MANCHESTER, England (AP) — In a 12-minute rant using statistics from a notebook in front of him, Jose Mourinho launched a strong defense of his time in charge of Manchester United that included a dig at managerial rival Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Mourinho has come under criticism this week after United’s feeble exit from the Champions League at the hands of Spanish club Sevilla on Tuesday.
Three days later, Mourinho used a news conference to highlight what he perceived as United’s lack of “football heritage” in recent years because of its poor results in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
He spoke of the groundwork he was laying at United in his second year at the club, while also claiming that much of City’s success this season could be put down to its investment in players before Guardiola became manager in 2016.
Mourinho then insisted he was “on the same page” as United’s owners and its board, and said he was not going to “run away” or change his mentality in the wake of the Sevilla loss.
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