|
|
Jose Mourinho has
vowed that Manchester United will turn the season around and climb up the
Premier League.
vowed that Manchester United will turn the season around and climb up the
Premier League.
The Reds are currently 10th in the
division after seven matches but the manager firmly believes in his squad and
insists a resurgence is probable.
division after seven matches but the manager firmly believes in his squad and
insists a resurgence is probable.
“I think we have enough potential to do
better than what we are doing in the Premier League,” he said. “We
are better than this and, because we are better than this, our situation is
going to improve. I have no doubts about that.
better than what we are doing in the Premier League,” he said. “We
are better than this and, because we are better than this, our situation is
going to improve. I have no doubts about that.
“This team can do much better than what
it’s doing and the team will do much better than what it’s doing, but if you
want me to repeat, I repeat. I told [you] last season was a fantastic season
for us and if you want something more, in pre-season I also said that this
season was going to be very difficult.”
it’s doing and the team will do much better than what it’s doing, but if you
want me to repeat, I repeat. I told [you] last season was a fantastic season
for us and if you want something more, in pre-season I also said that this
season was going to be very difficult.”
Jose Mourinho speaking to reporters at
Friday’s press conference.
Friday’s press conference.
United finished second behind champions
Manchester City last May and reached the Emirates FA Cup final. Mourinho was
asked why he thought it was a ‘fantastic’ campaign.
Manchester City last May and reached the Emirates FA Cup final. Mourinho was
asked why he thought it was a ‘fantastic’ campaign.
“Because success has a direct relation
with your own potential and has a direct relation with the potential of your
opponents and the last season was phenomenal, exactly because of these two
factors,” he explained. “I think opponents with much more potential
than us finished behind us. That’s the reason why it was a phenomenal season.
with your own potential and has a direct relation with the potential of your
opponents and the last season was phenomenal, exactly because of these two
factors,” he explained. “I think opponents with much more potential
than us finished behind us. That’s the reason why it was a phenomenal season.
“With all the respect, and I hope they
don’t interpret me in a negative way, if we are playing in a league like the
Swiss league and we don’t win that league, anything else apart from winning
that league would be an awful season.
don’t interpret me in a negative way, if we are playing in a league like the
Swiss league and we don’t win that league, anything else apart from winning
that league would be an awful season.
“In this season with the potential of
our direct opposition, last season to finish second was a fantastic season for
us.”
our direct opposition, last season to finish second was a fantastic season for
us.”
United need to get back to winning ways
at Old Trafford in order to provide the foundation for the recovery. The Reds
haven’t won at home since the opening night of the Premier League season in
August, when beating Leicester City 2-1. Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle are currently
in the bottom three and haven’t won a league match all campaign.
at Old Trafford in order to provide the foundation for the recovery. The Reds
haven’t won at home since the opening night of the Premier League season in
August, when beating Leicester City 2-1. Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle are currently
in the bottom three and haven’t won a league match all campaign.
Jose hopes a repeat of the energy
expended against Valencia in last Wednesday’s 0-0 home draw in Group H can
steer the Reds to a much-needed victory.
expended against Valencia in last Wednesday’s 0-0 home draw in Group H can
steer the Reds to a much-needed victory.
“We can win against Newcastle. We can
win against Newcastle, but it’s a difficult match. We can win, we want to
win,” Jose said.
win against Newcastle, but it’s a difficult match. We can win, we want to
win,” Jose said.
The Reds were held to a 0-0 draw by
Valencia in midweek.
Valencia in midweek.
“If the effort, the commitment, the
desire that the team showed against a difficult opponent like Valencia, if we
do that against Newcastle probably we are a bit luckier and we win the match,
so we have possibilities to win the match.
desire that the team showed against a difficult opponent like Valencia, if we
do that against Newcastle probably we are a bit luckier and we win the match,
so we have possibilities to win the match.
“But I refuse to say that we have three
points in the pocket. I have to respect an opponent. I have to respect a
manager [Benitez] with a history of trophies, with a history of know-how and
that’s the way I was brought up in life and in football. To respect.”
points in the pocket. I have to respect an opponent. I have to respect a
manager [Benitez] with a history of trophies, with a history of know-how and
that’s the way I was brought up in life and in football. To respect.”