Mourinho Returns To Live TV; Talks About United’s Rise And Criticizes Woodward’s Transfer Policy

By Kush | January 20, 2019
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho

Reuters / Peter Cziborra

Jose Mourinho made his first appearance on live television since departing from Manchester United this week, featuring as the guest pundit on beIN Sports for the Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea.

As expected, the Portuguese tactician did not disappoint, as he made some interesting points regarding his former club as well as this year’s race for the title as well as the top 4 spots.

Starting with the top six, Jose began by speaking about Spurs’ recent results, stating: “At the moment, there is huge pressure on them. The top two is obvious, but for the third, four, fifth, and sixth, this is the moment of truth.

“Manchester United are coming strong, Tottenham are getting weaker, as they lost 6 points at home in the previous two matches. So Tottenham are no more one of the three (at the top), but one of the four from (teams between) third to sixth.”

The decorated gaffer further went on to specifically talk about the perks enjoyed by the managers currently in-charge of the top two teams in the table, whilst taking an indirect dig at Manchester United‘s transfer policy in the process.

“In the first season, Guardiola was not champion and it was really difficult, Jose continued. “People were expecting a winning Manchester City. They were champions with Mancini, they were champions with Pellegrini.

“Some of the players there were already champions twice like the Agueros and the Kompanys – lots of them. And in the second season, Pep made great decision but great decisions that were supported. I give you as an example he didn’t want Zabaleta and he didn’t want Sagna at right-back. And he didn’t want Kolarov and he didn’t want Clichy.

“In the same summer he sold four full-backs and got four full-backs. He got Walker, Danilo, Mendy and, I think it was Delph. He was supported.

“You see it today with Liverpool. How many of these players were at Liverpool before Jurgen [Klopp] arrived? No Alisson. No Van Dijk. No Robertson. No Salah. No Mane. No Fabinho. No Keita. This is work in depth. It’s not just the leadership at a club or just the football you need. It’s everything.

“If you are a manager that you have the possibility to choose the players who you want to follow your football idea. Or it is [to get the players] to follow the idea that you think is best to win a certain competition, that’s one thing. Another thing is if you are not able to do that.”