Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted he is very much a club man ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Tottenham on Monday.
The Portuguese coach has found himself as the subject of heavy attention following an uneventful summer transfer window for the club which has reportedly strained his relationship with the United hierarchy including chief executive Ed Woodward.
Mourinho’s relationship with players star players like Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial has also hit a roadblock, with the former making cryptic comments in the press recently.
All these problems have been further compounded by United’s not-so-rosy start to their Premier League campaign which saw them fall to a 3-2 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion last week.
Despite this storm of events leading up to the clash against Tottenham at Old Trafford, Mourinho thanked the club’s supporters for their show of faith as he reiterated his commitment as a ‘club man’.
“The supporters were fantastic in both matches,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by AFP.
“Not for me, for the team which is the only thing that matters. In my career I was never selfish and thinking about myself, I was always a club man.
Mourinho’s relationship with Woodward is reportedly under strain.
“That’s what I am. I am really happy when the supporters they support the team. Against Leicester, you can say in a normal situation because the team was playing well and was winning.
“But to be supportive of the team against Brighton, where we didn’t play well and lost the match, it gives you a fantastic feeling.
“I hope that feeling, the players also feel it and the players they are ready to give them everything they have.”
When asked if he was frustrated by United’s defeat to Brighton, Mourinho replied: “No, it is not a frustration because it would also be a frustration if we win every match against the non top-six team and don’t win against the top six, that would also be a frustration.
“We want to win all the time. We want to play well all the time. We don’t want to make mistakes. That is what you always want.
“We want a winning style. Don’t make defensive mistakes. Be dominant. Chances, score goals and go home with the three points.”
Taking umbrage at the media’s coverage of United’s summer transfer dealings, the Portuguese refused to directly answer if he was satisfied with his squad for the season.
“You know my answer,” said Mourinho.
“I do not need to answer because I do not even know sometimes why I am here because you know everything. During the week it looks like you show that you know everything then I come here and you ask me questions. It’s a bit strange,” he added.
