Mourinho confirms weakened Man Utd side to face Arsenal

It would be extremely ironic is Arsene Wenger’s greatest rival, Jose Mourinho, helped Arsenal to win a place in the Top Four this season, but after what the Portugese manager said yesterday, it could be a real possibility.

The Special One was talking ahead of his Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo tonight, and he said: “I know that it is the only competition that Manchester United as a club have never won,”

“And it would be great to close the circle and say, ‘We are a club that won every single competition in the football world’.

“Thinking about us as a team, I think it would be a good achievement with so many problems we have and would allow us to be back to Champions League next season.

“So we have to try, that’s what we are going to do, and honestly the Europa League for us now becomes more important.

“Of course it depends on the result, it depends on the way we analyse the situation tomorrow after the match, but if we have to rest players next weekend, we are going to do that.”

This bit of news may cheer up Wenger, especially as he has never beaten Mourinho in a League match before. If Man City and Liverpool drop points and we beat United then we are right back in the race for the Top Four.

Will Arsene shake Jose’s hand after the game if we win?

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37 Comments

  1. Mourinho with his mind games. I know they are playing Celta figure today but don’t trust what He is saying. He will still put out a good team that will be able to defend at least.

    Moreover, Manu weakened team borrowing His word can win Arsenal strong team. It all depends on the Arsenal side that turns up

  2. Even if Moaninho plays their under 11’s, the Specialist in Failure will still find a way to bottle it against him.

      1. yea really Juhi McLoving for shore we can beat the under 11’s, me might need some discussions going our way like a penalty or a red card but we will kick their asses 🙂

  3. The duel between two old managers. Whether they will shake hands or not, it doesn’t matter. They have to improve their managerial skills, or will wiped off by younger managers with better football philosophies, like Guardiola, Conte, Pochettino and Simeone.

    1. The managers u mentioned are only a few years younger than mourinho on average say 5

      1. True (gave you a thumbs up for that) – but I think since Mourinho (like Wenger) has been around much longer at the top level than the others and has since Mourinho has won more than the others (including Wenger) for a longer period of time in multiple leagues, there is greater risk he is getting set in his ways (like Wenger) which could mean he is more likely to fail to evolve with the game’s development. The longer you are involved at the top level the more likely you are to think you know it all and don’t have learned anything anymore. I think that is what happened to Wenger, how many times do you hear him say “I have managed for ’40’ years I know what I am doing”, he often falling back on his experience and that can be sign of being too set in your ways and too arrogant to learn or admit mistakes.

          1. The one thing that they need to improve on this site is it needs to give the poster the ability to edit their post (and the give them the use of emojis).

      2. Few years younger than Mourinho, but they play with better football philosophies. Always trying to build the attack from the back and encourage their players to play with more touches when they’re on the ball, to wait for better chances.

        Mourinho’s style is similar to the old managers, pragmatic and the final score is more important for him. That’s why Mourinho usually wins by “parking the bus”, penalties, set-pieces or luck.

        Football is a sport, but also an entertainment. I don’t want to see pragmatic football, but a total football where all players use their skills and techniques to play, not depend too much on their physicalities.

    2. Lol pep has been a big flop this season. He has been a glorified version of van gaal. Spent loads of money and won absolutely nothing.

      As for jose, he is a pragmatic manager and that’s why he will always find a way to win. Look at how he practically bossed conte in their recent meeting. Next season will be his real test , as always seen 2nd season has always been the best for jose.

      1. Guardiola and City might look like losers this season, but at least they are trying to change City’s football style to modern football, like what Pochettino did to Tottenham. If their English players get used to the new football style next season, I think they will achieve a good result.

        The good thing about City’s fans is they know their club is trying to make major changes, so they are patiently waiting for it. I hope Arsenal are willing to make major changes as well next season.

        1. That’s load of cr*p. Never u derstood why so much defence for pep and klopp. Two managers who are vastly overrated. What style did pep change, nothing. Just attacking for the sake of it doesn’t mean entertainment, that means stupidity . It’s funny we said the same about Wenger and our football. Look where that has taken us. Pragmatism is always needed. Sir alex was successful because of that sole reason. He knew how to outdo opponents . Poccetino is another example who will be very successful because of his understanding of the game.
          You cannot be successful if you are not pragmatic.

          And this may hurt but jose is still at the top of his game as he showed when he defeated conte . If anything I will bet on jose winning the league before klopp or pep can ever do.

  4. We cant even beat a weakend side under moyes and van gaal

    How do u expect our weak players to beat the 1- 1 specialist mourinho side?

    1. Stop it. We smacked them pretty good last season. 3-0, if I’m not mistaken. It all depends on how bad our players want it, and how many of them actually show up to play.

  5. United have a huge squad and
    can rotate 7 outfield players easily.

    v Celta.
    De Gea
    Valencia Bailey Blind Young
    Pogba Herrera Fellaini
    Mkhitaryan Rashford Martial

    v Arsenal.
    De Gea
    Valencia Smalling Jones Darmian
    Pogba Carrick
    Lingard Mata Rooney
    Rashford.

  6. The question is, are we to believe that Mourinho will rest players for his visit to Arsenal?

    It has been widely reported that there is an injury crisis at UTD which Mourinho attributes fatigue (although many of those that injured players reportedly trained yesterday). However, I put it out there that the chances of Mourinho resting players for his trip to the Emirates largely depends on UTDs results in their Europa league tie with Celta Vigo.

    IMO, Mourinho will only rest players if tonight’s result is inconclusive i.e. a 2 – 2 or a 2 – 1 etc. With a result like that, there is still everything to play for. As it would stand for UTD, with games against Arsenal and Tottenham in the league, the Europa league would represent the most likely route to gain a champion’s league position.

    However, you can make a reasonable argument that if UTD win conclusively i.e. 0 – 4, then they could consider that the tie is practically over and then they could still gamble and play a strong team against Arsenal. In so doing they would double their possibilities of gaining a champion’s league place via two competitions.

    Or on the other hand, if they lose conclusively i.e. 4 – 0, they could reason that the tie is over and that their best chance of getting a top four position is by picking up points in the league and as a consequence they play a strong team at the Emirates.

    One thing that you can guarantee from the UTD visit to the Emirates is that they will ultimately come to frustrate and won’t be totally disappointed with getting a point from their visit.

  7. I still think we will win this one.
    Mourinho will get his first taste of defeat by his arch nemesis.

    COYG.

  8. Hehehehe…. Boi,u got it all wrong!! Who do u really call specialist in failure between Arsene and that low esteem thinking dude call Mourinho… Dude,u gotta wake up,coz Arsene won a cup the last time Mourinho failed and was sacked by Chelsea,Quote that..

  9. I would rather face their normal team. Often youngsters coming in give an extra boost since they are too young to feel fear. Mourinho always finds a way to put out an 11 hard to beat and at this point in time Wenger’s teams could struggle with a Championship side if they felt any pressure at all.

    Lat time we put out an 11 that included some youngsters we beat Southampton pretty convincingly ourselves.

    1. Jenssen youngsters are ok at home but going to a big club and a big stadium with big ask can mess their confidence or try too hard and make mistakes

  10. Question we should all ask ourselves if we are truthful, do you actually believe Stan K will sack Arsene based on fans protests? I still state that the “Wenger Out Brigade” don’t have the numbers willing to stand up for another big protest this season and the best one can hope for.

    So if Arsene will stay or another 2 years, it means all the blame on Kroenke.
    Therefore we better move on and stay behind the team.

    1. The amount of protesters is growing game by game, which is thanks to Wenger. Even more opened their eyes after the Spurs game, and realised the truth after yet ANOTHER humiliating defeat. We know he won’t sack Wenger, but there’s hope that either the contract offer is withdrawn, or that Wenger FINALLY decides to put the club’s best interests first, and walk away.

      Not sure how you’ve come to the conclusion that Wenger would be blameless if he stays another two years, unless he’s an ambassador for the club, and not the manager, I suppose.

      1. Wenger would not all be blameless.
        If you’re the owner and happy with your employee and decides to give him new contract, wenger is to blame for all, and Kroenke is at no fault?

        Are you really that tedious?

        1. i think if AW can go round saying how much he loves Arsenal then he should take most of the blame because for shore his tactics is not working and for many years we didn’t spend when we had the money, if the board is not funding him then he should say it or leave ” if he loves Arsenal”

          1. Because we have the owner that couldn’t care less about winning trophies.

            I say Kroenke is accountable to all the mess too.

            1. i agree but in my books AW keeping it quite is causing so much damage to the club that he supposedly Loves so much, i ask you is it the club or the owner his in love with???

              1. The board have been happy with just champions league qualification.
                A rational fan is not expecting the league tittle the next year. The so called boo boys also want to see the club moving forward. Stagnation can quickly lead us to a downward spiral, once in it, we will find it much more difficult and much more costly to come out of it.

        2. @JembutArsene

          But Kroenke isn’t involved at all in match day decisions, such as: Formation, tactics, subs, in-game management, instilling a winning mentality. Kroenke also isn’t involved with dealing with the medical staff, and he doesn’t take training sessions.

          Kroenke isn’t interested in winning with Arsenal, just making money, and keeping his impressive portfolio ticking over, we all know that! But it doesn’t mean Wenger has to go along with it, does it? Simeone works in much tougher conditions, less money, constantly losing his best players, and he’s been doing okay.

          1. Kroenke The Father (and Son) bought shares from greedy shareholders at inflated rates and are now owners of Arsenal FC, a piece of real estate in prime condition and increasing in value each season. What possible incentive is there, presently, for them to depart……or even make changes?
            This is the problem when a sporting company is taken over by a single individual. His word is law and the Board he attends has no real authority.

  11. ? WWeakened Man Utd team would still beat Arsenal, says Keane

    Even a weakened Manchester United team would beat Arsenal, according to former Red Devils captain Roy Keane.

    A Premier League clash with Arsenal lies in between two Europa League semi-final legs against Celta Vigo and with that in mind, the Portuguese coach suggested that he may even field a weaker team against the Gunners.

    “It is clear that his priority is trying to win the Europa League and guarantee Champions League football,” the former Republic of Ireland international said, speaking on ITV.

    “Well even a weak team would probably still beat Arsenal,” he responded. “They can afford to do that.”

  12. So many fans are deluded. Arsenal, even when they’ve won games all season have been lucky on too many occasions, it matters not that Utd will field a ‘weaker’ team. Utd’s players know their role better than ours and have a stronger mentality. Its likely the game will end in a draw or a Utd win.

    Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd

  13. United and City will be a lot better next season.
    Chelsea will be better
    Spurs and Liverpool will be a bit better

    Arsenal God Knows?

    1. Sorry, I can’t help it.

      Are you really a girl? No insult intended just curious.

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