It’s not just the red T-shirt he’s wearing or, indeed, the red smartphone cover either. It was never like in other stadiums. The club appointed the then Everton manager David Moyes to replace Sir Alex and United finished seventh in the 2013/14 season, and Moyes was sacked mid-season.
Advertisement
It’s pointed out to him that was not exactly the case when he first encountered Sir Alex Ferguson all those years ago. When I told him that I had won in England, Spain and Italy and he hadn’t – that he’d done Spain, Italy and France – he thought ‘Ah, I want to go.
Indeed, in his first in-depth sit-down interview since being appointed United boss, Mourinho complimented Zlatan on his beguiling physique not once, but twice.
“I always had that good feeling about United, for sure, and I think the fans feel the same”. They believe I can help the club.
Mourinho wants his squad trimmed to around 24 players – a belief he has taken with him across Europe.
Of course, it would be wrong to read too much into friendlies, even when they’ve got such glamorous branding around them, but there are some things you can’t help but notice. I work for the club. “He is the club captain, he is the manager’s captain, he is the players’ captain I trust him a lot.
And that fundamental part is four players: one central defender, one midfielder, one striker, and one creative player”, Mourinho said.
“So the guy wanted this one more challenge”.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was teed up by Juan Mata to pull a goal back two minute later. It was him, not me.
Mourinho insisted that he does not believe that money is a source of motivation for Ibrahimovic and feels that the player would have gone elsewhere, if that was the case. ‘To give me a new contract I will be happy to do that because it’s what I want at this moment’.
“In the end there will be space for everyone, we have 38 matches in the Premier League, we expect to play a lot of them in the Europa League and domestic cups so in a squad of, let’s say, 22 players, there will be a space for everyone”.
“Can it be nice for my career to win trophies in every club?”
Advertisement
Emphasising the “huge difference in the preparation”, he added that he was still not pleased about the loss, but “I’m happy with the 90 minutes that we have in our legs”.
