It was an extremely newsworthy prematch news conference session yesterday with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and midfielder Michael Carrick. Mourinho retaliated against Frank de Boer for the criticism made by the Dutchman, and absolutely destroyed the Dutchman. Later, Carrick officially announced his retirement at the end of the season.
On top of all that, Mourinho articulated his thoughts on where United rank in the UEFA Champions League pecking order, on the eve of the Red Devils home clash in the round of 16 against Sevilla. Video of the session is embedded below:
Mourinho admits his side is not among the favorites in the competition, but feels the chaos that often occurs in tournaments could help the Red Devils advance.
“I think we are not one of the best teams in the competition, but I think that when a team arrives in the last eight anything can happen,” Mourinho told the group of assembled reporters.
“When you are in the last 16 it looks really, really far [away] but when the team gets in the last eight you start smelling semi-finals.
“I think when a team gets into the last eight the feeling is you are [competing] among the best but anything can happen.”
The bookmakers seem to agree with Mourinho, as United now have only the seventh most favorable odds of winning the tournament, out of the 12 teams still competing.
United vs Sevilla Match Preview Material
Odds: Man Utd: 4/6, Draw: 13/5, Sevilla: 4/1, Man Utd to advance: 1/2, Sevilla to advance: 6/4
Injury/Fitness report: go to this link
Michael Carrick press conference summation: go to this link
United starting XI prediction: go to this link
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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