Jose Mourinho has declared that he is “one of the greatest managers in the world” amid widescale criticism on the back of Manchester United’s consecutive Premier League defeats.
The Red Devils were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Tottenham at Old Trafford having suffered a 3-2 defeat to Brighton in their second fixture of the 2018-19 campaign.
Those results have seen Mourinho face huge criticism, with many predicting that he could be sacked before too long and the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino touted as potential replacements.
Mourinho, though, delivered a message of defiance, telling reporters: “I am the manager of one of the greatest clubs in the world but I am also one of the greatest managers in the world.”
The Portuguese was specifically referencing German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and when asked if he would still consider that the case if he failed to win a title with United, he added: “Of course.
“Did you read any philosopher or in your information you never spent time reading Hegel? Just as an example Hegel says the truth is in the whole, is always in the whole.
“Do you ask that question to the manager that finished third in the Premier League or fourth? To the manager who finished fifth.”
The reporter in question replied by insisting the same question had been put to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, with Mourinho replying: “Because he never win anything in international for example.
“I tell you what I think, how he feels. And I answer you the question. That’s easy. I had last season great success. I had great success last season that’s what you probably don’t want to admit.
“I analyse my performance, myself and for me it is more important what I think than what you think. I repeat that two seasons ago we had a fantastic season by winning the Europa League.
“This season and last everybody thought Atletico Madrid were amazing because they won the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League.
“We won the Europa League because that was our level. We are the last team in England to win a European trophy. And last season, I repeat, I won eight titles.
“I am the only manager in the world that won in Italy, Spain and England and by winning eight titles – not small titles or countries – my second position last season is one of my greatest achievements in football.”
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