So here we are. It took a little longer than expected, but Jose Mourinho is the Manager of Manchester United. You all know about the accolades, and struggles, of Jose and if you thought he would become a little more humble after last year's fiasco well today's press conference would make you thing again.
Some quotes:
"I was never very good playing with the words and playing behind words, and hiding behind words, and hiding behind philosophies. I was never good on that. In fact, I never tried to be good on that. I was always much more aggressive in my approach with the risks that, obviously, that can bring."
"There are some managers that the last time they won a title was 10 years ago, There are some managers that the last time they won a title was never. The last time I won a title was 1 year ago. Was not 10 years ago, was not 15 years ago, was 1 year ago. So, if I have a lot to prove, imagine the others."
"First of all, let me ask how much time we have in the press conference. 5 minutes? Then, I don’t have time to answer it. Because to answer your question, I will take 10 minutes. (Interviewer: Just a couple of minutes, then.) Just a a couple of minutes? I knew it, that was coming.Do you know how many young players I promote to the first team from academies? 49. Do you want to know who they are? You don’t want to know who they are. 49. 49. If you want, or if anyone is interested, I can give you that. I promote 49 players from the academies from the clubs, and with two factors that are very important on these records. Because sometimes you promote players, because you don’t have another choice. You have so many injuries, because you don’t have another choice. You have to bring up the players from the academy because you have lots of players injured. That is one factor. And the second factor is when you are not playing for big targets – it’s also easier to bring them up. Outside the pressure of the big moments. My record for injuries is very very low – very very low. Even in many years, from the UEFA Champions League studies about every team, my teams – they were many times the team with less injuries in the whole Europe. So, I never promote players because of a need. I did it because of conviction, and decision. And the second factor is that last year was the only season of my career that I was not fighting for the title. "
On Wayne Rooney:
"
So, maybe he’s not a striker anymore, maybe he’s not a number 9 anymore. But with me, he will be never a number 6. He will be never somebody playing 50m away from the goal. You can tell me, his pass is amazing. Yes, his pass is amazing but my pass is also amazing without pressure. There are many players with a great pass but to be there and to put the ball in the net is the most difficult thing you have to find. So for me, he will be a 9, a 10, a 9-and-a-half but not a 6. Not even an 8."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He also said that they are looking to bring in one more player aside from the 3 they have already signed (or agreed to sign in Mkhitarian's case). The assumption is that it will be a center midfielder with L'Equipe reporting tonight that he's trying to sign Blaise Matuidi.
I don't think he'll differentiate from the 4-2-3-1 that he's known for. It will be interesting to see who lines up in the starting 11 once the season comes along. Zlatan, Martial, Miki, Rooney, Smalling, De Gea and hopefully a fully fit Luke Shaw should be the definites. Schneiderlin seems like a Mourinho type player and I wouldn't be surprised if he lands the responsibility of being Jose's 6. The other midfielder playing behind Rooney will probably be a new signing, or Schweiny/Carrick. Bailly, the new central defender, comes with a lot of promise but even Jose said in his interview with MUTV that he's not sure if he'll be ready to contribute right away...however I did think it was interesting that he praised his tactical awareness and technique when scouting reports have said otherwise. That leaves right back and I actually think there's some good competition there. Darmian started out great than faded before finding his feet again towards the end of the season. Antonio Valencia has reinvented himself as an attack minded right back who can still deliver balls of quality in the box, and Fosu-Mensah looked poised and ready for first team action in his limited appearances.
Total guess but I'm going with
-------------------Zlatan----------------
Martial----------Rooney--------Miki
--------Schneiderlin--New Signing--
Shaw-----Smalling---Bailly-----TFM
-------------------DDG------------------
As the preferred starting 11.
Some quotes:
"I was never very good playing with the words and playing behind words, and hiding behind words, and hiding behind philosophies. I was never good on that. In fact, I never tried to be good on that. I was always much more aggressive in my approach with the risks that, obviously, that can bring."
"There are some managers that the last time they won a title was 10 years ago, There are some managers that the last time they won a title was never. The last time I won a title was 1 year ago. Was not 10 years ago, was not 15 years ago, was 1 year ago. So, if I have a lot to prove, imagine the others."
"First of all, let me ask how much time we have in the press conference. 5 minutes? Then, I don’t have time to answer it. Because to answer your question, I will take 10 minutes. (Interviewer: Just a couple of minutes, then.) Just a a couple of minutes? I knew it, that was coming.Do you know how many young players I promote to the first team from academies? 49. Do you want to know who they are? You don’t want to know who they are. 49. 49. If you want, or if anyone is interested, I can give you that. I promote 49 players from the academies from the clubs, and with two factors that are very important on these records. Because sometimes you promote players, because you don’t have another choice. You have so many injuries, because you don’t have another choice. You have to bring up the players from the academy because you have lots of players injured. That is one factor. And the second factor is when you are not playing for big targets – it’s also easier to bring them up. Outside the pressure of the big moments. My record for injuries is very very low – very very low. Even in many years, from the UEFA Champions League studies about every team, my teams – they were many times the team with less injuries in the whole Europe. So, I never promote players because of a need. I did it because of conviction, and decision. And the second factor is that last year was the only season of my career that I was not fighting for the title. "
On Wayne Rooney:
"
So, maybe he’s not a striker anymore, maybe he’s not a number 9 anymore. But with me, he will be never a number 6. He will be never somebody playing 50m away from the goal. You can tell me, his pass is amazing. Yes, his pass is amazing but my pass is also amazing without pressure. There are many players with a great pass but to be there and to put the ball in the net is the most difficult thing you have to find. So for me, he will be a 9, a 10, a 9-and-a-half but not a 6. Not even an 8."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He also said that they are looking to bring in one more player aside from the 3 they have already signed (or agreed to sign in Mkhitarian's case). The assumption is that it will be a center midfielder with L'Equipe reporting tonight that he's trying to sign Blaise Matuidi.
I don't think he'll differentiate from the 4-2-3-1 that he's known for. It will be interesting to see who lines up in the starting 11 once the season comes along. Zlatan, Martial, Miki, Rooney, Smalling, De Gea and hopefully a fully fit Luke Shaw should be the definites. Schneiderlin seems like a Mourinho type player and I wouldn't be surprised if he lands the responsibility of being Jose's 6. The other midfielder playing behind Rooney will probably be a new signing, or Schweiny/Carrick. Bailly, the new central defender, comes with a lot of promise but even Jose said in his interview with MUTV that he's not sure if he'll be ready to contribute right away...however I did think it was interesting that he praised his tactical awareness and technique when scouting reports have said otherwise. That leaves right back and I actually think there's some good competition there. Darmian started out great than faded before finding his feet again towards the end of the season. Antonio Valencia has reinvented himself as an attack minded right back who can still deliver balls of quality in the box, and Fosu-Mensah looked poised and ready for first team action in his limited appearances.
Total guess but I'm going with
-------------------Zlatan----------------
Martial----------Rooney--------Miki
--------Schneiderlin--New Signing--
Shaw-----Smalling---Bailly-----TFM
-------------------DDG------------------
As the preferred starting 11.