‘LVG left me with good group’ Jose Mourinho hails ex-Manchester United boss and expects ‘big things’ next season


JOSE MOURINHO says he has instilled a spirit at Manchester United to go for ‘big things’ next season.

The Special One said he inherited a ‘nice group’ of players from Louis van Gaal but an unhappy one without any belief or resilience.

That has now changed under him after a 24 game unbeaten league run was extended with the goalless derby draw at The Etihad.

Louis van Gaal lifts the FA Cup with Manchester United in 2016
Reuters

Mourinho said: “The group was a nice group, honestly, the group was a nice group. Good people good boys, committed people, so I think Louis van Gaal left here a good group of boys with very good relations between them, and that I got in my hands.

“I think they missed happiness, they missed trust, they missed belief, they missed this extra bit that brings resilience, brings you fight, and they have it so the group, next July 9, when we meet again for next season, is a strong group.

Mourinho became LVG’s assistant at Barcelona after Sir Bobby Robson was sacked in 1997
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“The new players, when they will arrive, will find a group more ready to go for big things, but the reality is that we are fighting to win the Europa League and we are fighting to try to finish fourth, so let’s go.”

United take on Swansea on Sunday lunchtime with a win taking them into the top four.

The pair have also competed against each other. Here Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich take on Mourinho’s Real Madrid
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Thursday night’s draw meant they stayed a point behind fourth placed City but both clubs moved closer to third placed Liverpool and each have a game in hand.

Jurgen Klopp’s men don’t play until Monday night away to Watford and currently stand just a point above City and two ahead of United.


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