Jose Mourinho was unveiled as the Manchester United manager for the first time on Tuesday.
The Portuguese boss has been labeled as the man to take a United side that has struggled in recent seasons, and transform them back amongst the elite. Before he began working his magic, he answered the media’s questions.
1. Success, trophies and Champions League
His first claim was he will not settle for anything other than success and trophies at Old Trafford. The former Chelsea manager is frustrated that his new side is not in the Champions League but states this ‘hangover’ is only going to last for one campaign.
“I want everything. I want to win matches, play well, play young players, score goals, not concede goals.”
The next claim states that he has no point to prove to anyone other than himself.
“There are some managers who haven’t won titles for 10 years. Some of them never. The last time I won a title was one year ago. If I have a lot to prove, imagine the others.”
2. Transfers
This summer, Manchester United have already boought Eric Bailly of Villarreal for £30 million, world superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on a free transfer, and Henrik Mhkityran for £26.3m from Borussia Dortmund. Mourinho, however, states he isn’t finished in the transfer market.
“We decided four targets. Until we have the fourth, we are still working hard.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the third new arrival at Old Trafford this summer.
3. Academy over proven talent
Mourinho was then questioned on his approach to buying older talent rather than nurturing the youth from the academies of the clubs he has been at previously.
He responded by claiming these acquisitions were false.
“One lie repeated many times, sometimes it looks like is it true, but it is still a lie. Do you know how many players I have brought through from the academy? 49. And I can give you names.”
4. Ryan Giggs
Giggs, who had been at the heart of everything Manchester United for 29 years, left the club earlier this month.
Mourinho explained that the media and the fans should not blame him for the Welshman’s exit, with Giggs wanting to be a manager – something he couldn’t achieve at the current time at Old Trafford.
‘’It is not my responsibility Ryan is not in the club. The job Ryan wanted is the job the club decided to give me. If one day, he wants to come back while I am here, I would never stop him.’’
5. Wayne Rooney’s position
The Liverpool-born striker is five goals away from breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s club-record of 249, however over the past 12 months, Rooney has been deployed deeper in the midfield. However, Mourinho distanced himself away from the idea of playing Rooney in middle of the park.
“Maybe he is not a striker any more, maybe he is not a number nine any more, but with me, he will never be a number six or somebody who plays 50 metres away from the goal.”