The significance didn’t lie in what supplied the headlines – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho after the final whistle supposedly telling Antonio Conte, his opposite number at Chelsea, not to humiliate him by trying to lift up the home crowd when they were 4-0 up.
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United line up against City at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as Mourinho attempts to inflict revenge on Pep Guardiola for September’s defeat in the Manchester derby.
But Bilic, who will be on the touchline alongside Conte when West Ham host Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening, defended the Blues manager’s actions.
“From my point of view I don’t think he wanted to humiliate Man United”.
Mourinho wants to bring in at least one full-back – initially prioritising the right side, with Everton’s Seamus Coleman and Monaco’s Fabinho the top targets – as well as the commanding centre-back he did not get in the summer, and more pace up front.
City won 2-1 at Old Trafford last month despite a less than convincing club debut by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
“Wayne Rooney has been the best English player for the past decade”, the former United defender told TalkSport.
Tomorrow’s other game pits the Premier League’s form team, Southampton against Sunderland, while Arsenal entertain Reading and Bristol City will fancy an upset against Hull City. I just want to cross the bridge and go for a restaurant!
“I think in this moment it’s not important to talk again about a game that for us is the past”.
Barcelona great Xavi says Jose Mourinho needs to tone down his confrontational stance if Manchester United are to succeed.
The Italian is a man who kicks every ball and bellows to his players from his technical area. Mourinho must decide if Pogba starts a fourth game in 10 days. Guardiola has admitted he intends to rotate some of his players, and Willy Caballero will appear in goal instead of Claudio Bravo, simply because the reserve goalkeeper started the last League Cup game.
“Because of that, I feel deeply the situation, but there is only one answer, like I was telling the players, there is only one answer”.
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The Times reports today that Manchester United stars have been shocked by Jose Mourinho’s approach and training methods. They are strong team with quality.
