Category: José Mourinho

By Jamie Jackson on July 23rd, 2017

I will do better for Manchester United this season, says Henrikh Mkhitaryan

• Armenian forward believes last year’s troubles will drive him on
• Mkhitaryan says he is ready to play wherever Mourinho decides

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has no regrets at joining Manchester United despite having to deal with accusations he is not the same footballer he was at his former club, Borussia Dortmund.

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By Jamie Jackson in California on July 23rd, 2017

Jose Mourinho guarantees David De Gea is staying with Manchester United

United’s managers says he is ‘100%’ certain De Gea is not leaving for Real Madrid or any other club

Jose Mourinho has guaranteed “100%” that David De Gea will not be sold by Manchester United to Real Madrid or any other club for the coming season.

The manager was speaking in California’s Palo Alto before Sunday’s tour meeting with Real in San Jose. De Gea nearly moved to the Spanish club two years ago before the transfer collapse on the final day of the 2015 summer window.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Real Madrid • Sport

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By David Hytner on July 22nd, 2017

Manchester United confident of signing Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic

• José Mourinho frustrated in pursuit of Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier
• United confident of closing a deal for Matic, with a fee of £50m mooted

Manchester United are confident of closing a deal for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic after hitting a wall in their efforts to take Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur. José Mourinho, the United manager, identified Dier as his No1 defensive midfield target at the start of the close-season and he has seen three bids for him turned down by Tottenham. The third bid was understood to be close to £40m.

Tottenham’s position on Dier has been resolute all summer. When Ed Woodward, the United executive vice-chairman, made his first approach to Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman – and put forward a preliminary offer of £25m – he was told, in no uncertain terms, that Dier was not for sale.

Chelsea • Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport • Tottenham Hotspur

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By Guardian Staff on July 21st, 2017

Mourinho and Guardiola content after Manchester United’s win over City – video

Manchester United manager José Mourinho says he is satisfied with his side’s 2-0 win in the pre-season meeting with Manchester City on Thursday night in Houston. Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for United in the first Manchester derby to be played on foreign soil. City manager Guardiola is also pleased with his team’s showing despite the loss

Ederson makes inglorious start as Manchester United account for City

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester City • Manchester United • Pep Guardiola • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Houston on July 20th, 2017

José Mourinho says Lukaku still has to prove himself at the highest level

José Mourinho says Manchester United have acquired a top player in Romelu Lukaku, but the £75m striker still has to prove himself in big games

José Mourinho says Manchester United have acquired a top player in Romelu Lukaku but the manager admits the striker still has to prove himself at the highest level.

The Belgian was signed from Everton for £75m at the start of last week and scored his first goal for United in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. Lukaku has registered 85 times in the Premier League since 2012 – second only to Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero – but has never played in the Champions League, as he will next term.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Houston on July 19th, 2017

José Mourinho aims to warrant a ’15-year’ stay at Manchester United

Portuguese manager says he wants to bring stability to club
But he admits pressure of job makes such a lengthy tenure unlikely

José Mourinho wants to be Manchester United manager for “15 years”, though he admits the pressures of the job would make such a lengthy tenure at Old Trafford difficult.

The Portuguese is in his second term in charge, having led the club to Capital One Cup and Europa League successes in his first. United are in the America on a summer tour ahead of a campaign in which the manager has to ensure they challenge for a 21^st domestic championship after only finishing sixth last year.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Houston on July 19th, 2017

Romelu Lukaku: José Mourinho has already made me a better player

• Manchester United new signing believes he has improved in 10 days
• ‘This is a big club and the challenge I wanted,’ says Belgium striker

Romelu Lukaku believes José Mourinho has made him a better player after only 10 days working with the Manchester United manager.

The striker was signed last week, at the start of United’s US tour, for £75m from Everton. On Monday Lukaku scored his first goal, the winner in a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at the Rio Tinto Stadium.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Romelu Lukaku • Sport • US sports

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By Jamie Jackson on July 17th, 2017

Manchester United ambassadorial role will remain open for Wayne Rooney

• Old Trafford post on offer after retirement despite player joining Everton
• Rooney is club’s record goalscorer and still viewed as an ideal ambassador

Wayne Rooney still has the offer of an ambassadorial role at Manchester United on retirement despite having left the club for Everton.

When signing his last agreement at Old Trafford in February 2014, Rooney expected to finish his playing career at United. The terms also included an ambassadorial position but the contractually binding nature of this ended when the player left for Goodison Park.

Everton • Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport • Wayne Rooney

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 16th, 2017

Romelu Lukaku faces ‘massive’ step up at Manchester United, warns Michael Carrick

• New captain says forward must adjust quickly to scrutiny at Old Trafford
• ‘Winning the league has got to be this season’s aim. We have to challenge’

Romelu Lukaku faces a challenge to adjust to the demands of playing for Manchester United, according to the club’s new captain, Michael Carrick.

Carrick moved to Old Trafford from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 and is now the club’s longest-serving player following Wayne Rooney’s departure to Everton. Lukaku, meanwhile, played his first game for United in a 5-2 win against LA Galaxy in Carson City on Saturday, the opening game of a five-match pre-season tour.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Romelu Lukaku • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 16th, 2017

Romelu Lukaku makes debut as Manchester United see off LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy 2-5 Manchester United
Mourinho rules out bid for Cristiano Ronaldo

After this stroll of a victory Jose Mourinho became the latest Manchester United manager to rule out a move for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Mission impossible” was how the Portuguese billed it. “We have never thought about it because he is such an important player for his club, of great economic power. I am not a defender of my club once you waste time on players who are mission impossible,” he said, and so United fans will have to put on hold their dreams of a romantic return of a player they still adore again.

Cristiano Ronaldo • David Beckham • Football • José Mourinho • LA Galaxy • Los Angeles • Manchester United • MLS • Sport • US news • US sports

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 14th, 2017

José Mourinho open to re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Manchester United

• Mourinho says he is ‘open’ to new deal for injured Swede
• Manager guarded over approaching Chelsea for Nemanja Matic

José Mourinho has admitted re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an option, with the Manchester United manager also refusing to rule out a move for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic.

Ibrahimovic is recovering from a serious knee injury at United’s Carrington training base and is a free agent after being released by the club in the close season. The Swede, 36 in October, was United’s top scorer last season with 28 goals. Of a new deal, Mourinho said: “Possible, it’s open. There was not a new contract [to allow] time for everybody to think, feel and decide. From his point of view he made the decision of wanting to play football still at the highest level. He didn’t want to hide behind such an amazing [serious] injury – it would be easy to hide behind it, stop and go to a different level of football.He made the challenge for himself to keep playing at the highest level.”

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport • Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 14th, 2017

José Mourinho open to re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Manchester United

• Mourinho says he is ‘open’ to new deal for injured Swede
• Manager guarded over approaching Chelsea for Nemanja Matic

José Mourinho has admitted re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an option, with the Manchester United manager also refusing to rule out a move for Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport • Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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By Barney Ronay on July 14th, 2017

José Mourinho sticks to type and produces another tall story | Barney Ronay

Manchester United’s manager has always believed a good big’un will usually beat a good little’un and is set on building another side to those specifications

Here’s a semi-interesting football stat, at a time when semi-interesting football stats are in short supply. If Manchester United were to win an unlikely Premier League and Champions League double next season they would, all things being equal, become the tallest team ever to win either competition.

A roughed out United first XI has them at an average height of close to 6ft 2in. Chelsea’s most recent English champions were just over 6ft. Leicester were relative titches at 5ft 11in. Only two Champions League-winning teams have struggled up to 6ft a head, Chelsea’s lofty outliers in 2012 and Jupp Heynckes’ hulking Bayern Munich a year later. There is no particular reason to suggest Mourinho’s United are about to join these teams. But if they do it will be a triumph of uniquely burly, gnarled, gangling proportions.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport

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By Barney Ronay on July 14th, 2017

José Mourinho sticks to type and produces another tall story | Barney Ronay

Manchester United’s manager has always believed a good big’un will usually beat a good little’un and is set on building another side to those specifications

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport

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By Jonathan Wilson on July 12th, 2017

Romelu Lukaku: Manchester United’s plan B but a very José Mourinho striker | Jonathan Wilson

Lukaku can fulfil two vital roles in a Mourinho side: holding up the ball and threatening on the counterattack in the manner of Didier Drogba

As a coup de théâtre, Manchester United’s swoop for Romelu Lukaku was rather magnificent. A much-needed striker was acquired, Wayne Rooney was offloaded and José Mourinho’s last two clubs were left looking a little foolish – Chelsea as they failed to land a player who had seemed almost certain to join them since January and Real Madrid as they vainly held out on their valuation of Álvaro Morata. From a football point of view, though, the deal raises as many questions as it answers.

Assuming Morata was plan A for United – and unless United were playing some implausible double game he surely was – it is a significant change of tack to turn to Lukaku. They are very different players and the hop from one to the other reinforces the idea United’s transfer policy is based on buying individuals and then fitting them together rather than setting out with a coherent strategy. Or at least it would if Lukaku were not – whatever tensions may have existed between them in the past – such an obviously Mourinho style of striker.

Everton • Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Romelu Lukaku • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 12th, 2017

Luke Shaw impresses José Mourinho and earns chance to prove himself

• Manchester United manager heavily critical of left-back at times last season
• Shaw still weeks away from fitness as United prepare to face LA Galaxy

Luke Shaw will be given the chance to establish himself as Manchester United’s first-choice left-back, with José Mourinho impressed by the defender’s attitude and determination to take on board his demands.

The move from the manager comes after his serial criticism of Shaw last season appeared to put the player’s United future in doubt.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport

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By Jamie Jackson in Los Angeles on July 10th, 2017

José Mourinho decided against Alexandre Lacazette for Manchester United

• Mourinho told of doubts about Lacazette’s big-game mentality
• Arsenal signed forward from Lyon for club record £52.7m

Manchester United scouted Alexandre Lacazette but decided the striker who became Arsenal’s £52.7m signing was not to the standard required by José Mourinho.

The manager ordered the club’s French scouting operation to assess the 26-year-old, with Mourinho taking note of a goalscoring record that stands at 129 goals in 275 games for Lyon.

Arsenal • Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Sport • Transfer window

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By Jamie Jackson on July 09th, 2017

Five questions to determine the success of Manchester United’s season | Jamie Jackson

Who will be the next big-name signing? How strong is the bond between José Mourinho and Ed Woodward? As United embark upon a gruelling pre-season tour of the US, here’s what will shape the club’s upcoming campaign

For £75m (plus £15m add-ons) José Mourinho acquires a proven prolific Premier League goal scorer in the Belgian and throws the gauntlet down to Manchester United’s home-grown starlet: can the 19-year-old Marcus Rashford continue his upward trajectory despite Lukaku starting as the first choice No9? Rashford has played most of his 71 senior appearances as a wide forward yet his natural position is in central attack. There may be a clue here regarding how he can prosper. When coming through the Old Trafford youth ranks Rashford often operated as an impressive No10. Mourinho wants pace and power (Rashford can add muscle to a still developing frame) in the role, so during pre-season may take a look at him as the man to potentially play behind Lukaku.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Romelu Lukaku • Sport

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By Reuters on June 20th, 2017

Manchester United manager José Mourinho accused of tax fraud in Spain

• Spanish prosecutors file claim for €3.3m from Mourinho’s time at Real Madrid
• Cristiano Ronaldo will testify in court over his own tax case on 31 July

Spanish prosecutors said on Tuesday they had filed a claim against the Manchester United manager José Mourinho on two counts of tax fraud in 2011 and 2012, when he managed Real Madrid.

Mourinho, who is Portuguese, owes the Spanish tax authorities €3.3 million euros (£2.9m), a Madrid prosecutor said in a statement, adding it had presented a claim to a local court.

Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Real Madrid • Sport

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By Barney Ronay on June 16th, 2017

José Mourinho and Mike Tyson are the heavyweights of counterpunching | Barney Ronay

The Manchester United manager’s tactics mirror those of boxing’s former world champion: get your retaliation in first

Mike Tyson has an interesting new book out called Iron Ambition. In it he talks about his violent childhood, explores his relationship with his late coach, the great Cus D’Amato, and kicks the whole thing off with a passage about wandering around his old Brooklyn neighbourhood, marvelling at the gentrification, tourists and, above all, the sight of people taking selfies all over the place.

Like many other grouchy middle-aged men Mike hasn’t, you sense, fully engaged with the selfie craze. “Imagine trying to do that with the people I was hanging out with in Times Square,” he writes. “‘Hey man, let’s take a selfie!’ Motherfuckers would start beating on you and leave you in a coma in the street.” We can never go back, of course. But in many ways, happier, wiser times.

Boxing • Football • José Mourinho • Manchester United • Mike Tyson • Sport • US sports

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