Sowetan

MOURINHO INTENDS TO WIN EVERYTHING WITH UNITED

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MANCHESTER – New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho announced his return to English football yesterday by reminding the world that he is a proven winner who will tell his players to forget the past three years of underachie­vement and instead target success.

In a news conference at Old Trafford before 25 camera crews, Mourinho covered a wide range of issues from transfer targets to the need for Wayne Rooney to continue playing as a striker and the departure of Ryan Giggs.

He seemed determined to deflect attention away from himself to “the biggest club in the world”.

The 53 year old, who described himself as “the Special One” and then “the Happy One” during similar media conference­s to announce his arrivals at Chelsea in 2004 and 2013, adopted a more serious and less showy approach.

“I want everything. I want to win matches, I want to play well. I want to score goals, I don’t want to concede goals,” he said.

Improving on last year’s fifth place would not be sufficient, he said, indicating he intended to return United, who won the last of their 20 league titles in 2013, to their position of dominance.

“There are some managers who won the title 10 years ago, some have not won a title ever. The last time I won the title was one year ago. So if I have something to prove, imagine the others.

“For Manchester United fans for so many years success was just routine, but the last three years I want to forget. I will never be able to work without success. I feel a bit frustrated that I am not playing Champions League. I do not hide, I chase Sir Alex (Ferguson’s) records in the Champions League.”

Turning to Rooney, Mourinho suggested the 30 year old’s future lay up front and not in midfield where England manager Roy Hodgson played him in a failed experiment at the European Championsh­ip in France.

“In football there are many jobs but the most difficult to find is the guy who puts the ball in the back of the net. Rooney will never play 50 metres away from goal. ”–

 ?? PHOTO: JOHN PETERS/GETTY IMAGES ?? SPECIAL ONE: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks during a press conference at Old Trafford yesterday
PHOTO: JOHN PETERS/GETTY IMAGES SPECIAL ONE: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks during a press conference at Old Trafford yesterday

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