Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that he will not be bothered by an expected negative reception from Liverpool fans when his side travel to Anfield on Monday.
Mourinho is not a favourite of Liverpool fans and he is taking the Reds' fiercest rivals to Anfield.
"I go there to play my game, do my work and enjoy my work," Mourinho said on Friday at his pre-match press conference.
"I think the fans should also go to enjoy, support their team and create a bad atmosphere for the opposition, but in the limits of the safety and the respect. I think that is going to happen."
Mourinho, who dropped captain Wayne Rooney to the bench against Stoke two weeks ago, says he is not concerned that Rooney was also dropped by England against Slovenia in midweek.
"England is not my problem, but he is prepared, training well and is positive," he added.
Asked to endorse the joint club statement issued by United and Liverpool to fans attending the game, Mourinho said: "Of course. In football we have some football 'tragedies' that you can make fun of. The human tragedy is much more serious and not the thing somebody should use on a football pitch. These need our respect, so I would be really sad if in such a big match that was a negative point."
Mourinho is nevertheless focused on the bigger picture, adding: "The season is not about the Anfield match and the Old Trafford match in January; the season is about many points to win, points to lose and targets to achieve."
Mourinho is looking forward to Monday, saying: "I always like to play at Anfield. I've won big matches and lost big matches there, so I cannot say I like to go there as I am always successful as this is not true. I like the atmosphere and the characteristics of the matches. It is a big match that can be comparable to Inter v Milan and Real versus Barcelona, maybe Porto versus Benfica – this I like."
Mourinho revealed that all his players returned from the international break fit, while injured Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are now available for selection.
Copyright © 2022 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.
COMMENTS