The moment that every Manchester United fan has been waiting for, finally arrived as Jose Mourinho gave his first press conference as Manchester United manager. And there was no shortage of things that the Portuguese manager spoke about.
Aside from taking digs at Louis Van Gaal and Arsene Wenger, Mourinho admitted that he was frustrated that United wasn't in the UEFA Champions League, as that is where the club "has to be". The 53-year-old spoke about the aim for the season and about whether he has a point to prove as well.
Here are 5 takeaways from Jose Mourinho's first press conference as Manchester United manager""
Ryan Giggs' departure
If there was one major cloud hanging over Jose Mourinho, it was the departure of Ryan Giggs, who left after 29 years with the club. The question of whether he didn't get the offer he wanted or if the new manager didn't want him was one that made everyone curious and after his press conference, Mourinho has set the record straight.
“As for Ryan: it’s not my responsibility that Ryan is not in the club," he began. "The job Ryan wanted was the Manchester United manager. That’s not my fault – the owners and Mr Woodward wanted me. Ryan, for the moment, wants to be a manager."
After clearing the air about Giggs wanting to become the manager, he speaks about the difficulty that he himself faced when decided to make the call on management. He explained that it couldn't have been easy for the Welshman to do what he did.
" Ryan could have been what he wanted – any important job but he made a decision where you need to be brave. It’s not easy – I had a contract at Barcelona in 2000 to be assistant for two more years. It was not easy for me. And for Ryan it’s not just the step of going from assistant manager to manager. It is also the challenge of leaving his house – it was 29 years, not 29 days."
He finally finishes with the fact that the door is always open if Giggs wants to come back. "If I am hear and he wants to come back, I will never stop him. If one day the club wants him to be manager it will be the consequence of his achievements as a manager.”
Promotion of young players
If there is one criticism that is often levied at Jose Mourinho it is that he doesn't promote young players. And it is no surprise he was asked about the issue and knowing Mourinho he was prepared for it as well. Before answering it, he asked how much time was left before the press conference ended and then he brought out a list.
“Do you want to know how many players I have promoted from academies?", he began with a rhetorical question and then continuing with, "Forty nine. Do you want me to list them out?" he asks again.
Instead of listing them out, he mentions the two factors involved in promoting youngsters. "Sometimes you have no other choice but to promote them because you have injured. That is one factor," he said. "The second is when you are not playing for big targets it is easier to bring them up, outside the pressure of the big moments."
He explains that the injury record at the clubs he has been is low and continues.
"Last year the only season of my only career that I was not fighting for the title – every other season I was winning or finishing second, or finish third once but still fighting for the title. I still did 49 and some of them we are speaking about big names – players that today are Champions League winners, playing for national teams. Forty nine is a lot."
He finishes off with the punch line, "Once more – it’s one lie repeated many times. Sometimes it looks like it might be true but it will never be true."
Wayne Rooney's role at the club
After a lacklustre Euro 2016 where he was employed as a midfielder, the questions surrounding Wayne Rooney started to emerge. While some wondered whether he would contemplate leaving the club, others were speculating about his role at the club.
When the question about that eventually arrived, Mourinho took a while but got to the point eventually. “There are many jobs on the field. The most difficult to find is one to put the ball in the net," he explained.
Speaking about Rooney, he said: "It is normal that a player at his age will change a little bit. One thing that will never change is his natural appetite to put the ball in the net. Maybe he is not a striker, not a No9 anymore."
The 53-year-old also explained that he will not play as a defensive midfielder or a deep-lying midfielder as long as Mourinho is at the club. "But with me he will never be a No6, playing 50m from goal. Yes, his passing is amazing but mine is also amazing without pressure," he said. "Many players have a great pass, but to put the ball in the net is the most difficult. He will be a No9, a No10, a No9.5 but never a No6 or a No8.”
Ferguson's advice
Even from their time as opposing managers, Mourinho has always enjoyed a great rapport with Sir Alex Ferguson and it looks as though his time off from football has done nothing to hamper that relationship.
When asked about what Ferguson gave him, Mourinho said there was two main things. “Bring the umbrella," he quipped. "Yesterday it was raining at the training ground – good advice. The second was for me to bring my typical bottle of wine because there will be many more opportunities to drink it together."
The Portuguese manager also admitted that the pair have plenty of time to meet and that Ferguson will "always be welcome to the training ground". Before adding that Ferguson's opinion is important and also speaking about various United legends including the likes of Paul Scholes, who are currently working as pundits.
"We will have a lot of time to share our personal stuff – friends, family and life. His opinion is an important opinion for me. So many legends at this club love it. So many are in the punditry business at the moment – every one will be important whether I agree or not agree. I will always give a look to learn from what they give to me.”
Transfer targets for the season
If there was one question that was on every Manchester United fan's lips, it was the players that he was going to sign. Having already signed Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and all but signed Henrikh Mkhitarayn, United have already made their intentions clear and also mulling over the signing of Paul Pogba as well.
When asked about how many more signings he will make, “I don’t know, yet," was the immediate response. "The third player [Mkhitarayn] will be official soon – I can try to make you understand the profile.”
He also added that they have four priorities. "We made a nucleus of four priorities, four positions, to give a certain balance to the squad. To give a certain push in terms of the qualities I need and want. As you know, the ones with more vision.”
The 53-year-old also made it clear that he prefers " specialists rather than multi-functional players".
"We decided four targets. We have three at the moment. Until we don’t have the fourth, we are still working hard. When we have the fourth we will breathe. The market will be open. We will get the fourth before 31 August, and we will be stable but the market will be open.”
