Jose Mourinho attempted to defend Manchester United’s humiliating Champions League exit to Sevilla this afternoon, as he delivered a bizarre 12-minute rant about the club’s recent lack of success.
Mourinho, clearly still furious after seeing United lose 2-0 to the La Liga side at Old Trafford, immediately went on the defensive with a passionate speech after taking his seat.
And what he said is sure to divide supporters.
The United manager brought a series of notes with him, which he refereed to throughout his response, in a statement which bore a close resemblance to Rafa Benitez’s now famous rant from 2009.
Mourinho included reference to the positions in which both Man United and Man City have finished in the Premier League since 2013, while also highlighting how both sides have fared in European competition.
The message was pretty clear, the Portuguese is at the club to change their fortunes amidst what looks like becoming a hugely successful decade for City.
Luckily, MARCA staff writer Chris Winterburn was on hand to transcribe Mourinho’s comments via his Twitter account:
Mourinho, "Of course I feel better, I'm happy with what I saw in my players after the match, I'm happy that people were sad and frustrated, I'm happy we were all on the same page. I'm happy to see the boys coming back again on my page, you don't have many days to be sad."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "We always train very well. So we don't need a reaction to train even better, every training session we've had since I arrive the players have been absolutely brilliant."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "Every match is important, im pretty sure that some of the United supporters wouldn't change a victory over Liverpool for a win over Sevilla but for me every match is different."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "In 2012 out in the group phase, in 2013 out in the round of 16, in 2014 out in the QF, in 2015 no European Football, in 2016 out in the group phase and goes to Europa League and then goes out. 2017 play Europa League and they win it with me."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "In 7 years with four different managers, twice out in the group phase and one quarter final. This is Football heritage. In the Premier League the club's victory was 2013, since then they've finished 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. In the last four years the best was 4th."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "the fans, that I will always respect, and I speak with many of them, they tell me I've been unlucky, they understand football, they know what a process is."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "In the last 7 years, the worst position of Manchester City in the PL was 4th, they've been champion twice, we can now say three times in a few weeks. They've been second twice. That's heritage."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "Otamendi, Aguero, Sterling, De Bruyne are investments from the past. You look at United players who've left in the last year, where are they playing? Are they even playing?."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "When I leave, the next United manager will find players with different qualities, strengths and mentalities than what I found."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juve and Bayern are always in the last four. The ones that are always there are there for a reason. I am on exactly the same page as the owners, as Mr Woodward. We agree on everything, we agree on investments."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "Life is good, I have an amazing job today."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "Im not going to run away because of a few boos. I'm not afraid of my responsibilities. At 20 years old I was nobody in football, and now at 55 I am what I am and I am who I am because of my work and my mentality."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Mourinho, "I know it was hard years ago when I won everything and people were sick of me, I go 10 months without winning anything and now is their moment to be happy."
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Well, that was something.
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) March 16, 2018
Fair play to Chris for keeping up with the whole thing!
Does Mourinho’s outburst hint that he’s struggling with the pressure of being United manager as he stares down the barrell of a season without any real silverware?
Or should his comments be perceived as a battle cry to try and rally supporters during a difficult period?
Either way, Rafa would be proud!
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