywhere he’s gone, there have been tales of him usually conforming to his non-conformist style and almost always ends up blowing up – sometimes to his advantage and most times to his own impediment.

He has been accused of always trying to deflect attention whenever he feels teams are not up to scratch by either criticizing referees or even getting into fights with opposite managers. One thing that you cannot accuse him of, is a lack of passion.

When he returned to Chelsea for the second time, it was viewed with some level of skepticism by the neutrals, even though the Chelsea faithful were overjoyed with the return of their most successful manager.

Having won the Premier League in his second season in his second spell, it was seen by the Chelsea faithful that they finally have their answer to Sir Alex Ferguson – a manager that will run the affairs of the club for many years to come and winning trophies along the way.

A poor start to the following season meant his position at the club was no longer tenable and by December, the romance was over. Having already managed Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea (twice), it looked like the next biggest club he would manage would either PSG or Bayern Munich.

His usual controversial approach meant he wasn’t really an option for the precisely-run Bayern, with only the wealthy PSG looking like the only real option left. But Louis van Gaal’s implosion at Manchester United meant all hope wasn’t lost for the one-time ‘special one’.

It is believed in many quarters that his dream job has always been at Old Trafford. He is a big admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson and his longevity at United and having had very short successful spells at Porto, Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan and Real Madrid, he was now looking for an opportunity to build a legacy.

And while he has big-club experience obviously, this will arguably be his biggest job yet as failure could fatally undermine his credentials, while success may see him emerge as a legendary manager with a legacy.

However you choose to see it, one thing is clear and it is that Mourinho has risen from his fall last December and whether he will stay standing, well only time will tell.

His sojourn at Manchester United starts on Sunday against Leicester City in the Community Shield but do not judge the ‘Recovery One’ on this – it will be a long season.

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Jose Mourinho Hints World Record Paul Pogba Deal Is Finally Close to Completion

Jose Mourinho Hints World Record Paul Pogba Deal Is Finally Close to Completion

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Jose Mourinho to clear nine Manchester United players

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will reportedly speak to as many as nine players about leaving the club throughout Thursday.

Mourinho is understood to want to trim his squad down to 24 players before the start of the new season, with the first-team roster currently containing 34 players.

The likes of Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind have been linked with permanent moves away from the club, but the Daily Mail reports that Mourinho will first focus on sending a number of players out on loan.

Andreas Pereira, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair are all expected to leave Old Trafford on a temporary basis, while Adnan Januzaj, Will Keane and James Wilson will also meet with Mourinho.

United will take on Leicester City in the Community Shield on August 7 before beginning their Premier League campaign away to Bournemouth a week later.

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Jose Mourinho Confirms Man Utd Are Chasing Just One More Key Signing This Summer

Jose Mourinho Confirms Man Utd Are Chasing Just One More Key Signing This Summer

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Jose Mourinho son signs Two year deal with Fulham

Jose Mourinho son signs Two year deal with Fulham

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Twitter Reacts as Ryan Giggs Agrees Settlement to Leave Mancester United After 29 Years

Twitter Reacts as Ryan Giggs Agrees Settlement to Leave Mancester United After 29 Years

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Zlatan agrees United deal – but wants assurances from Jose on playing time

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reportedly agreed terms to join Manchester United – but the move still hinges on discussions with Jose Mourinho. 

Sky Sports reported on Friday night that a one-year contract had been agreed between the Red Devils and Ibrahimovic, with a deal set to be completed before the European Championships begin next week.

The Guardian is also reporting that Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola has reached an agreement with United over the Sweden star’s salary, with the 34-year-old looking for a weekly wage in the region of £220,000 a week.

But their story also says Ibrahimovic wants assurances from Mourinho over what role he will play at Old Trafford next season, with the veteran unwilling to act as back up at this late stage in his career.

Raiola’s commission for bringing Ibrahimovic to United is also yet to be agreed, with the agent in France over the weekend, according to The Guardian, meaning discussions over that cannot take place until next week.

‘Ibra’ has been teasing the media for weeks as to where his next destination will be after letting his contract with PSG run down, but it seems likely that he will now try to add a Premier League winners’ medal to his glistening collection having won La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Dutch Eredivisie titles during his illustrious career.

The reports from Sky Sports on Friday night also added that Ibrahimovic is the only striker Mourinho is interested in signing this summer, but his imminent arrival will not jeopardise the future of breakthrough star Marcus Rashford who will be an integral part of the Red Devils’ forward line-up next season.

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BREAKING NEWS!!! Jose Mourinho Signs Manchester United Contract | WATCH VIDEO

Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to become the new manager of Manchester United.

The Portuguese left home at 2.50pm on Thursday and concluded talks at a central London hotel, agreeing to succeed Louis van Gaal as the new boss at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News HQ broke the news at 5.20pm after Mourinho returned home half an hour earlier with documents in his hand and a bottle of red wine, having met with United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to complete the deal.

Mourinho symbolically wore a black and red tie for the final stage of negotiations, and the deal is completed on the 12th anniversary of his winning the Champions League for the first time with Porto, who knocked out United on their run to the final.

Mourinho, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in December, replaces his former mentor Van Gaal, who was dismissed by United two days after they won the FA Cup against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

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Manchester United set to appoint Mourinho as manager

Jose Mourinho is set to become the next manager of Manchester United, with talks due to take place today

Mourinho agent George Mendes who is in China will meet United chiefs on tuesday to talk about a potential deal.

But The BBC reports that the 53 year-old has agreed to terms with Manchester United prior to their dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Crystal Palace.

Van Gaal's United side won the FA Cup on Saturday by defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time at Wembley but that could not prevent him from being sacked

The Dutchman said in a statement: "It has been an honour to manage such a magnificent club as Manchester United FC, and in doing so, I have fulfilled a long-held ambition.    

"I am immensely proud to have helped United win the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club's history. I have been privileged during my management career to have won 20 trophies but winning the FA Cup, which is steeped in so much history, will always be one of the most special achievements of my career.   

"I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan. I believe that the foundations are firmly in place to enable the club to move forward and achieve even greater success.    

"I would also like to express my gratitude to the amazing United supporters. They are truly the best fans in the world."  

Van Gaal has previously insisted that he would see out the last year of his contract, despite his side failing to secure a top four spot and Champions League football for next season. 

The 64-year-old has invested over £250m on new players during his two-year reign at Old Trafford, but a fifth-place finish means United will play in the Europa League during the 2016-17 campaign.

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Van Gaal sacked by Manchester United

Manchester United have sacked Louis van Gaal as manager, after two years in charge, and are expected to replace him with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The former Netherlands manager was informed that his contract would be terminated a year early, after arriving at the club's training ground in Carrington.  United later confirmed the news in a statement, more than three hours after Van Gaal had left their base.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: "I would like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries).  

"He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given several young players the confidence to show their ability on the highest stage. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best in the future."  

Speculation has long persisted that Van Gaal will be replaced, with United having missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification during a season in which their style of football has faced heavy criticism.  

Van Gaal was appointed on a three-year deal to succeed David Moyes in 2014 but failed to deliver consistent results despite significant investment in the playing squad, and he lifted his only piece of silverware on Saturday as United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.


The Dutchman said in a statement: "It has been an honour to manage such a magnificent club as Manchester United FC, and in doing so, I have fulfilled a long-held ambition. 

 "I am immensely proud to have helped United win the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club's history. I have been privileged during my management career to have won 20 trophies but winning the FA Cup, which is steeped in so much history, will always be one of the most special achievements of my career.  
"I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan. I believe that the foundations are firmly in place to enable the club to move forward and achieve even greater success. 

 "I would also like to express my gratitude to the amazing United supporters. They are truly the best fans in the world."  

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is expected to be named as his replacement this week.

The Dutchman arrived on the back of guiding his country to a third-placed finish in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and with a glittering CV, having won league titles in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany, but he fell well short of winning the English Premier League.

Having spent upwards of $280 million on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera shortly after taking the job, the tone was set in his first Premier League game in charge, a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City.

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