Mourinho tight-lipped over Pogba
Print Edition
MANAGER Jose Mourinho said he did not want to talk about another club’s player despite Manchester United’s reported world-record chase for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
“I don’t confirm and I don’t deny,” the Portuguese told a press conference at Shanghai Stadium yesterday afternoon. “I cannot tell. First of all because I don’t think it’s correct to speak about players from other clubs. He is a Juventus player, not a Manchester United player.
“I asked the club for four profiles of players. I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 percent of the job, and we just have 25 percent to do before August 31 (trade deadline).
“So we are in a great position to do what I consider will be a great market for us. So we are calm,” the 53-year-old added.
The English Premier League giant will meet Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the first match of the 2016 International Champions Cup China today. Mourinho will hope for a good showing from his players as he tries make an impact in his debut season as United boss.
He has reportedly made Pogba his top transfer target with a bid as high as 100 million pounds (US$131.7 million). British media reported that the club’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward pulled out of the club’s preseason China tour to meet Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola amid talk of a five-year deal.
United defender Luke Shaw, who also attended the press conference, praised Mourinho, saying he enjoyed working with the coach. “It’s a fresh start and we are feeling good... We are going to challenge for every title,” the Englishman said.
United players trained at Shanghai Stadium in the presence of some local fans on a day which was reported as the city’s hottest day of the year, with the mercury touching a sizzling 39.1 degrees Celsius. Mourinho played down the heat factor, saying his players had come to make the fans happy.
United legends Dwight Yorke and Denis Irwin attended a youth training session near Shanghai Stadium yesterday afternoon and interacted with local students. It was part of their sponsor adidas’ grassroots football collaboration with China’s Ministry of Education.
United’s opponent Dortmund, meanwhile, confirmed that Mario Goetze, who left Dortmund for bitter rival Bayern Munich in 2013, would make a return to the BVB Stadium on a four-year deal until 2020.
“Goetze is a great player. I’m happy and welcome his return,” said Marcel Schmelzer, who showed up at Shanghai Stadium for the pre-match press conference. “Personally I think Goetze did not show a satisfying performance in Bayern last year. But his return is good and I have talked to him on phone. I think our fans will welcome his return, too.”
Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel also welcomed Goetze’s return, saying Dortmund will “have some weapons when facing teams like Bayern”.
Dortmund will play its second 2016 ICC China match against Manchester City in Shenzhen, southern Guangdong Province, next Thursday.
“Mourinho and (City boss Pep) Guardiola are great coaches. I enjoy matches like these, which is also a great learning chance for the players,” said the German, who is yet to name his captain for the new season.
“It’s a very important decision. We haven’t decided yet. Marco Reus, Marcel Schmelzer, Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin are all good players,” said Tuchel.
United is scheduled to travel to Beijing tomorrow for its second ICC China match against local rival City. However, the match, scheduled for Monday, has been put into doubt due to torrential rain and heavy flooding in the region.
The organizers admitted their concern as thunderstorms have been forecast for Monday.
If the volume of rain made the pitch unplayable, it would be difficult to find an alternative venue to the National Stadium, better known as Bird’s Nest.
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