"I am neither an evil nor an enemy, just a manager who wants to beat Manchester United" • Jose Mourinho and Tottenham's new model will be hosting tonight at Old Trafford, sacked just a year ago • Liverpool are preparing for another celebration when Everton arrive at Anfield for Derby

• Mourinho and Cain. Under Portuguese think attack constantly

  Photography:

  AFP

Jose Mourinho, according to English media reports, plans to meet with Manchester United staff before meeting tonight with his new team at Tottenham. The Portuguese, the sites claim, want to exchange experiences with chef Mike Donnelly and congratulate the people he worked with before being fired in December of last year.

"The Special", as it is written, does not resent Red Devils chairman Ed Woodward, certainly not for fans, and he wants the meeting with the ex to be as calm and moving as any regular league game. He even said yesterday: "I am neither evil nor enemy, only Manager who wants to beat Manchester United. I hope this is how their fans look at this reunion. Do not concentrate on me and encourage their team to achieve the best result. "These are the reports, these are the quotes, and this is the conclusion: This Mourinho is not Mourinho of yesteryear.

asterisk. He is only a few weeks on duty and can flip in a second, but seems to have the Portuguese approaching the new position with a new head. He smiles, is more open, calmer, looks freer and looser, and that is also evident in the game of the Roosters.

This can be attributed to the year of freedom, the fact that for the first time since Porto in 2002, he joined the team mid-season, or perhaps the prestigious but depressing Manchester hotel he replaced in a warm home in the heart of London. In any case, in England they are talking about a new and unfamiliar version of Mourinho. About a very cordial person (at least at this point), who has not yet stung communication / rivals / judges / fans and especially busy patting and restoring security to his players. The renewed Portuguese brought Della Ali back to life, claimed he was not interested in purchasing, took down Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the table, and informed Rishi Gali that he was supplied with what he had. Instead of making the dishes, he washed and arranged them.

Mourinho with Ali. Mourinho woke up from a coma // Photo: Reuters

Move the bus

Proper football, too, does not seem to be the good old Mourinho. Again, asterisk, right now. Over the years, who has earned the image of a careful coach, not to say defensive and calculative, a bus driver, introduced in his first three games at Tottenham a direct and energetic style that led to three wins that resulted in 16 goals - ten wins, six duties.

Under Mourinho, the Roosters are thinking attack all the time - whether it's long balls from Toby Alderworld, or a quick wing play led by Jung Min Son and Lucas Mora. Not coincidentally Christian Eriksen spends a lot on the bench, and not for nothing Tottenham absorbs quite a bit. At this point, Mourinho wants to run, attack, regain the joy of life and give the Roosters what they have lost in recent months - confidence in themselves.

A lot of things can be said about the Portuguese manager, but one must agree that he is an expert in adapting himself to the place and the situation. In Chelsea he was the arrogant face of an ambitious and prestigious project; In Inter managed to evade the sense of inferiority in the face of Juventus; Real Madrid pumped the direct fight against Barcelona and even United tried to bolster their sense of European pride.

Mourinho. Knows how to adapt to the situation // Photo: Reuters

Now, in Tottenham, he seems to understand that he must be the nice man in a nice group that is in a sensitive transition period. Take, for example, Della Ali, who has been dead - from dribbles since the 2018 World Cup, and returned to Mourinho with three goals, cooking and wonderful ability in three games. All the Portuguese did was tell him the right thing and put it in the right place. Ali needed just that - a small reminder of the ability and potential of his feet - and Mourinho knew how to give.

Yesterday Mourinho put on the table the interest of Eriksen, Alderwirld and Wortungen whose contracts end in summer and whose future is uncertain. "I spoke to the three of them and also to Chairman Daniel Levy," he said. "I don't mean to tell you what is being said, but most importantly they are professionals who are ready to play and put the contract matters aside." Jose got a chance to talk about a contract, and no title. Again, he chose to say only what was right for the team.

Tottenham fans don't really know how to eat it. They know the man, his narcissism, still miss Pocettino and are afraid to fall in love. Despite the idyll at first, there were already moments when he fled to Mourinho Mourinho. For example, when asked if the loss in the Champions League final affected the team and answered "I don't know, I've never lost a Champions League final."

That's what the Roosters are worried about - after a coach who gave it all to the club came one who gave it all to himself. So, at this early stage, Morino's change is still a question mark. is it possible? Possible? Or will it all explode once things get a little more complicated. For example, if he loses tonight to his former team.

Silva. His last game as Everton coach? // Photo: AFP

Liverpool will equal the record?

Drawing the third round of the FA Cup gave Everton one month in two options to achieve a first win at Anfield after 20 years. In early January 2020, and tonight (22:15, Sports 3).

The thing is that to be there in the Cup, topiz coach Marco Silva will have to beat the lead today otherwise he may be fired. This is a task that seems impossible against a team that counts 47 undefeated home games in the league and can compare a club record of 32 consecutive unbeaten league games. The European champion, returning from the gold ball ceremony with six representatives of the world's top 20 footballers, will miss the best goalkeeper, Allison, who wants a penalty, but Adrian will take his place again.