José Mourinho aims to follow up his remarks about rival managers behaving like clowns on the touchline by presenting himself as a paragon of virtue for the rest of the season. The Manchester United manager has even suggested there should be an award for good behaviour in the dugout area and put himself forward as a likely winner.
“I am fully committed to win the award this season of the best behaved manager on the touchline,” Mourinho said before Sunday’s visit to Newcastle United, where he has yet to record a Premier League win with either Chelsea or his present club. “I am serious. There are so many awards nowadays, they should give one to the guy that behaves best on the touchline.
“The fourth officials could all vote and, if they did, I am pretty sure I would win. This season I have not created one problem to one fourth official, apart from my red card at Southampton in September when I put a foot on the pitch. I am not saying I will never lose my temper again. I am not promising to go from the bad one to the perfect one. But I am trying to stay in control. I prepare myself for each game, make an effort to stay calm and I’m happy with it.”
A previous version of Mourinho might have had an angry exchange with match officials last week against Huddersfield, when Alexis Sánchez was not only the most fouled player on the pitch but in the entire Premier League weekend.
The new, non-abrasive United manager is even resisting the temptation to call for more protection from referees for his new signing. “Maybe his manager should cry a little more in situations like that but Alexis is a tough boy, he can cope with that sort of welcome,” Mourinho said.
“I think to an extent he is bound to be targeted by defenders because he is a talented player and an obvious danger to opponents. Defenders are not going to let the most skilful players play with freedom, that’s the nature of the game. But I don’t like using the word ‘protect’ because it sounds like I am only concerned about the top players. On the pitch every player is the same and it is the referee’s job to protect them equally.”
Mourinho remains a fan of English football, with all its physicality and aggression, even if he has to remind his players when they compete in Europe – United are away at Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday week – that European opponents and referees generally have a different mentality.
“I always liked English football,” he said. “The intensity is great and the aggression is great and the referees are there to make sure a line is not crossed, to make sure that the good aggression does not lead to really dangerous situations. The referees know the rules and it is their job to apply them and stay in control. Every player must be treated the same and according to the rules.”
Along with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, last season’s Europa League winners are pinning their hopes on the Champions League with the route to Premier League success apparently blocked, though Mourinho believes the last 16 is too early to get too excited.
“At the moment we are just one of the last 16 clubs,” he said. “You can only regard yourself as a contender when you reach the last eight. You may not be favourites but you are in a quarter-final and then it’s up to you to see if you can open the door a little more.”
