Jose Mourinho is a very, very smart man.He knew he was in store for a grilling during Friday afternoon’s press conference following Tuesday’s Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla.So, how did the Manchester United manager react? By doing all the talking and not allowing the journalists to ask questions, of course.Mourinho had prepared himself for this pre-match press conference with a list of statistics of United’s record in Europe over recent seasons printed on a neat piece of green paper.He went on to launch an extraordinary 12-minute defence of his record following United’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in midweek.
Video: Mourinho's remarkable press conference
You can watch Mourinho’s press conference in full here…
And here's a clip from part two...
Remarkable stuff.
“There are some moments in a football journalist's career that will live with them forever. Today falls right into that category,” the BBC’s Simon Stone commented. “Jose Mourinho came prepared. Not the way predecessor Louis van Gaal did when he spoke about 'Big Sam' but he did have notes.
“He started by saying: ‘I am alive.’
“Then he answered four questions before being asked about the fans' response to Tuesday's Champions League exit.
“That was the cue. Apart from a two-word start of a question he cut off, Mourinho spoke for 12 and a half minutes without stopping.”
Joey Barton's tweet about Mourinho's presser is spot on
Some people believe this press conference proves Mourinho still has the fire inside his belly required to manage a top club like Man Utd; others feel this could be the beginning of the end for the 55-year-old at Old Trafford.
However, Joey Barton has made an interesting point about the press conference on Twitter this morning.
The Premier League midfielder believes because we’re all so used to footballers and managers reeling off the same tired clichés, the sight of Mourinho bucking the trend with an impassioned speech makes us all automatically assume he’s lost the plot.
“Mourinho gives a very straight and passionate/pissed off press conference,” Barton tweeted. “People think he’s gone mad because they’re that used to modern day flannel. Man U not at CL winning level this year. Can’t disagree. Can you?”
Indeed, it was great to hear some real passion from Mourinho in his press conference.
If only his players had shown the same level of passion against Sevilla, they’d be through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Here’s how football fans have reacted to Barton’s opinion…
Is Joey Barton right about Jose Mourinho - or is Mourinho losing the plot? Have your say by leaving a comment below.