I'm 'one of the greatest' managers - Mourinho

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United's Jose Mourinho said on Friday he remains "one of the greatest managers in the world" despite his team's poor start to the Premier League season.

I'm 'one of the greatest' managers - Mourinho

(Reuters)





Mourinho demanded respect from the media after Monday's 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, United's second defeat in their opening three games of the campaign, and he continued the theme ahead of Sunday's trip to Burnley.

"I have won eight titles. I'm the only manager to win in Italy, Spain and England," he told reporters.

"Not small titles, proper titles, and my second place last season was one of my greatest achievements in football," he said.

Mourinho won the Serie A title with Inter Milan in 2009 and 2010, the Spanish title with Real Madrid in 2012 and three Premier League titles with Chelsea. He also won the Portuguese league twice with Porto.

"I am the manager of one of the greatest clubs in the world, but I am also one of the greatest managers in the world," he said, defending his record at United where he won the Europa League in his first term in charge and then sealed the Premier League runners-up spot last season.

"I had last season great success. I had great success last season, that’s what you probably don’t want to admit. I analyse my performance myself, and for me it’s more important what I think than what you think," he added.

Asked if he would still consider himself to be one of the greats if he failed to win a title with 20-times champions United, Mourinho said: "Did you read any philosophers? ... Hegel says, the truth is in the whole. It's always in the whole that you find the truth."

He then turned the tables on the media. "Do you ask that question to the manager that finished third in the Premier League last season? To the manager that finished fourth? To the manager that finished fifth?" he asked.

Mourinho also explained his decision to stand in front of the fans at the end of Monday's defeat and applaud them.

“In relation to me, I know the majority of the stadiums are used to the winning manager jumping around, go up to the crowd and putting his face in front of the camera. With me that is not happening," he said.

"Normally when I win, I'm the first one to leave, but a defeat at home, an important defeat at home, that's the way I am. I have to go to the pitch and see the reaction. The reaction could be both ways and it went a way where I felt really humbled and the team felt really supported," he said.





(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Toby Davis)


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world