Man Utd: Jose Mourinho's 12-minute defence of Champions League record
Last updated on .From the section Man Utd
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he is not "afraid of his responsibilities" during a 12-minute defence of his record in the wake of the Champions League exit to Sevilla.
Mourinho was criticised for his approach to the match, prompting a wide-ranging monologue in the build-up to Saturday's FA Cup tie with Brighton.
He began by saying: "I am alive."
"I am not going to run away or disappear or to cry because I heard a few boos," added the 55-year-old.
Mourinho arrived at Friday's news conference with a neat piece of green paper underneath his diary.
On it was written United's finishing positions in every season since 2013, and how they had fared in Europe. He had the same statistics for Manchester City.
Later in an extraordinary news conference - when addressing the written press - he referenced "idiots", "idealists" and "the dictionary of life" in an impassioned speech.
'I'm happy that people were sad'
After Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by Sevilla, the Portuguese had said being knocked out of the Champions League at home in the last 16 was "nothing new for the club".
The match came three days after United beat Liverpool 2-1 to strengthen their grip on second place in the Premier League.
"I'm happy with what I saw in my players after the [Sevilla] match. I'm happy that people were sad, that people were frustrated. I'm happy we were on exactly the same page," said Mourinho.
Directly addressing the fans' anger, he said they "have the right to their opinions and reactions, but there is something that I used to call football heritage".
He explained "football heritage" by saying United have only reached the Champions League quarter-finals once since losing the 2011 final.
Mourinho also compared United's recent league and European record to that of Manchester City, who have finished above United in every season since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
He said: "Do you know what is also heritage? Nicolas Otamendi, Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero - they are investments from the past, not from the last two years.
"One day when I leave, the next Manchester United manager will find here Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, of course David de Gea from many years ago, they will find players with a different mentality, quality, background, with a different status and know-how.
"I could be in another country with the league in the pocket, but I am here and I am going to be here, and no way am I going to change my mentality.
"I'm not going to disappear from the tunnel, running immediately; the next match, I will be the first to go out. I am not afraid of my responsibilities.
"When I was 20, I was nobody in football. I was somebody's son, with a lot of pride, and now at 55 I am what I am. I did what I did because of work and because of talent and my mentality."
Mourinho said he was "on the same page" as the club owners and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, adding: "We agree on everything, on the investments. I have an amazing job to do."
Analysis
BBC Sport's Simon Stone
There are some moments in a football journalist's career that will live with them forever. Today falls right into that category.
Jose Mourinho came prepared. Not the way predecessor Louis van Gaal did when he spoke about 'Big Sam' but he did have notes.
He started by saying: "I am alive."
Then he answered four questions before being asked about the fans' response to Tuesday's Champions League exit.
That was the cue. Apart from a two-word start of a question he cut off, Mourinho spoke for 12 and a half minutes without stopping.
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And Lukaku, Sanchez, Pogba etc would be A+ players if Guardiola was managing them.
Didn't Jose sell De Bruyne at Chelsea, because he couldn't get anything out of him? He sold Salah as well for the same reason! lol
In fairness to him his press conferences are more entertaining than his football teams (granted that doesn’t take a lot).
They may have spent a bit more like he says but there’s a huge difference.. we buy players, they invest in players.
Sane, Ederson, De Bruyne, Jesus.. bought for a total of £150m but worth what now? £100m each? Pep works with them, coaches them, improves them. Jose????
Welcome to the real world, Jose.
Rafa's rant! Keegan loses the plot!!
Mourinho..............12 minute defence of champions league record
How in the world of hell can we stand by and see a deluded man who's lost the plot to manage a massive club?
Also, not sure in those 12 minutes of madness did anyone hear a apology for the torture the fans had to watch! That was the worst performance we have ever had at old trafford! and we've had David Moyes as a manager!!
Interestingly I was on a business trip to Porto recently and chatting to my taxi driver about Jose's merits, he remarked that Jose arrived to manage a fantastic existing Porto team and rather than be remembered fondly for winning the ECL was simply seen as glory merchant who destroyed the team.
no, it's not fair comment. He is missing the point of the fans' anger and is deflecting. MU got knocked out by a second rate team and had 4, yes FOUR, shots on target in 180 mins against them.
They were not knocked out by Barca or Real.
Note how he never mentioned Pogba or Sanchez when naming players the next Man Utd manager will inherit. Just two creative players he has wrecked with his negative, restrictive, stifling football. The three players he did mention (De Gea, Matic and Lukaku), a gk, a defensive mid, and a battering ram of a forward.
Damn...
WE ARE SICK OF YOUR TEDIOUS, DULL, NEGATIVE TACTICS, WHICH ARE AN AFFRONT TO MANCHESTER UNITED'S HISTORY AND TRADITIONS.
WE ARE SICK OF YOUR PERMANENTLY MISERABLE, SCOWLING FACE.
WE ARE APPALLED AT YOUR CONSISTENTLY ATTACKING THE CLUB'S FANS, THE PLAYERS, OFFICIALS & OPPONENTS.
PLEASE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.