Jose Mourinho’s First Press Conference Offers Plenty Of Food For Thought

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Manchester United are currently in the United States, preparing for the new season. The pre-season has started and Jose Mourinho’s team is without some important players. With the end of the World Cup coming just three days ago, for a club like Man United, it is normal that some key players are still on their vacation.

However, Wednesday was the day for Jose Mourinho’s opening press conference of the new season. In short – it did not go very well. The Portuguese was negative in his demeanor and his comments failed to offer anything positive regarding the new season. Since we are still in mid-July, that is an unprecedently early date to be as negative as Mourinho was. The new season straight away is not looking like an exciting prospect.

“Everything is bad”

“Pre-season is very bad, I have to say that. It’s positive for the young boys and my coaching staff, with three new staff it’s good for them to adapt to my needs and start working in a new reality”, started Mourinho, talking about the recently finished World Cup.

“[David] De Gea, [Nemanja] Matic and Fred will come next week but everything is really bad. Then we will go to the UK and have to play the Premier League and the broadcasters weren’t nice for us by giving us the complicated Friday match. Honestly, I’m worried”, said Mourinho in a single breath, giving his thoughts on several problems all at once.

With the players still late to join the team, Mourinho cannot really be unsatisfied. It is not something he is experiencing for the first time. He was manager at Chelsea after World Cup in Germany, at Real Madrid following the World Cup in South Africa and back again at Stamford Bridge, after the 2014 edition. Above all, it is something pretty much every manager at a top European club is going through right now. Tottenham had nine players playing in Russia last weekend, whether it was the final or the 3rd place play-off.

Sending A Message

The Premier League starts in 23 days, looking from this Wednesday. Would it really mean much if United played their opening match on Saturday afternoon or even Monday night? It is quite obvious Mourinho’s comments do not really hold well, but his intentions could be analysed through all of this.

On Tuesday, we talked about Manchester United’s underwhelming transfer window. The team brought in only a couple of players that will be in contention for a place in starting XI and sold a couple of players that would not have had a big part next season. It is obvious that such lack of work in the market – especially compared to Liverpool or Arsenal – is something that is making Mourinho nervous.

“I am worried because I am not training with all my players. It is what it is and we have to make the best of it. It’s maybe good for Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly and Andreas Pereira, just back from loan – I’ll take the positives”, Mourinho said in the end, trying to sound more assuring. However, this was an obvious dig at the board and it will be good if they respond with new signings.

A tiresome Mourinho is not a pleasant sight for anyone.

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