As you’ve probably read earlier, José Mourinho’s interview with Record has been quite interesting.
Always looking comfortable when speaking to the Portuguese press, the manager wasn’t afraid to speak out on several subjects, including the replacement of his long time ally Rui Faria.
But his time at Manchester United isn’t only made of friends, and Mourinho spoke out on some difficulties he’s been having at the club after criticism from people who were supposed to support him.
It all started when Record asked about the ‘media wear’ he’s been having this season. Mourinho replied: “It’s only me, it’s only me… Assistants are not allowed to speak to the press, it must always be the main manager. Blackout is impossible. Escapes through the horse’s door, the same. High fines.
“Communications director doesn’t speak. President also doesn’t. Owner, don’t even think about it. CEO takes care of administration, not communication. Therefore, there’s one figure left, one voice. It’s a great wear, but they pay me to have that wear.”
Then he was asked if he felt more protected at Chelsea: “I don’t say that, but the truth is that we are in a new era. There are a lot of high-profile people in football, like old players, some of them have gone from players to weak and frustrated managers and they return to football with the status of high-level pundits. People remember more of what they were as players and not of what they were as managers. They are voices that influence public opinion.”
On what these people have against him, Mourinho said: “I think it’s not against me, but against the manager of Manchester United. Not all clubs have Eusébios and Manuéis Fernandes, that is, not everyone has old legends who like the club more than themselves.
“There are clubs where the old legend doesn’t want the glory of the new. The old legend who thinks he’ll only continue to be one if the club isn’t without him what it was with him. United have a huge history, with a lot of legends. Fortunately, we have a ‘Sir’ who is ‘Sir’. He’s ‘Sir’ in everything. In behaviour, in the passion for the club.”
Asked if Sir Alex Ferguson supported him on his arrival at Manchester United, Mourinho replied: “No, because he understood me like the perfect fit. In fact, it was the exact opposite. It was I who brought him back. Before I arrived, he thought the managers didn’t feel very comfortable with his presence.
“I remember an exemplary episode. At the end of a game in London that he went to see, he asked me for permission to travel with us back to Manchester. It was another person I had to speak to: ‘place 1A is yours, I occupy what is vacant’. He’s a fantastic person.”
The next question from Record was: ‘Did you expect United to be a club less susceptible to criticism and slander?’
Mourinho returned to saying he still supports his old clubs, but doesn’t feel it’s the same for others around Old Trafford, or even at Inter Milan.
“No. I thought Manchester United were more of Eusebios and Manuéis Fernandes, because I am that way. For example, I liked Inter to be a champion again. Since leaving, Juventus are repeat champions, already go in seven titles. Will all those who have had ties to Inter want the club to become the champion as much as I do? I have doubts.”
