10.34 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Forget last three years, Mourinho tells United

Jose Mourinho signs a Manchester United soccer shirt held out by a fan as he leaves his house in London, Britain, May 27, 2016. (Reuters)

Published
By Reuters

Jose Mourinho will forget what has gone on for the last three disappointing seasons at Manchester United, he said in his first interview after being installed as manager on Friday.

Since Alex Ferguson retired after winning the Premier League in 2013 the club have finished seventh, fourth and fifth, securing their only silverware in that time by winning this season's FA Cup.

That trophy was not enough to save Louis van Gaal who was dismissed this week following two years in charge.

"I think I prefer to forget the past three years," Mourinho told the club's TV channel. "I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now and I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win."

The former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager, sacked by the London club in December after his second spell there, believes he has the right experience to be successful at United.

"I think it comes in the right moment of my career because Man United is one of these clubs where you need really to be prepared for it," said the charismatic Portuguese.

"Giant clubs must be for the best managers and I think I am ready for it so I could say I am happy, I am proud, I am honoured. I feel great.

"I want to win," added Mourinho. "I need the supporters and players to feel that. (The fans) know what they can give me and what I can give them.

"I've played so many times at Old Trafford and the feeling was empathy. I remember when I won at Old Trafford with Real Madrid and I said the best team lost, not many people at Real Madrid were very happy with that."

Mourinho did not offer any hints about whether Ryan Giggs, who worked as Van Gaal's assistant, would be staying.

There was also no mention of possible transfer targets like Sweden and Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mourinho has been given a three-year contract, which British media estimated being worth between 30 million and 45 million pounds ($43.99-$65.98 million).

SIMPLY THE BEST

"Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today," United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement.

"He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well having won three titles here.

"His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward."

Mourinho was widely expected to succeed Van Gaal and his agent Jorge Mendes met United officials on Tuesday to discuss personal terms.

The talks became protracted, however, when it emerged Chelsea still owned his name as a trademark.

Now the stage is set for the marriage of two of world soccer's biggest names, Mourinho and United, England's most successful club and a global giant.

"To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game," Mourinho said in an earlier statement.

"It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match."

In two spells at Chelsea he won the Premier League three times, including their first for 50 years, and the FA Cup and League Cup.

Mourinho also won league championships in his first seasons at Porto and Inter before helping Real to their first La Liga crown in four years.

United's fifth-place finish under Van Gaal this season meant they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second time since Ferguson left. They will play in the Europa League next term.

There are reservations about Mourinho's preferred style of play with former United striker Eric Cantona saying the club should have opted instead for Pep Guardiola who is taking over at Manchester City.

But other former players, including goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and former captain Steve Bruce, believe he will revive the fortunes of the Old Trafford team.

BIGGEST SIGNING

Jose Mourinho is the biggest signing Manchester United have ever made, former United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said on Friday.

Kenyon, who now works as an advisor for Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid, was the man who first brought Mourinho into English football as Chelsea manager in 2004.

"When I appointed him I was looking for someone who could bring a winning mentality to what was already a good team," he told Sky Sports.

"What Jose brought was a winning mentality and that led to Chelsea winning their first title in 50 years that season. That's the ability he has.

"He makes good players better. Everybody talks about new signings but the current players at Manchester will be better under Jose Mourinho.

"They'll get a coach who brings new techniques, new developments and forward thinking.

"I think he'll have an immediate impact. It's United's biggest ever signing."

Kenyon, who worked for United from 1997 to 2003 before joining Chelsea, believes the Portuguese is "a perfect fit" for the Old Trafford club.

"It's exactly what he needs, a big club, and that's what he's got," he added.

"It shows real aspiration on the part of United and it's incredibly exciting to have him back in the Premier League."