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December 4, 2019

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‘A closed chapter’ as Jose returns to United

Source: AFP | 00:00 UTC+8 December 4, 2019 | Print Edition

Jose Mourinho says his time at Manchester United is “a closed chapter” and he is only interested in beating the Red Devils when he takes his in-form Tottenham Hotspur side to Old Trafford today.

It is the new Tottenham manager’s first return to the touchline at United’s home ground since his sacking by the club last December.

“This is a closed chapter for me,” said Mourinho, who has won all three of his matches in charge of Spurs. “I left the club, I took my time to process everything that happened, I took my time to prepare myself for the next challenge.

“Honestly, United for me is in my book of experiences, it’s in my history book.”

United is struggling under Mourinho’s successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but goes into the game just two points behind fifth-placed Spurs.

“It is not for me to analyze United now,” Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference. “I analyze them as an opponent, how they play. How can we beat them? How can they beat us? For me that is the important thing.”

Mourinho is excited about the prospect of returning to Old Trafford.

He said: “I feel good, I like to play big matches, I like to play against the best teams and go back to a place where I was happy.

“I have a great relationship with the Manchester United supporters. I went back as a pundit and I was humbled by such a beautiful reception.

“Tomorrow I go back as the coach of the team that will try and beat Manchester United.

“I understand that what they want is the exact opposite of what I want. Of course during the match I expect them to forget me.”

Meanwhile, Solskjaer says he does not fear for his future as United manager despite a spate of English Premier League sackings.

Spurs turned to Mourinho after dismissing Mauricio Pochettino last month, while Arsenal and Watford have subsequently sacked Unai Emery and Quique Sanchez Flores, respectively.

Solskjaer is under increasing pressure, with United ninth in the EPL, 22 points behind leader Liverpool and eight off a top-four spot as it prepares for the Tottenham match today.

“No, it doesn’t make me more concerned,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference yesterday. “I’m just focusing on my job and that’s just doing as well as I can, and look forward to the next game, and look long-term, plan things with the board.

“It’s that time of year. It’s never nice to see your colleagues lose your jobs — three in a very short space of time.”

“It’s a game of margins,” he added. “Sometimes you have luck, sometimes you don’t, but it doesn’t make me any more concerned that it’s December.

“I’m good, absolutely no problem. Sometimes you laugh when you read stories about what I’ve said and stuff, at least I know the sources are just made up, blatant lies.”

The United boss bemoaned his team’s failure to turn draws into wins, saying the team is not getting the results its football deserved.

The club is winless in three games and Solskjaer’s job will not get any easier with a derby against Manchester City on Saturday to follow the game against Mourinho’s Spurs.

The Norwegian, though, dismissed any need for crisis talks with the United board.

“Three days or four days are not going to change a whole lot, but these two games are great chances for us to prove things and prove to ourselves that we can continue in the vein we have had against some of the better sides,” he said.

Solskjaer expects Mourinho to receive a warm welcome when he returns to Old Trafford, having won the League Cup and Europa League during his time in charge.

“We know we have to improve, we are working hard to do that right and when you change a manager halfway through the season (it) isn’t where it is supposed to be,” said the Norwegian.

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