Jose Mourinho "revealed the two pieces" of advice that former Manager Alex Ferguson gave to him after he was appointed as ManU’s new manager, according to Mark Critchley of the London INDEPENDENT. Despite "being overlooked by Ferguson" following the Scot’s retirement in '13, Mourinho "has always professed to have a great amount of respect" for Ferguson. When asked what advice he had been given by Ferguson, Mourinho said, "Bring the umbrella. And yesterday, I couldn’t believe that it was raining in the training ground, so it was great advice." He added, "The second advice as to bring my typical bottle of wine. Now we are going to have many occasions to be together" (INDEPENDENT, 7/5).
'I WANT EVERYTHING': In London, Jamie Jackson reported a "bullish" Mourinho stated he wants to "win the title, get the team playing well and promote youth" for ManU. He also "aimed a barb" at former Manager Louis van Gaal by being clear there will be "no hiding" behind "philosophies." Mourinho was appointed as the successor to van Gaal, who "constantly referenced his managerial philosophy" when he held the role, on May 27. Asked what his hopes are for ManU, Mourinho said, "Depends on the way you want to face it. I was never very good playing with the words or hiding behind words and hiding behind philosophies. I never tried to be good at that. I was always much more aggressive in my approach with the risks that can bring. ... I prefer to be more aggressive and say we want to win. What is playing well? It is scoring more goals than the opponents, conceding less, making your fans proud because you give everything and you win." Starting with an "apparent dig" at Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger, he said, "There are some managers ... the last time they won a title was 10 years ago. Some of them, the last time they won a title was never. The last time I won a title was one year ago [with Chelsea], not 10 years ago or 15 years ago, so if I have a lot to prove, imagine the others." Mourinho was "also clear about the departure of Ryan Giggs." He said, "About Ryan, let me finish -- I never run away about my responsibility. It is not my responsibility that Ryan is not in the club. The job Ryan wanted is the job the club decided to give me" (GUARDIAN, 7/5). The AFP reported Mourinho’s eyes "are firmly fixed" on re-establishing ManU as title challengers and targeting the Champions League, which is off the club's menu next season. He said, "The reality is, I think it is a job everyone wants and not many have a chance to have, and I have it. I think it [Manchester United] comes at the right time of my career" (AFP, 7/5).
