Manchester United: Mourinho in impassioned defence of tenure
Despite being criticised for negative tactics against Sevilla in the Champions League, José Mourinho will not change his ways.
José Mourinho insists he will not "run away or disappear" from his responsibilities after launching an impassioned defence of his Manchester United tenure.
The Portuguese has faced severe criticism over his tactics in the wake of United's dismal Champions League last-16 exit to Sevilla on Tuesday.
Mourinho was particularly panned for the defensive mindset the Red Devils set up with in the 2-1 defeat, as Wissam Ben Yedder's double put the tie beyond United.
Mourinho: "Life is good, I have an amazing job to do"
But speaking ahead of United's FA Cup quarter-final with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, Mourinho delivered an emotional 12-minute diatribe in his media conference, fighting back against his critics.
He said: "Life is good, I have an amazing job to do.
"Yesterday I met a new person working in the club - different area to me, nothing direct with me - a person that came from another club. I asked 'Why did you decide to come?'
"He told me 'Because I did a fantastic job in another club and I know that I have a huge job to do so I have a challenge'.
"I said well done, my decision was based on something similar. I could be in another league where the title is in the pocket, practically won before a ball is kicked.
"But I'm not there, I'm going to be here. No way are you going to change my mentality. For me, I don't know if you know the expression, there is a quote I like; 'In every wall is a door, every wall is a door'.
"I'm not going to run away, disappear, cry, because I heard a few boos. I won't disappear from the tunnel running immediately, the next match I'll be first to go out.
"I respect the fans, I'm not afraid of anything. When I was 20 years old, I was nobody in football, I was someone's son.
"And now, at 55, I am what I am, I did what I did because of work, because of my talent and my mentality, so they can be together. I understand that for many, many, many years it was really hard for people that don't like me to say 'Here he is again, he wins again'.
"So, for those months I win nothing, 10 months nothing. Last title I won was 10 months ago. I beat Liverpool, Chelsea, lose to Sevilla - it's their moment to be happy."
Long-term United project still only getting started, says Mou
Mourinho delivered a history lesson to the journalists in attendance, pointing out that United have not been in a Champions League final since 2011, while they have reached the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition just once since that campaign.
The former Real Madrid boss vehemently defended his own record and insists that the job he is doing at United is a long-term project, which he says is still in its infancy.
"I say to the fans, fans are fans and fans have the right to opinions and reactions but there is something that I used to call football heritage, what a manager inherits" he commented.
"The last time Man Utd won the Champions League, which didn't happen a lot of times, was 2011 – or reached the final since 2011.
"In 2012, out in the group phase - the group was almost same group we had this season, with Benfica, Basel and Galati. Out in group phase.
"In 2013, out at Old Trafford in the last 16 - I was on the bench [for Real Madrid].
"In 2014, out in the quarter-finals, 2015 no European football, in 2016 comes back to European football and out in the group phase, goes to Europa League and second knockout stage out of the Europa League.
"In 2017, play Europa League, win Europa League with me, and go back to the Champions League. 2018 win the group phase with 15 points from possible 18, loses at home in last 16.
"In seven years, with four managers, once not qualify for Europe, twice out in group phase, and the best was quarter-finals.
"This is football heritage, and if you want to go to the Premier League, the last victory was 2013 - and in the four consecutive seasons United finish 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th - so in the last four years the best was fourth.
"This is football heritage, it means when you start the process you are here, you're there or you're there - it is heritage
"When I arrived in Real Madrid, you know how many players played the quarter-final of the Champions League? Xabi Alonso with Liverpool and Iker Casillas with Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo with Man Utd - all the others not even a quarter-final, that's football heritage."