United returned to winning ways after beating third-tier side Northampton Town 3-1 in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday.
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“We had a bad week, a bad eight days where we’ve lost three games, and it’s important now we react well to that and come through that”.
LONDON – After successive Premier League defeats, Manchester United will hope to re-energise their faltering campaign and make up ground on the early pacesetters with victory at home to champions Leicester City on Saturday.
“It’s always good to be at home”, he added.
“I think I’ve had that [criticism] my whole career – a little bit more of late, I think, but that’s football”, he said.
While his team selection will be the subject of speculation right up to the point when it is announced, Mourinho has today confirmed that Man United will be without forward Anthony Martial for the Old Trafford fixture.
Mourinho also claimed he would not trade the success he has enjoyed during his career for the shock Premier League title triumph masterminded by Ranieri with Leicester City last season.
Leicester sealed a 1-1 draw in the same fixture last season, a result that helped them to secure their stunning title triumph, and the 64-year-old says his players should relish another visit to Old Trafford rather than feel any nerves. “Of course, we encourage him but, with players like that, you just want to let them play”.
The French global returned to Manchester United this summer for a world-record £89million fee but it’s fair to say he hasn’t performed anywhere near his worth.
“I can understand clearly the disappointment if the fans are disappointed with the last week”, said Mourinho, who previously coached European football giants Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
But Ranieri insisted any animosity was a thing of the past. “It [the issues] was a long time ago, I’m okay”, Ranieri was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
When asked about the fractious nature of their exchanges over the years, Ranieri said: “Yes, but it’s prehistoric, not now”.
Ranieri said: “Mourinho is a fantastic manager, intelligent, clever”.
“I can’t protect my players from you [the media], it is a feeling of frustration”.
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“They can speak, they can write, they can criticise the work of other people, but I am a good man”. I am helping so many people.
