Jose Mourinho renews feud with Pep Guardiola as he aims 'stupid' blast at rival
Jose Mourinho has appeared to risk reigniting his feud with Pep Guardiola by presenting a treaty on the modern game in which he highlighted the Manchester City coach and claimed: 'If you die with your idea, you're stupid.'
The Fenerbahce boss, who is on a training camp in Portugal, has said football has changed 'radically' since the early days of his career and believes managers are now building reputations based entirely on their style than an ability to win.
And in an interview with Canal 11 the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, who has not won a league title since his second spell at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15, said too much focus on an unwavering commitment to a set playing style will never be a recipe for success.
'Today, there's no such thing as a single game model,' he said. 'There are many ways to play. There's no longer a tactical system, there are many ways to build and defend.
'This means training in a much more tactical way, where players must grow and acquire new knowledge. The problem is wanting to copy and paste without the necessary conditions to do so.
"Playing from the back with a wooden goalkeeper is complicated. I remember Guardiola had Hart, the best English goalkeeper. But he wanted Claudio Bravo, but that wasn't enough. So he signed Ederson.
'There are coaches who try things that don't work and fail, but they say, 'I died with my idea.' If you die with your idea, you're stupid. Coaches have to adapt their ideas to what they have.'
Mourinho also took aim at managers arriving in the Premier League with set philosophies around how their teams should play but no record of winning trophies.
He added: 'Today coaches whose names I don't even know go to the Premier League, and I don't say that without respect, it's true.
'Some coaches are chosen by dates, numbers, not by victories. Perceptions are created, and today the idea is sold that, more important than winning, is playing like this, looking like this... at that level, things have changed radically,"
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd break golden transfer rule after deciding between Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins
Benjamin Sesko has emerged as Manchester United's primary transfer target after deciding not to pursue a move for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, who has more top flight experience but is five years older than the RB Leipzig star Manchester United have broken their transfer rule of opting for Premier League experience this summer after deciding to pursue Red Bull Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. Ruben Amorim is desperate to equip his struggling side with proven English top-flight talent after the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League last season. He's already added Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, but neither player can play as an out-and-out centre forward - and Amorim has been left unimpressed by the performances of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Cunha demonstrated how important he can be as an impact player last year as he almost single-handedly saved Wolves from relegation with 15 strikes in the top flight, while Mbeumo dazzled with 20 goals for the Bees. But the signing of Sesko would not follow the same trend and would be a somewhat risky move for a player who has only proven himself in the Bundesliga. United were previously planning to go for another Premier League star to solve their striker worries in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, but they have been put off the England man's £60m asking price. Watkins had been United's preferred option this summer after bagging 16 goals for Villa last season but they have now decided to go against their own policy by going all out for Sesko. The Slovenia international has emerged as one of the most promising talents in Europe in recent seasons after firing in 39 goals for the German side in the last two seasons. He was previously strongly linked with Arsenal before the Gunners opted to snap up Amorim's former Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres for £63.5m and that has now cleared the way for United to secure Sesko. It's understood United have opened informal talks with Leipzig over Sesko but are yet to table an official bid. He was seen as a much more viable option that Watkins because, although he is being priced similarly to the 29-year-old, he is much younger at 22 and represents long-term value. It won't be plain sailing for United in their pursuit of Newcastle, however. Newcastle are also keen on the player after Liverpool pipped them to the signing of Hugo Ekitike, with the Magpies concerned about losing Alexander Isak to the Reds too. Newcastle would be able to offer Isak Champions League football, but United showed with their signings of Cunha and Mbeumo that they still possess big club pull despite having no Europe.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Benjamin Sesko: Is Man Utd, Newcastle and Chelsea target on brink of big move?
"He's good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless."You can see why Premier League teams are interested in £70m-rated Leipzig striker Benjamin only being 22, it feels as if the Slovenia international has been linked to English football for years - so could this be the summer he makes the move?Manchester United have made him their top striker target, while Newcastle United want him - if Alexander Isak had been strongly linked to Arsenal for some time before they went for Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres. Plus Chelsea, too (though who isn't...?).Big, strong, quick, good in the air and a fine finisher, Sesko has been compared to Erling Haaland - and not just because they both played for why are so many clubs being linked with him? 'The quality to play in one of Europe's best sides' Sesko is a goalscorer. In fact, nobody in his age range has scored more goals in the past two seasons (more on that later).But last season he became more of an all-rounder, with 9.7% of his touches coming in the opposition box - compared with 17% the season got involved more on both wings and further back into midfield. He was one of the fastest strikers in the Bundesliga at 35.7km/h - and had the best aerial success rate of strikers involved in at least 60 of them.A recruitment specialist working at the highest level recently spoke to BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell about Sesko, who stands at 6ft 5in tall."He's so athletic, he's big, physical and strong," said the anonymous source."I think the physicality of the Premier League won't overawe him. "When you look at some players in Europe, where the tempo is slower, you see them struggle to transition to bigger leagues."The Bundesliga is one of the big three in the world, but when you look at transitioning in big leagues he has the physical capabilities to do it." And what are some other qualities of Sesko, who idolised former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was younger?"He is clinical, he can drop in into space," said the recruitment expert."One of his strengths is getting the ball quickly. He can hold it, hold defenders off, he can give it to the winger, he can give it to the 10."He's good in front of goal. He has a good attitude. He is relentless.""You wouldn't expect him to hit the ground running straight away, but in six to 12 months he will be fine and you've got yourself a very good player."Central European football expert Lukas Vrablik added: "I think Sesko has the quality to play in one of Europe's best sides. He can be a big asset. At the same time he's a player who will develop. "He's not the finished product yet. Right now he might not be one of the best strikers in Europe, but he has room for improvement." So how prolific is he? Sesko has spent the past two seasons in Germany with Leipzig, having joined them from sister club Salzburg in was a deal that had been agreed and announced in the summer of 2022 - making him unavailable for any English has scored 39 goals in 87 games in all competitions in those two seasons (plus eight assists), with 27 in 64 in the of those goals have come in the Champions moving to Germany, Sesko is the top goalscorer currently aged under 23 in all competitions, of players who are based in Europe's top five is one above Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and five clear of Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £100m this summer."Last season, I don't think he was as good as the season before - but that was also influenced by Leipzig not being so good as a team," added Vrablik."There are big expectations for him as a striker. There is big hype around him."Sesko has shown clinical finishing in his time in Germany, six forwards have scored more goals in the Bundesliga in the past two seasons, even though Sesko is 16th for expected goals, 14th on shots and 22nd on touches in the opposition he is lethal from long range too, with 36.8% of his shots - and 23.1% of his goals - coming from outside the box. Both are higher than any Bundesliga striker to score 12 or more goals last season. Where it all started for 'confident' Sesko All of Sesko's senior football so far has come for Red Bull teams in Europe, having left home aged 16 for played two seasons for Salzburg's feeder club - Liefering - in Austria's second tier, scoring 22 goals in 44 21 goals of those came in 2020-21, having only netted once the season from there he played for Salzburg, bagging 29 goals in 79 games in two full seasons. He won the league both seasons, plus the Austrian Cup, scoring in the final win over journalist Miran Zore said in 2024: "We kind of expected his success but no-one knew he was so special, except his agent, Elvis Basanovic, who tried to convince people about his potential. "He used to send messages to scouts and directors, saying, 'this is the next goal machine'."When he was struggling in Salzburg at the start, people were asking his agent, 'where's this goal machine'. Now, everyone is laughing about it." In 2022, Sesko himself was quoted as saying: "My team-mates at the club tell me that Haaland and I are very similar, especially in terms of speed. Most of them even tell me that I'm better than him."Manchester City striker Haaland (who left Salzburg before Sesko's debut) netted the same amount of goals for the Austrian club as Sesko - but the Norwegian only needed 27 matches, 34% of the amount Sesko maybe his team-mates were just being so, that comment alone would suggest some degree of self-assurance."I hear from people in Slovenia who worked with him that he's a really hard-working guy - and really confident," said Vrablik. "He has a healthy confidence, which is really important for a striker."For his country, Sesko has scored 16 goals in 41 games and featured for them at Euro 2024. Only three players have ever scored more for the former Yugoslav in 2024, former Slovenia international Miran Pavlin said: "He has to focus on playing well and the transfer will come - if not this year, then in one or two years. "He has the potential to be one of the top 10 strikers in the world, for sure." Man Utd lead the chase - but where will he actually go? There is no certainty that Sesko will leave they have failed to qualify for Europe this season and have started a summer rebuild under new boss Ole Sport was told Sesko has an informal agreement with his club that he can leave if an elite team offer about £ Sesko joined Leipzig from sister club Salzburg in 2023 he had a release clause of £55m - but last summer he signed a new long-term suggest that also has a release clause, which has begs the question of who could afford him? The answer is: not many teams bar Premier League sides or Saudi clubs."He's well positioned to make a difference at a top club. It's just a matter of time until he moves," said Vrablik. "But maybe not this summer."I think the price paid a part [on why he hasn't moved yet]. There are not many clubs who can afford him right now, which is a problem if he wants to move on."I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay at Leipzig another season. It might be good for his development if he can repeat the season from before Euro 2024."It depends on the market, maybe some departure would bring this effect. I expected him to end up at Arsenal." Arsenal were interested in Sesko before signing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, in a deal worth up to £64m (73m euros ) - so still big money, but slightly United had put Sesko and Aston Villa's England striker Ollie Watkins at the top of their list, but are now focusing on the Slovenian and have spoken to have already spent £130m on forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer, but still have money to Hojlund is United's other Newcastle also want Sesko - if their own star striker Isak was not part of their pre-season tour to Asia and BBC Sport was told he is looking at his are said to be interested in Isak but a move would certainly cost in excess of £100m. That fee would, in turn, leave Newcastle able to afford Wilson left St James' Park on a free transfer this summer, meaning 21-year-old William Osula would be their only senior striker if Isak did Manchester United, a move to the Magpies would enable Sesko to play in the Champions League next would Chelsea - who have also been the Blues have already signed strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro for a combined £90m this summer, so would need to offload Nicolas Jackson and perhaps of Europe's elite teams - including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan - have also been reportedly keen in the past those links have gone it be the same for those Premier League clubs currently in the mix for his signature - or is this finally the summer Sesko makes his move?
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Chelsea agree £34m Jorrel Hato transfer but Ajax include clause
Chelsea have agreed a €40 million (£34.5m) deal to sign Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato, according to reports. Negotiations between the two clubs were accelerated last week when Chelsea made an official approach to Ajax for the highly rated 19-year-old. The Athletic report that Chelsea and Ajax have now agreed a transfer fee for the Netherlands international, who will now undergo a medical. The report adds that Ajax have also managed to secure a sell-on clause as part of their agreement with Chelsea. Hato will become Chelsea's fourth summer signing after Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, while Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr have also joined Stamford Bridge this summer. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The Dutch defender had also attracted interest from Arsenal, whilehe was spotted during a game at Anfield in January, sparking speculation over a possible move to Liverpool. Chelsea are also in talks with RB Leipzig to sign their 22-year-old Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Benjamin Sesko makes decision over Newcastle transfer after Manchester United approach MORE: Michael Owen says only three clubs can win the Premier League next season MORE: The seven players Chelsea are trying to sell this summer after £50m double exit
