Jose Mourinho targets dynasty at Old Trafford

Los Angeles: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he is targeting a 15-year stay at Old Trafford, telling ESPN in an interview that he wants to restore the stability of the Alex Ferguson era.

Mourinho, who took over the Premier League giants last year, told the network’s website that he is desperate to deliver sustained success over a long-term period just as Ferguson did over nearly three decades. United have not won the Premier League title since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with the club struggling to rediscover its dominance under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho has never spent longer than three years as manager of a club during his trophy-laden career. “I am ready for this,” Mourinho said. “I am ready for the next 15, I would say. Here? Yes, why not? 

“I have to admit that it is very difficult because of the pressure around our jobs, everybody putting pressure on managers and things that people say — that we have to win, but in reality only one can win and every year it is getting more difficult.

“This club, for so many years, was Sir Alex. People got used to it; people understood the great consequences of that stability. 

“After David (Moyes) and Mr (Louis) Van Gaal, I come to my second year and hopefully I can stay and give that stability that the club wants. I will try, but again, I will have to try to deserve that, but that’s what I try every day that I work.” 

Conte signs improved deal

London: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte signed a new two-year deal with the Premier League giants on Wednesday as the club moved to quell reports of a rift with the Italian.

The deal was confirmed as Conte, who guided Chelsea to the title in his first season last year, prepares to take his squad on a pre-season tour of Asia. “I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea,” he said in a statement on Chelsea’s official website.

“We worked extremely hard in our first year to achieve something amazing, which I am very proud of. Now we must work even harder to stay at the top.” No terms of the deal were disclosed. English press reports said the new contract improved the terms of the remaining two years left on the three-year deal Conte signed when he joined the club last year.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said the contract rewarded the “incredible success” Chelsea had enjoyed in Conte’s first season. Coaching staff has been augmented by the arrival of two more Italians, with Paolo Vanoli joining as an assistant to the first team head coach and Davide Mazzotta working as assistant/player analysis.