Jose Mourinho slams Manchester United’s decision to sell Angel Di Maria, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez
Special One says he would not have allowed the three attack-minded stars to leave Old Trafford if it was his decision
JOSE MOURINHO has delivered a thinly-veiled attack on Ed Woodward’s transfer policy at Man Utd in recent seasons.
The Utd boss is surprised the club sold three key players in the years before he arrived at Old Trafford – Angel Di Maria to PSG, Javier Hernandez to Bayern Leverkusen and Danny Welbeck to Arsenal.
Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, oversaw the club’s transfer dealings during the previous Louis van Gaal’s regime.
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Mourinho said: “Man Utd sold players that I would never sell. And bought players that I would never buy.
“When I leave a club people probably say the same about me. But I would have never have sold Angel Di Maria, Chicharito and Danny Welbeck. Never. No chance.”
Mourinho gave a wide-ranging interview at the Carrington training HQ with ex-England striker Gary Lineker on the Premier League Show on Thursday night.
In one revealing section, the Portuguese manager reckons United will never dominant English football again just like they did under Sir Alex Ferguson, the winner of 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
Mourinho said: “Forget it. It’s not possible. Don’t try to go 10-20 years ago. It’s not possible anymore.
“I have many doubts that dominance is going to be back to the Premier League.
“So my aim here is to win titles, try to be back into the Champions League and try to win Europe.
“But the base has to be the empathy with the fans and that is based on the quality of our football. That is something that has to be the base of everything.
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“But we are not ready to be Manchester United. We are not ready to be the dominant force.
“Because of our nature, the club, myself, also the players, we are ready to fight for every game, to fight for every point, every objective.
“That is no doubt. But there is a space between the general ambition of such a giant club and what we are in reality.”
In Van Gaal’s final season in charge, United scrapped into the Europa League after finishing in fifth place - one of their lowest positions in Premier League history.
Financially the club coffers would take a hit If United miss out on the Champions League next season.
But if that does happen, Mourinho is confident United Will still be able to attract the world’s top players in the summer.
He said: “Man Utd is very powerful. I don’t think it needs to be in the Champions League to attract the best players. Honestly.
“Last summer we got players who could be playing in the CL: Zlatan could have been in Paris, Mkhitaryan could have been in Dortmund, Paul in Juventus.
“So, we were able to attract the players because they know that Man Utd, sooner or later, will get there.
“I don’t think it is a problem. And if any player decides not to come here because of that, then I am happy.”
Mourinho says he has mellowed during his 17-year managerial career, which has involved high-profile stints at Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto.
He said: “Yes, losing affects my mood always. But I think I have found a certain balance. After a bad result at home, would I make a joke 10 years ago? I don’t think.
“So, I change, I change, but I keep my nature. And my nature is bad result, you are not happy.”
Asked if he could stay at United for more than three years, what would be the longest tenure at one single club, he responded: “I don’t know but I like to.
“I am really happy and I like to work here. I want to stay here until the owners and the board don’t want me to stay.”
Gary Lineker was speaking to Jose Mourinho on BBC Two’s, The Premier League Show.